Character Relationship Map: The Sleepwalker

Characters

• Victor Boniface (played by Fernandel) — protagonist

  Victor Boniface is the detective responsible for security at Berthès stores. He investigates a stolen gold lighter and tries to assert his authority, while his sleepwalking makes him unknowingly usefu...

• Anatole, the suspicious husband (played by Louis de Funès) — supporting

  Anatole is the suspicious husband who confronts Boniface after finding him in a bedroom beside his wife. His accusation places Boniface in an embarrassing and inexplicable situation, forcing the detec...

• Stella Gazzini, star in Tabarin (played by Gaby André) — supporting

  Stella Gazzini is a performer at Tabarin whom Boniface encounters during his investigation. When he attempts to question her, their exchange becomes flirtatious, and she invites him to visit her at th...

• Gangster (played by Michel Ardan) — supporting

  The Gangster is one of the criminals involved in watching and manipulating Boniface. He tells the detective a long, rambling story while Boniface falls asleep, giving the others a chance to lose track...

• Louis, the lighter thief (played by André Roanne) — supporting

  Louis is identified as the lighter thief connected with the opening theft investigated by Boniface. The stolen gold lighter brings the detective into action at Berthès stores, where the apparently min...

• Charlie, gangster leader (played by Andrex) — supporting

  Charlie is the leader of the gang targeting the valuable jewelry at Berthès stores. He realizes that Boniface’s sleepwalking may provide a safer way into the store than a direct robbery, and he helps...

• Berthès, stores manager (played by Raoul Marco) — supporting
• René, gangster (played by Yves Deniaud) — minor

  René is a gangster working with Charlie in the plan against Berthès stores. He recognizes that Boniface’s sleepwalking could let the criminals reach the merchandise without risking a direct robbery, a...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Victor Boniface → Stella Gazzini, star in Tabarin (Romantic Flirtatious Acquaintances) — Their brief encounter carries a flirtatious tone, and Stella invites Boniface to see her.

  Boniface meets Stella while investigating, their conversation becomes flirtatious, and she invites him to visit her at the Grand Hôtel.

• Victor Boniface → Berthès, stores manager (Professional Employee And Manager) — Boniface investigates thefts at the store managed by Berthès.

  Victor Boniface works as a detective at Berthès stores, whose manager is Berthès.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Gangster → Victor Boniface (Conflict Distraction) — The gangster's extended story coincides with the gang's attempt to exploit Boniface's vulnerability.

  Boniface falls asleep while speaking with a gangster who tells him a long, rambling story, allowing the others an opportunity to lose track of him.

• Victor Boniface → Anatole, the suspicious husband (Conflict Confronted Strangers) — Anatole confronts Boniface after finding him in the bedroom with his wife.

  Boniface wakes in a bedroom beside a woman, and her husband confronts them. Boniface and the woman deny knowing one another.

• René, gangster → Victor Boniface (Conflict Would-Be Exploiter) — René participates in the scheme targeting Boniface's sleepwalking.

  René joins Charlie in discussing how to use Boniface's sleepwalking to get access to the merchandise.

• Charlie, gangster leader → Victor Boniface (Conflict Would-Be Exploiter) — Charlie sees Boniface's sleepwalking as a means to facilitate the gang's scheme.

  Charlie and René discuss using Boniface's sleepwalking to gain access to the store merchandise while Boniface remains unaware of the danger.

• Charlie, gangster leader → René, gangster (Alliance Criminal Partners) — They coordinate a plan involving Boniface and the store's valuables.

  Charlie and René realize Boniface is a sleepwalker and discuss exploiting his condition to gain access to the merchandise.

• Victor Boniface → Louis, the lighter thief (Conflict Detective And Suspected Thief) — Boniface's store investigation concerns the gold-lighter theft attributed in the character list to Louis.

  A saleswoman accuses a customer of stealing a gold lighter, and Boniface takes charge of the case. The character list identifies Louis as the lighter...

Story Analysis

A store detective's sleepwalking complicates his investigations and becomes the basis of a gang's unfinished plan to reach valuable merchandise.

Plot Progression

1. A Theft at Berthès — Boniface takes charge after a saleswoman accuses a customer of stealing a gold lighter. His authority is questioned as the store's valuable jewelry becomes the focus of a larger scheme.
2. The Sleepwalking Scheme — Charlie and René realize that Boniface may enter the store while sleepwalking and plan to exploit his condition. Boniface remains unaware of their intentions while continuing his investigations.
3. Stella's Invitation — Boniface meets Stella while questioning her, and their exchange becomes flirtatious. She invites him to the Grand Hôtel as the gangsters try to keep watch on him.
4. A Plan Lost in Confusion — The gangsters' efforts to follow Boniface are disrupted by mishaps. A rambling conversation puts Boniface to sleep and gives the others an opportunity to lose track of him.
5. The Unexplained Awakening — A nighttime attempt at the store turns into confusion as people search for Boniface and the jewelry, and the plan collapses. Boniface later wakes in a bedroom, explains his sleepwalking, apologizes, a...