Character Relationship Map: The Stranger

Characters

• Federal Agent Wilson (played by Edward G. Robinson) — protagonist

  Federal Agent Wilson works for the United Nations War Crimes Commission and hunts a fugitive war criminal hiding under a new identity. He follows a former associate to the Connecticut town, identifies...

• Mary Longstreet (played by Loretta Young) — protagonist

  Mary Longstreet is the daughter of Supreme Court Justice Adam Longstreet and the fiancée of Prof. Charles Rankin. She initially protects her husband and lies about his former associate, but Wilson's e...

• Prof. Charles Rankin (played by Orson Welles) — supporting

  Prof. Charles Rankin is a teacher who has assumed a respectable identity while hiding his past as a Nazi war criminal. He repairs the town clock, kills his former associate to prevent exposure, poison...

• Judge Adam Longstreet (played by Philip Merivale) — supporting

  Judge Adam Longstreet is Mary's father and a Supreme Court justice whose family standing helps surround Prof. Charles Rankin with an appearance of respectability. Although he is not shown directing th...

• Noah Longstreet (played by Richard Long) — supporting

  Noah Longstreet is Mary's brother and a member of the Longstreet family. He enters the decisive household confrontation with Federal Agent Wilson, arriving as Prof. Charles Rankin attempts to eliminat...

• Konrad Meinike (played by Konstantin Shayne) — supporting

  Konrad Meinike is a former associate of the fugitive war criminal whom Federal Agent Wilson releases in hopes of tracing the hidden suspect. He reaches the Connecticut town, has become repentant and C...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Mary Longstreet → Noah Longstreet (Family Siblings) — Noah's arrival helps prevent Rankin from eliminating Mary during the household confrontation.

  The plot identifies Noah as Mary's brother and says he arrives with Wilson during Rankin's attempted attack on Mary.

• Mary Longstreet → Judge Adam Longstreet (Family Father And Daughter) — Their family connection places Rankin's intended marriage within the Longstreet household.

  The plot identifies Mary as the daughter of Supreme Court Justice Adam Longstreet.

• Mary Longstreet → Prof. Charles Rankin (Romantic Fiancés Turned Enemies) — Mary's love and loyalty give way to resistance when she accepts that Rankin is a war criminal who intends to kill her.

  Mary is about to marry Rankin and initially protects him, even lying about Meinike. After learning the truth and discovering Rankin's plot against her...

Story Dynamics

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

• Prof. Charles Rankin → Noah Longstreet (Conflict Would-Be Attacker And Interrupter) — Noah's arrival obstructs Rankin's attempt against Mary and forces Rankin to flee.

  Noah arrives with Wilson as Rankin attempts to eliminate Mary, helping prevent the attack.

• Prof. Charles Rankin → Judge Adam Longstreet (Social Prospective Son-in-Law) — Rankin's engagement to Mary places him within the judge's family circle, lending respectability to his assumed identity.

  Rankin is about to marry Mary, Judge Adam Longstreet's daughter.

• Federal Agent Wilson → Noah Longstreet (Alliance Joint Rescuers) — Their arrival interrupts Rankin's attack and contributes to his escape from the house.

  Wilson and Mary's brother arrive as Rankin attempts to eliminate Mary, preventing the attack.

• Mary Longstreet → Federal Agent Wilson (Alliance Reluctant Informant And Investigator) — Wilson's investigation challenges Mary's loyalty to Rankin and helps her recognize the danger he poses.

  Wilson tries to convince Mary that Rankin is a criminal and shows her footage of concentration camps. She ultimately accepts the truth and resists Ran...

• Mary Longstreet → Konrad Meinike (Narrative Witness To His Visit) — Mary's knowledge of Meinike's visit makes her a potential source of evidence, but she initially conceals it from Wilson.

  The plot says Mary is the only person who knows Meinike came to meet her husband. She later lies about Meinike to protect Rankin.

• Federal Agent Wilson → Konrad Meinike (Alliance Tracker And Informant) — Wilson uses Meinike's release as a way to trace the fugitive, but Meinike is killed before he can provide Wilson with proof.

  Wilson releases Meinike hoping he will lead him to Kindler. Wilson follows him to the Connecticut town, although he loses sight of him before Meinike...

• Prof. Charles Rankin → Konrad Meinike (Conflict Former Associate Turned Murderer) — Their past association becomes a direct threat to Rankin's concealment, and he kills Meinike to silence him.

  Meinike, Rankin's former associate, urges him to confess. Rankin strangles him because Meinike's knowledge could expose him.

• Federal Agent Wilson → Prof. Charles Rankin (Conflict Hunter And Fugitive) — Wilson investigates Rankin's assumed identity and pursues him after Rankin's attempted attack on Mary.

  Wilson hunts the fugitive war criminal Franz Kindler, whom he eventually identifies as Rankin. He follows him into the church belfry during the final...

Story Analysis

A war-crimes investigator tracks a fugitive whose new identity is threatened by evidence, conscience, and the woman he intends to marry.

Plot Progression

1. A Fugitive's Trail — Wilson releases Meinike and follows him to a Connecticut town. There, Kindler is concealed behind the respectable identity of teacher Charles Rankin.
2. The Secret Under Threat — Meinike urges Rankin to confess, but Rankin kills him to protect his identity. Wilson's conversation with Rankin reveals the fugitive's beliefs and gives Wilson grounds for suspicion.
3. Mary's Doubt — The discovery of Meinike's body and Rankin's poisoning of the dog expose the danger surrounding his secret. Mary initially accepts his account and lies to protect him, while Wilson presents evidence o...
4. Flight to the Belfry — Mary discovers Rankin's plan against her and confronts him. Wilson and Noah interrupt the attempted attack, sending Rankin fleeing toward the church.
5. The Clock's Final Judgment — Mary and Wilson pursue Rankin into the belfry as the town gathers below. Mary shoots him, and he is impaled by a moving clock figure before falling to his death.