The Rebel Set

Jeanne is John Mapes's worried wife who accompanies him on the train after years without steady work. She serves as a moral touchstone, expressing concern for her husband's safety and choices. Her presence anchors the personal stakes of the heist and its aftermath.

John is an out-of-work actor drawn into Tucker's armored car robbery scheme. He navigates guilt and responsibility, ultimately choosing to confess as the plan collapses. His vulnerability and sense of duty reveal the costs of desperation in hard times.

Ray is a struggling writer who joins the scheme, hoping for a break. He wrestles with loyalty and conscience as the plan spirals toward violence. His role highlights how ambition can collide with morality on a perilous journey.

George is the son of movie star Rita Leland, entangled in the caper by family ties and a craving for wealth. His attempt to hoard the money ends in his murder, underscoring the fatal cost of greed. His fate echoes the film's cautionary tone about ambition.

Sidney is Tucker's henchman, carrying out orders and maintaining the crew's momentum. He provides practical ruthlessness and a sense of danger as the plan unravels. His presence heightens the tension between loyalty and self-preservation.

Rita is a movie star and George's mother, anxiously waiting for news of her son on the train. Her glamorous presence contrasts with the criminal scheme unfolding nearby. The ending leaves her unaware of the tragedy that has touched her family.

Mr. Tucker is the Los Angeles coffee house proprietor who hatches the armored car robbery with three down-on-their-luck patrons. He builds a plan on deception and personal gain, then double-crosses the crew to protect his own interests. His scheming drives the train-bound chase and ultimate confrontation.