Character Relationship Map: Luv

Characters

• Harry Berlin (played by Jack Lemmon) — protagonist

  A barely functional, suicidal man rescued by his friend Milt. He marries Milt's wife Ellen but proves to be a childish and difficult partner, even stomping on her toe to test her love. To save the mar...

• Milt Manville (played by Peter Falk) — protagonist

  Harry's charismatic but manipulative old friend. He orchestrates a scheme to get his wife Ellen to divorce him by having Harry court her. After a failed second marriage to his mistress Linda leaves hi...

• Ellen Manville (played by Elaine May) — supporting

  Milt's long-suffering wife who initiates a divorce. She falls in love with Harry and marries him, but quickly grows frustrated by his childish behavior and bizarre love tests. Realizing her feelings h...

• Linda (played by Nina Wayne) — supporting

  A beautiful blonde fitness instructor who is Milt's secret lover. After Milt divorces Ellen to marry her, Linda becomes a stay-at-home lounge bird and dumps him when he sells household items. Later, s...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Harry Berlin → Linda (Potential Romantic Interest) — Their attraction appears only at the end of the bridge crisis.

  After Linda keeps Harry afloat in the water, Harry becomes attracted to her.

• Harry Berlin → Ellen Manville (Family Husband) — Their marriage becomes the main domestic relationship in the middle of the film.

  Harry and Ellen fall in love, marry, and go to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon.

• Milt Manville → Linda (Romantic Secret Lover) — Their affair causes the breakdown of Milt's first marriage.

  The plot identifies Linda as Milt's secret lover before he divorces Ellen to marry her.

• Milt Manville → Ellen Manville (Family Husband) — They are spouses whose marriage changes repeatedly during the story.

  Ellen is introduced as Milt's wife, and their failing marriage leads to divorce proceedings.

Story Dynamics

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

• Harry Berlin → Milt Manville (Social Old Friend) — Their longstanding friendship allows Milt to intervene in Harry's crisis.

  Milt recognizes Harry as an old friend from fifteen years earlier and distracts him from attempting suicide.

Story Analysis

A suicidal man becomes entangled in shifting marriages, manipulative schemes, and a chaotic bridge rescue that exposes unexpected attachments.

Plot Progression

1. A Friend Against The Fall — Harry approaches suicide on a bridge before Milt recognizes and redirects him. Milt introduces Harry to Ellen and reveals the unhappy state of his marriage.
2. Marriage By Design — Milt persuades Harry to court Ellen as part of a divorce strategy. The plan unexpectedly results in genuine love, marriage, and a honeymoon.
3. Love Tested At Home — Harry's childish behavior turns married life into a series of painful love tests and humiliations. At the same time, Milt marries Linda after divorcing Ellen.
4. Failed Replacements — Linda leaves Milt after he sells household items, and Milt realizes he wants Ellen back. Ellen's feelings for Harry also fade, while Harry takes a job to protect their marriage.
5. The Bridge Revisited — Milt and Ellen unsuccessfully try to pair Harry with Linda before devising an extreme bridge scheme. The plan becomes a dangerous rescue involving a scaffold, a fall, and water.