The Lawless (1950)

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(73 ratings)

The Lawless was director Joseph Losey's second feature-length film. The story concerns a group of Mexican-American migrant workers who are subjected to all sorts of abuse and intolerance by their California bosses. A violent clash between whites and Latinos at a dance results in a torrent of… More The Lawless was director Joseph Losey's second feature-length film. The story concerns a group of Mexican-American migrant workers who are subjected to all sorts of abuse and intolerance by their California bosses. A violent clash between whites and Latinos at a dance results in a torrent of bigotry. Seemingly the only Californian willing to champion the workers' cause is crusading newspaperman Larry Wilder, and soon he too is the victim of senseless mob violence. The story boils to a manhunt for a fugitive fruit-picker who has been accused of fomenting the aforementioned riot. Director Losey, producers William Pine and William Thomas and screenwriter Geoffrey Homes (aka Daniel Mainwaring) are to be commended for tackling a controversial issue in an honest, no-nonsense fashion; even so, the film ends in standard Hollywood-liberal fashion with a white man coming to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Joseph Losey
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1950 Wide
On DVD: Jul 20, 2009
Studio: Maverick Entertainment Group

Critic Reviews

Jaime N. Christley, Slant Magazine
The protean Losey's second feature is a modest little fighter that takes a risky subject--race and class conflict in a quiet, SoCal town--and almost goes somewhere with it. Olive Films did a first-rate job with their standard-definition transfer.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This early, socially-conscious film by Joseph Losey, before he was blacklisted, deals with racial discrimination in a powerful way.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Tightly paced social problem programmer is well directed by Losey. Carey was never the strongest of leading men and perhaps the film would have been better served by an actor with more gravitas in the lead but he turns in an acceptable performance. Gail Russell is fine in the limited… More
Tightly paced social problem programmer is well directed by Losey. Carey was never the strongest of leading men and perhaps the film would have been better served by an actor with more gravitas in the lead but he turns in an acceptable performance. Gail Russell is fine in the limited screen time she has but her role isn't really noteworthy. The person who is underutilized is Lee Patrick as an out of town reporter, whenever she's on screen the other actors recede into the background so sharp is her presence, the mark of a truly outstanding supporting performer. The story is sadly relevant however even today, how people can be swayed by mob rule and unreasoning prejudice.

Cast

            Macdonald Carey as Larry Wilder

            Gail Russell as Sunny Garcia

            Lalo Rios as Paul Rodriguez

            John Hoyt as Ed Ferguson

            Johnny Sands as Joe Ferguson

            Lee Patrick as Jan Dawson

            Maurice Jara as Lopo Chavez

            Walter Reed as Jim Wilson

            Argentina Brunetti as Mrs. Rodriguez

            William Edmunds as Mr. Jensen

            Gloria Winters as Mildred Jensen

            John Davis as Harry Pawling

            Martha Hyer as Caroline Tyler

            Frank Fenton as Mr. Prentis

            Paul Harvey as Chief of Police Blake

            Felipe Turich as Mr. Rodriguez

            Ian MacDonald as Sgt. Al Peters

            Noel Reyburn as Fred Jackson

            Tab Hunter as Frank O'Brien

            Russ Conway as Eldredge

            Robert B. Williams as Boswell

            James Bush as Anderson

            Julia Faye as Mrs. Jensen

            Howard Negley as Pete Cassell

            Gordon Nelson as Cadwallader

            Frank Ferguson as Carl Green

            Ray Hyke as Motorcycle Officer

            Pedro de Cordoba as Mr. Garcia

            Herbert Anderson as Jonas Creel

            John Murphy as Mayor
See full cast