Character Relationship Map: Some Like It Hot

Characters

• Jerry (Daphne) (played by Jack Lemmon) — protagonist

  An anxious jazz double bass player who disguises himself as Daphne to evade gangsters. He becomes the target of millionaire Osgood Fielding III's persistent courtship, accepts a marriage proposal, and...

• Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (played by Marilyn Monroe) — supporting

  The vocalist and ukulele player of an all-female band traveling to Miami. She hopes to find a millionaire and is pursued by Joe under a false identity. She eventually discovers the truth and joins the...

• Spats Colombo (played by George Raft) — supporting

  The ruthless Mafia boss who owns the speakeasy where the protagonists work. He orders the murder of informant Toothpick Charlie and witnesses Joe and Jerry fleeing, later getting executed by rival gan...

• Spats' Henchman (played by Harry Wilson) — minor
• Osgood Fielding III (played by Joe E. Brown) — supporting

  An aging millionaire who persistently pursues Jerry while disguised as a woman. He proposes marriage and remains unfazed when Jerry admits he is a man, famously replying that nobody is perfect.

• Little Bonaparte (played by Nehemiah Persoff) — supporting

  A rival Mafia boss who presides over a national gangster conference in Miami. Holding a grudge against Spats for past murders, he orders the execution of Spats and his entire crew.

• Sweet Sue (played by Joan Shawlee) — supporting

  The leader of the all-female band Society Syncopators traveling to Miami. Joe and Jerry join her group under false identities to escape Chicago and evade the mob.

• Toothpick Charlie (played by George E. Stone) — supporting

  An informant who tips off the police about the speakeasy. He is subsequently ambushed and executed by Spats Colombo and his henchmen.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Little Bonaparte → Spats' Henchman (Power Execution Authority) — He exercises superior authority over Spats's criminal crew.

  Little Bonaparte orders the execution of Spats and his entire crew after they mishandle the situation.

• Spats Colombo → Spats' Henchman (Power Gang Leader) — Spats commands the henchman within his criminal organization.

  The plot identifies Spats as the Mafia boss who owns the speakeasy and acts with his henchmen during the ambush.

• Sugar Kane Kowalczyk → Sweet Sue (Professional Bandmate) — Sweet Sue leads the musical group in which Sugar performs.

  Sugar is the vocalist and ukulele player in Sweet Sue's all-female band traveling to Miami.

• Jerry (Daphne) → Sweet Sue (Professional Band Member) — Sweet Sue unknowingly employs Jerry as a disguised musician.

  Jerry and his partner disguise themselves as women and join Sweet Sue's Society Syncopators for the trip to Miami.

• Jerry (Daphne) → Osgood Fielding III (Romantic Unwanted Suitor) — Osgood's pursuit creates a central comic and romantic complication.

  Osgood persistently courts Jerry while Jerry is disguised as Daphne, eventually proposing marriage.

• Jerry (Daphne) → Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Romantic Interest) — Their relationship develops through disguise, attraction, deception, and eventual acceptance.

  Jerry's musical partner competes for Sugar's affection while disguised as a woman, and Sugar later joins their escape after discovering the deception.

Story Dynamics

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

• Little Bonaparte → Jerry (Daphne) (Conflict Unintentional Threat) — Little Bonaparte's public execution places Jerry near another lethal criminal event.

  Jerry and his partner witness Little Bonaparte execute Spats and his gang, then return to women's clothing to evade capture.

• Little Bonaparte → Spats Colombo (Conflict Rival Gangster) — Their rivalry resolves the Mafia threat through Spats's death.

  Little Bonaparte holds a grudge against Spats over earlier murders and orders Spats's execution at the Miami gangster conference.

• Spats' Henchman → Jerry (Daphne) (Conflict Threatening Pursuer) — The henchman contributes to the danger surrounding Jerry's concealment.

  Spats's gang sees Jerry and his partner escape from the murder scene and later identifies their disguises at the hotel.

• Spats' Henchman → Toothpick Charlie (Conflict Executioner) — The henchman helps carry out Spats's retaliation.

  Spats's henchmen participate in gunning down Toothpick and his gang after the police raid.

• Spats Colombo → Jerry (Daphne) (Conflict Pursuer) — Spats represents the criminal threat forcing Jerry into disguise.

  Spats and his gang see Jerry and his partner fleeing after witnessing Toothpick's murder and later recognize their disguises in Miami.

• Spats Colombo → Toothpick Charlie (Conflict Murderous Enemy) — Their conflict triggers the protagonists' flight from Chicago.

  After Toothpick tips off the police about the speakeasy, Spats and his gang ambush and shoot him and his associates.

Story Analysis

Two musicians escape gangsters through disguises, tangled romances, and a final acceptance of identities beyond social expectations.

Plot Progression

1. Bullets Behind The Music — Jerry and his musical partner work in Spats's Chicago speakeasy. A police raid and a witnessed gangland execution force them to abandon the city in disguise.
2. Disguises On The Train — The two musicians join Sweet Sue's all-female band as disguised women. During the train journey, they meet Sugar and struggle with attraction while protecting their identities.
3. Miami Complications — In Miami, Jerry's partner courts Sugar through a false millionaire identity. At the same time, Osgood courts Jerry, creating overlapping deceptions and a dangerous romantic tangle.
4. Mafia At The Hotel — A hidden Mafia conference brings Spats into the same hotel and exposes the disguises. A false telephone breakup leaves Sugar heartbroken while the criminal threat reaches its peak.
5. Escape Without Disguises — After witnessing Little Bonaparte execute Spats's crew, the fugitives escape by yacht. Confessions and unexpected acceptance resolve the disguises, romances, and pursuit.