Character Relationship Map: High Sierra

Characters

• Marie (played by Ida Lupino) — protagonist

  Marie is Babe's girlfriend, a Los Angeles dime-a-dance girl who joins the robbery group despite Roy's initial objections. She falls in love with Roy, travels with him after the heist, refuses to betra...

• Roy Earle (played by Humphrey Bogart) — protagonist

  Roy Earle is a convicted bank robber recruited by Big Mac to lead the hotel robbery after his release from prison. He develops feelings for Velma, later gives Marie an engagement ring, kills Jake Kran...

• Babe (played by Alan Curtis) — supporting

  Babe is one of the men recruited to assist Roy in robbing the resort hotel, living at the abandoned logging camp with Red. He brings his girlfriend Marie along, participates in the failed getaway, and...

• Red (played by Arthur Kennedy) — supporting

  Red is one of Roy's criminal associates at the abandoned logging camp and a participant in the planned hotel robbery. He travels with Babe during the getaway, but the escape goes wrong when their car...

• Big Mac (played by Donald MacBride) — supporting

  Big Mac is an aging gangster who organizes the robbery at the fashionable resort hotel and arranges Roy's release from an Indiana prison by bribing the governor. He dies of a heart attack before Roy r...

• Velma (played by Joan Leslie) — supporting

  Velma is a young woman traveling with Ma and Pa who has a clubfoot and walks with a limp. Roy becomes enamored with her and pays for corrective surgery, then proposes marriage, but she refuses because...

• Louis Mendoza (played by Cornel Wilde) — minor

  Louis Mendoza works as a clerk at the resort hotel and is one of the men assigned to help Roy carry out the robbery. The plan is disrupted by a security guard; Mendoza is later captured and questioned...

• Algernon (played by Willie Best) — minor

  Algernon is a handyman at the abandoned logging camp where Roy meets the robbery group. He introduces Roy to Pard, the small dog Roy adopts, thereby contributing to the bond that later helps Pard loca...

• Art (played by Robert Strange) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Roy Earle → Art (Professional Client) — Roy relies on Art to fence the stolen jewelry.

  Roy meets Art to receive payment for the stolen jewels, while Art holds the jewels because he cannot immediately pay the full amount.

• Big Mac → Louis Mendoza (Professional Employer) — Louis serves Big Mac's robbery operation from inside the hotel.

  Louis works at the target hotel and is identified as one of the men assisting the planned robbery.

• Big Mac → Red (Professional Employer) — Big Mac assigns Red a role in the heist.

  Red is one of the men recruited to assist with Big Mac's planned hotel robbery.

• Big Mac → Babe (Professional Employer) — Big Mac includes Babe in the criminal operation.

  Babe is one of the men selected to assist in the robbery planned by Big Mac.

• Roy Earle → Velma (Romantic Suitor) — Roy pursues Velma despite her existing engagement.

  Roy becomes enamored with Velma, pays for her corrective surgery, and asks her to marry him.

• Marie → Roy Earle (Romantic Unrequited Love) — Marie develops strong feelings for Roy despite his initial distance.

  Marie falls in love with Roy, but the plot states that Roy does not share her feelings.

• Big Mac → Roy Earle (Professional Crime Employer) — Big Mac recruits Roy as the heist leader.

  Big Mac plans the resort hotel robbery and arranges Roy's release from prison so Roy can lead it.

• Babe → Marie (Romantic Girlfriend) — Babe and Marie begin the story as a couple.

  Marie is introduced as Babe's girlfriend and travels with him to the logging camp.

Story Dynamics

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

• Roy Earle → Algernon (Social Acquaintance) — Algernon briefly connects Roy with the camp's dog.

  Algernon introduces Roy to the small dog at the logging camp.

• Red → Babe (Social Camp Associate) — They are established associates within the camp group.

  Red and Babe live together at the abandoned logging camp before joining the robbery.

• Louis Mendoza → Babe (Alliance Crime Associate) — They share operational duties in the robbery.

  Louis and Babe are involved together in the hotel robbery and the subsequent getaway.

• Louis Mendoza → Red (Alliance Crime Associate) — They cooperate as members of the heist crew.

  Louis and Red participate in the same hotel robbery and escape attempt.

• Roy Earle → Babe (Alliance Teammate) — Babe is one of Roy's criminal associates.

  Babe is based at the camp and joins Roy and the others in the hotel robbery.

• Roy Earle → Red (Alliance Teammate) — Red supports Roy during the heist.

  Red lives at the logging camp and participates in the hotel robbery with Roy.

• Roy Earle → Louis Mendoza (Alliance Teammate) — Louis is part of Roy's robbery team.

  Louis works at the hotel and assists Roy, Red, and Babe in the robbery.

Story Analysis

A released criminal seeks freedom and emotional belonging, but his past, failed hopes, and isolation lead him to a fatal mountain escape.

Plot Progression

1. The Mountain Crew Gathers — Big Mac arranges Roy's release and sends him to lead a robbery. Roy meets the crew at the logging camp and reluctantly accepts Marie's presence.
2. A Dangerous Hope — Roy adopts the camp dog and becomes attracted to Velma. He pays for her surgery and proposes, but her devotion to another man defeats his hopes.
3. The Heist Breaks Apart — The crew attacks the resort hotel, but a guard interrupts the robbery. Roy escapes with Marie while Red and Babe die and Mendoza is captured.
4. Hunted by the Past — Big Mac's death leaves Roy exposed to a new criminal authority, whom Roy kills. Art delays payment, and newspaper coverage forces Roy and Marie into hiding.
5. The Last Mountain — Roy sends Marie away, attempts a desperate robbery, and flees into the mountains. Marie refuses to betray him, but the dog's barking distracts Roy and exposes him to the sharpshooter.