Character Relationship Map: Beat the Devil

Characters

• Billy Dannreuther (played by Humphrey Bogart) — protagonist

  A formerly wealthy American now in financial trouble, reluctantly partnering with crooks to acquire uranium-rich land in Africa. He suspects Major Ross of murder, survives a staged car crash, thwarts...

• Gwendolen Chelm (played by Jennifer Jones) — protagonist

  A flighty and imaginative British woman married to Harry. She has an affair with Billy, exaggerates her husband's role, and later exposes the crooks' uranium scheme and murder plot to authorities, ult...

• Peterson (played by Robert Morley) — supporting

  One of the crooks attempting to secure uranium-rich land in Africa. He suspects the Chelms of competition, stages a fatal car crash, fakes his death to manipulate Harry, orders an assassination attemp...

• Julius O'Hara (played by Peter Lorre) — supporting

  One of the four crooks participating in the uranium land scheme alongside Peterson, Major Ross, and Ravello. He is arrested at the end along with the other conspirators.

• Harry Chelm (played by Edward Underdown) — supporting

  A proper and traditional British man who travels with his wife Gwendolen. He discovers the crooks' uranium scheme, attempts to expose it, survives an assassination attempt and imprisonment, and ultima...

Key Relationships

• Gwendolen Chelm → Peterson (Conflict Deceptive Informant)
• Billy Dannreuther → Harry Chelm (Alliance Mutual Allies)
• Harry Chelm → Peterson (Conflict Adversaries)
• Peterson → Julius O'Hara (Alliance Co-conspirators)
• Billy Dannreuther → Julius O'Hara (Alliance Criminal Partners)
• Billy Dannreuther → Peterson (Alliance Criminal Partners)
• Gwendolen Chelm → Harry Chelm (Family Spouses)
• Billy Dannreuther → Gwendolen Chelm (Romantic Lovers)

Story Analysis

A satirical tale of greed, deception, and ironic fortune among a group of crooks and travelers.

Plot Progression

1. The Italian Conspiracy
2. The Sinking Ship
3. African Detention
4. Ironical Resolution