Good-Time Girl

Gwen is a 16-year-old drawn into London’s nightclub world after a pawnbroker incident. She is young, attractive, and vulnerable to predatory schemes, yet capable of fierce loyalty and quick adaptation under pressure. Her life spirals from a single misstep to legal jeopardy, prison, and attempts at rescue by those who claim to care for her.

Max Vine runs the Blue Angel–style club and wields control over staff and entertainers. He is sharp, ambitious, and willing to shield his operation even as he discards troublesome workers. His decisions push Gwen toward trouble, though he also expands his empire with a second club in Brighton.

Red Farrell is a protective member of the club’s band who looks out for Gwen. He offers shelter and affection, becoming a key but flawed ally. His care for Gwen is tested by the violent undercurrents of their world, and his fate underscores the film’s tragedy.

Miss Thorpe is the chairwoman of the Juvenile Court who presides over Gwen’s case. She embodies the formal, moralistic authority that can condemn a young offender. Her judgments frame the tension between punitive justice and mercy, shaping Gwen’s fate.

Lyla is a troubled youth whose story foreshadows Gwen’s fate. She serves as a cautionary mirror through whom Miss Thorpe frames the film’s premise. Her arc underscores how environment and poor choices can loop into the same cycle of trouble.

Danny is a regular at Max’s club who becomes Gwen’s lover and partner in crime. He vacillates between tenderness and brutality, driving key plot turns including the violence and the couple’s escalating crimes. His actions pull Gwen deeper into danger and legal jeopardy.

Jimmy Rosso is a sharp-dressed schemer who manipulates Gwen and orchestrates theft to secure his position. His lies and betrayal precipitate Gwen’s downfall and push her toward harsher consequences. His actions set off the chain of events that defines the film’s tragedy.