Cry of the City

A hardened criminal whose charm masks a ruthless, self-preserving nature. Wounded and hunted, he uses manipulation and violence to escape capture, exposing a man defined by past choices and family ties.

A determined detective who resents Rome for their shared childhood in their impoverished Italian-American neighborhood. He embodies law, persistence, and moral clarity, opposing Rome’s criminal calculus even as personal history complicates their pursuit.

Rome’s vulnerable love interest who becomes entangled in danger as the case of the jewel robbery unfolds. She represents innocence caught in the crossfire of crime, loyalty, and fear.

A sleazy lawyer who manipulates Rome to recoup the jewels, using threats against Teena. His opportunism and self-interest reveal corruption within the legal system and the price of silence.

A heavy-set masseuse who becomes the target of Rome's scheme and the object of a dangerous bargain. She embodies betrayal, desperation, and the urge to escape poverty, regardless of the cost.

An old flame who helps Rome locate Rose, showing a willingness to aid him despite the danger. Her actions reflect the precarious balance between care, coercion, and self-interest in the noir milieu.

A nurse who becomes involved with Rome and even helps hidden Teena during crisis. Her character shows a mix of professional care and moral compromise under pressure.

Rome’s teenage brother who idolizes him yet must reckon with the consequences of his criminal family. His path highlights the human cost of crime and the fragile line between admiration and danger.

An unlicensed doctor who examines Rome and aids in his survival. The doctor’s presence underscores themes of desperation and questionable ethics in noir-era urban life.

A trusted ally who helps Rome escape from the hospital. He represents the complicity and partial loyalty that characters navigate within criminal enterprises.

A cop who pursues Rome and contributes to the tension of the investigation. His presence emphasizes the inescapable gravity of law in the noir world.

Rome’s mother whose concern for her son adds emotional weight to the crime tale. Her disapproval of Rome’s life contrasts the world of crime with familial love.

Rome’s father, a figure who embodies the expectations and pressures of the immigrant family. His relationship with Rome hints at the social environment that nurtured criminal paths.

A nurse character who represents the busy hospital world in the film, balancing care with the danger present in Rome’s circumstances.