The Man from London

A middle-aged railway pointsman who lives in a cramped port-town apartment. He is irascible yet capable of quiet resolve, especially in defense of his family, though his desperation pushes him toward morally murky actions. After finding the drowned man’s money, he hides it and becomes entangled in a web of suspicion and crime. He ultimately claims responsibility for killing Brown, revealing a pragmatic but morally ambiguous nature.

Maloin’s highly-strung wife, whose fragility and emotional volatility shape the household’s dynamic. She struggles to understand her husband’s abrupt behavior and the expensive impulse buys that strain their finances. Her perspective highlights the claustrophobic, pressurized atmosphere of domestic life in the port town. Her presence intensifies the film’s tensions and mood.

The daughter who works at the butcher’s and becomes entwined in her father’s reckless actions. She experiences fear when a man enters their hut and is pulled into the family’s dangerous orbit. Her vulnerability underscores the collateral damage of crime and the fragility of safety for those caught in adult secrets.

A man under suspicion for the theft and the murder, whose presence drives the quay and tavern tensions. He becomes the focal point of the investigation and a symbol of the precarious crime-charged world surrounding the money. His interactions with other characters propel the narrative toward its final confrontation.

Brown’s grieving wife, whose life is upended by the crime and its aftermath. She embodies the personal cost of the upheaval and stands as a quiet witness to the town’s moral concerns. Her sorrow frames the emotional consequences of the theft and murder on a family level.

A police inspector from London who navigates the case with a blend of official power and opportunistic maneuvering. He negotiates with Brown and enlists a theater owner’s help, shaping the investigation to fit pragmatic interests. His approach highlights a morally gray enforcement of law where expediency can trump straightforward justice.

The tavern keeper who overhears critical conversations about the money and the murder. A practical, grounded presence in the community, he acts as a conduit for gossip and a witness to key events while staying wary of the full truth.

A working-class figure whose daily struggles reflect the broader impact of crime on ordinary life. She offers a pragmatic, grounded viewpoint that contrasts with the grander schemes surrounding the theft and murder. Her presence shows how the crime’s fallout touches those far from the initial event.