According to Mrs. Hoyle

A retired schoolteacher celebrated for reforming wayward youths. She anchors the hotel’s social order with quiet dignity and perseverance, using tenderness to steer troubled men away from crime. Her discovery of her own family connections intensifies the emotional stakes of the trial.

Gang leader who aspires to reform his men, at least outwardly, under Mrs. Hoyle's influence. He wields authority with practical cunning and shows glimpses of moral conflict as his plan for the hotel shifts. His reform is partial, revealing the complexities of leadership in criminal circles.

A Morganti henchman who falls in love with Angela and learns that Mrs. Hoyle is his mother. He struggles between loyalty to the gang and the pull of family ties, eventually confessing to the crime to spare Mrs. Hoyle further trouble. His arc explores loyalty, guilt, and the possibility of a new life.

Detective who builds the case against the hotel gang and pushes for a rigorous prosecution. He embodies the moral precision of the law and drives the courtroom narrative. His investigations reveal the connective threads between the robbery and the people in Mrs. Hoyle's sphere.

A stubborn gang member who resists reform and schemes to carry out the robbery. He is ultimately shot during the escape, underscoring the perilous path of violent crime. His volatile presence contrasts with the reforming influence around him.

The judge presiding over the case, who enforces procedure and calls recess to manage the dramatic revelations. He maintains order while allowing the truth to surface. His role anchors the legal stakes of the story.

A dancehall girl living in the hotel who becomes entangled in the moral transformation taking place around Mrs. Hoyle. She is a catalyst for emotional dynamics and a symbol of the hotel’s lively social scene.

A member of Morganti's gang who participates in the early period of the reform effort and in the hotel’s social changes. His fate mirrors the uncertain path of the other criminals.

A religious figure whose presence frames the moral landscape of the film and provides a counterpoint to the criminal elements. He represents community values in the courtroom and hotel life.