Character Relationship Map: The Inspector

Characters

• Peter Jongman (played by Stephen Boyd) — protagonist

  A Dutch police inspector haunted by his failure to save his Jewish fiancée during the Nazi occupation. He follows Lisa Held and Thorens to London, then helps Lisa escape exploitation and reach Palesti...

• Lisa Held (played by Dolores Hart) — protagonist

  A survivor of Auschwitz who accepts Thorens's offer to smuggle her to Palestine, unaware that he intends to send her into sex work. After escaping him, she accepts Peter Jongman's help. Her experience...

• Brandt (played by Leo McKern) — supporting

  The captain of a barge who gives Peter Jongman and Lisa Held work during their journey. Referred to as crusty but goodhearted, Brandt comes to accept the pair. He also refers them to the smuggler Van...

• Van der Pink (played by Hugh Griffith) — supporting

  A Dutch smuggler in Tangiers whom Peter Jongman and Lisa Held contact on Captain Brandt's recommendation. His initial price for passage to Palestine is too high, so Jongman negotiates a year's unpaid...

• Browne (played by Neil McCallum) — supporting

  An American whom Peter Jongman approaches for help arranging Lisa Held's journey. Browne initially agrees, but after learning about Lisa's experiences at Auschwitz, urges her to testify at the Nurembe...

• Wolters (played by Donald Pleasence) — supporting

  A sergeant in the Dutch police who trails Thorens and Lisa Held with Inspector Peter Jongman. The plot summary identifies him as part of the pursuit but gives no further actions or personal details, s...

• Rachel (played by Anne Dickins) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Lisa Held → Van der Pink (Power Passage Dependent) — Van der Pink controls access to the next stage of Lisa's escape.

  Lisa's route to Palestine depends on Van der Pink's vessel after his initial price proves too high.

• Peter Jongman → Brandt (Professional Maritime Employer) — Brandt provides Peter with employment and a route toward Tangiers.

  Through contacts, Peter finds work for himself and Lisa on a barge owned by Brandt.

• Peter Jongman → Wolters (Professional Police Colleague) — Wolters is part of Peter's police environment and investigative pursuit.

  Peter and Sergeant Wolters trail Lisa and the trafficker as Dutch police inspectors.

• Peter Jongman → Rachel (Romantic Former Fiancée) — Rachel's death motivates Peter's determination to save Lisa.

  Peter carries guilt because he failed to save his Jewish fiancée Rachel from the Nazis.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Browne → Peter Jongman (Alliance Conditional Helper) — Browne offers temporary assistance while challenging Peter's chosen solution.

  Browne initially agrees to help Peter and Lisa, but changes his position after learning about Lisa's experiences.

• Browne → Lisa Held (Alliance Advocate) — Browne tries to redirect Lisa toward public testimony and accountability.

  After learning about Lisa's Auschwitz experiences, Browne urges her to testify at the Nuremberg War Trials.

• Peter Jongman → Van der Pink (Alliance Transactional Ally) — Their cooperation is based on a dangerous and exploitative bargain.

  Peter arranges passage on one of Van der Pink's vessels in exchange for captaining a ship for a year without pay.

• Brandt → Van der Pink (Social Referring Contact) — Brandt's contact connects the couple to the smuggling network.

  Brandt refers Peter and Lisa to Van der Pink in Tangiers for passage to Palestine.

• Brandt → Lisa Held (Alliance Supportive Guardian) — Brandt becomes a goodhearted supporter of their journey.

  Lisa and Peter gain Brandt's acceptance during the barge journey, despite his initially crusty manner.

• Peter Jongman → Lisa Held (Alliance Protector) — Peter repeatedly protects Lisa and helps her pursue passage to Palestine.

  After Lisa escapes the trafficker's flat, Peter returns to the riverbank and declares that he will help her.

Story Analysis

A guilt-ridden policeman seeks redemption by protecting a concentration-camp survivor, even when helping her demands personal sacrifice.

Plot Progression

1. A Promise Built on Deception — Lisa seeks passage from a former Nazi trafficker while Peter and Wolters follow her from Holland to London. Peter's confrontation leads to a fatal accident and forces Lisa to flee.
2. A Vow of Protection — Peter finds Lisa at the riverbank and chooses to help her. In Amsterdam, her Auschwitz testimony transforms suspicion into sympathy and strengthens Peter's resolve.
3. Love Across the Sea — Peter and Lisa travel aboard Brandt's barge and gradually fall in love. In Tangiers, financial barriers and Lisa's trauma threaten their future together.
4. Contracts and Compromises — Browne proposes that Lisa testify, but Peter continues pursuing passage to Palestine. Peter accepts a harsh service bargain and discovers that Van der Pink has concealed weapons.
5. The Cost of Deliverance — An armed attack wounds Lisa as the vessel nears Palestine. Peter delivers her to safety and then honors his promise by surrendering for trial.