The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

Year: 2012

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: Shawn Seet

DramaCrimeMystery

In 1886 Melbourne, two men enter a hansom cab on a foggy evening. One passenger exits, while the other continues the journey to St Kilda. Upon arrival, the cab driver discovers the remaining man has been murdered, triggering a wave of fear and fascination throughout the burgeoning city, still thriving from the gold rush era. The shocking crime captivates the high society and sets off a search for the killer.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (2012)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (2012). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 19th century

Set in Victorian-era Melbourne, the story unfolds amid rapid urban growth and evolving social norms. Wealth and status define much of the town’s interactions, while ordinary lives intersect with crime and high society. The era’s emphasis on reputation drives many characters to conceal and protect private truths.

Location

Melbourne, Australia

Colonial Melbourne serves as the bustling backdrop for a web of social tension. The city blends grand public spaces with crowded, shadowy corners where secrets fester. Public houses, parties, and boarding houses illuminate class disparities and the pressure to maintain appearances.

🏛️ Historical city 🗺️ Colonial era 🌆 Melbourne

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:36

Main Characters – The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (2012)

Meet the key characters of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (2012), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Oliver Whyte (Brett Climo)

A desperate, disillusioned man whose bitterness about his prospects triggers a fatal chain of events. His drunken bravado and professed belief that his time has come reveal a vulnerable core that makes him both a catalyst and a victim.

🎭 Drama 🕰️ Period piece 💔 Tragedy

Mark Frettlby (John Waters)

A respected barrister and public figure who hides a dangerous secret. He manipulates Madge and the social circle around him, using a sealed note to hint at blackmail while maintaining a polished, respectable façade.

👔 Power 🎭 Drama 💔 Secrets

Madge (Jessica De Gouw)

Daughter of Frettlby, betrothed to Whyte but in love with Fitzgerald. She embodies the conflict between duty and desire, and her honesty ultimately reshapes the path to truth and reconciliation.

💖 Love 🎭 Drama 🕊️ Romance

Duncan Calton (Marco Chiappi)

A renowned barrister who becomes the strategic force behind uncovering the truth. Calton’s legal acumen and pragmatic compassion push the investigation toward a just resolution and the protection of vulnerable parties.

🧠 Strategy ⚖️ Justice 🎭 Drama

Brian Fitzgerald (Oliver Ackland)

A wealthy wool merchant who becomes one of the central love interests. He navigates social expectations and the truth about Frettlby’s secrets while maintaining his integrity when the case unfolds.

💼 Wealth 💖 Love 🎭 Drama

Detective Gorby (Shane Jacobson)

The methodical investigator who guides the early inquiries and pursues motive and opportunity. His keen eye for detail helps peel back the layers of deception surrounding the case.

🕵️ Detective 🧩 Mystery 🧭 Investigation

Rosanna Moore / The Queen (Anna McGahan)

A glamorous burlesque performer whose relationship with Frettlby uncovers a buried secret about a daughter. Her history drives the social scandal that complicates the pursuit of truth.

🎭 Drama 💔 Scandal 💫 Glamour

Sal Rawlins (Chelsie Preston Crayford)

A quick-witted young woman connected to the boarding-house world; she drives the plot with a necklace theft and later funds a women’s shelter with the case’s proceeds. Her resourcefulness and dark loyalty make her a pivotal figure.

🗝️ Secrets 🧩 Resilience 🧭 Social

Roger Moreland (Charlie Cousins)

The murderous, opportunistic figure who becomes entangled in Frettlby’s secrets. His crime escalates the case, leading to a dramatic unraveling and a grim fate.

🗡️ Crime 💀 Tragedy 🕵️ Investigation

Mother Guttersnipe (Helen Morse)

Caretaker of a rundown boarding house who embodies the street-level social world of colonial Melbourne. Her place is a crucible where vulnerable lives intersect and secrets sometimes surface.

🏚️ Slums 🕰️ Era 👵 Care

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:36

Major Themes – The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (2012)

Explore the central themes of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (2012), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Secrets

The narrative revolves around concealed pasts and hidden motives that threaten reputations. A blackmail note, forbidden liaisons, and a web of half-truths push characters to expose or protect dangerous secrets. Revelations upend alliances and force a reckoning in the courtroom and drawing room alike. The pursuit of truth tests loyalty and moral integrity.

⚖️ Justice

A courtroom drama probes guilt, innocence, and how far people will go to preserve their dignity. Legal maneuvering and strategic alliances, led by Calton and Kilsip, seek to sift fact from fiction. The resolution hinges on balancing mercy with accountability, and on protecting the vulnerable from scandal. Truth, once uncovered, reshapes futures and social standing.

❤️ Love

Romantic entanglements test loyalty and social obligation. Madge’s engagement to Whyte conflicts with her true feelings for Fitzgerald, while Rosanna Moore’s history deepens the personal stakes for Frettlby. The story uses love to reveal vulnerability, challenge pretenses, and drive the characters toward pivotal choices that alter their destinies.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:36

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Atmospheric period crime investigations like The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

Methodical detective stories steeped in the social mores of a bygone era.If you enjoyed the methodical Victorian-era mystery of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, you'll find more movies like it here. This collection features similar steady-paced dramas where a crime investigation exposes the dark underbelly and rigid class structures of a historical period.

atmosphericsuspensefulmelancholicmysteriousgothicgrimthought-provoking

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a procedural investigation—often led by a determined detective or amateur sleuth—that slowly peels back the polished surface of a community to reveal corruption, hidden identities, and long-buried family sins. The resolution often carries a significant emotional cost, balancing justice with personal tragedy.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a historical crime as a lens to examine society, their atmospheric and detailed period settings, and their steady, character-driven pacing that prioritizes suspense and moral quandaries over action.

Bittersweet dramas with heavy consequences like The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

Stories where the truth brings a painful, morally complex resolution.Fans of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab who appreciated its emotionally heavy and bittersweet ending will find similar movies here. These stories explore how secrets and scandals unravel lives, culminating in resolutions that mix justice with profound personal tragedy.

sombermelancholicheavytragicgrimthought-provokingbittersweet

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a central secret—such as blackmail, illegitimacy, or a past crime—that, when uncovered, causes a chain reaction of ruin. Characters are forced to confront harsh truths, leading to outcomes like shattered reputations, family estrangement, or even death. While order may be restored, it is tinged with sadness and loss.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their heavy emotional weight, focus on the destructive power of secrets, and their concluding tone which balances a sense of justice with the undeniable pain of its consequences, resulting in a powerfully bittersweet feeling.

Unlock the Full Story of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Mystery of a Hansom Cab in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Mystery of a Hansom Cab is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Summary

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Timeline

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

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