Wide Boy

A small-time black marketeer whose quick wit hides a ruthless willingness to manipulate others. His opportunism leads to theft, blackmail, and a spiraling series of dangerous decisions. Ultimately, Benny's scheme collapses under pressure, ending with his death at a railway bridge.

Benny's girlfriend and hairdresser who becomes implicated in his schemes. She is drawn into Benny's world by loyalty and affection, but is also used as a conduit for information. Her role amplifies the film's tension as loyalty and self-preservation clash.

The mistress of Mannering, entangled in a web of secrets and lies. She becomes a target of Benny's blackmail after the letter reveals the affair, illustrating how desire and secrecy drive the plot forward.

A famous surgeon whose dying wife forms part of a complicated web of relationships. He seeks to avoid scandal through discreet arrangements, but Benny's blackmail disrupts his carefully controlled image and plans.

The barman at The Flamingo who initially denies Benny's presence but later identifies him to the police. He serves as a key witness who ties Benny to the crime through routine details of the night.

A shady intermediary Benny turns to in an attempt to escape the country. Rocco's price and willingness to help shape Benny's fate, highlighting how unscrupulous contacts can complicate even the best-laid plans.

A police investigator who pieces together the case from stolen goods, the letter, and witness statements. His presence marks the shift from illicit activity to formal pursuit and justice.