The Racket (1951)

42% of users liked it
(787 ratings)

The Racket was based on a play by Bartlett Cormack, first filmed as a silent in 1928. The storyline was updated to include references to Estes Kefauver's Senate Crime Investigating Committee: otherwise, the plot (and much of the dialogue) was lifted bodily from the Cormack play. Racketeer Robert… More The Racket was based on a play by Bartlett Cormack, first filmed as a silent in 1928. The storyline was updated to include references to Estes Kefauver's Senate Crime Investigating Committee: otherwise, the plot (and much of the dialogue) was lifted bodily from the Cormack play. Racketeer Robert Ryan has managed to get several government and law-enforcement higher-ups in his pocket. But Ryan can't touch the incorruptible police officer Robert Mitchum, who refuses all attempts at bribery. Ryan pulls strings to get Mitchum transferred to a series of undesirable precincts, but Mitchum will not be dissuaded. The battle of wills between cop and criminal comes to a head when mob-connected nightclub singer Lizabeth Scott turns on her former protector Ryan. The Broadway version of The Racket starred Edward G. Robinson as the racketeer; the 1928 film version featured Louis Wolheim in the Robinson role and Thomas Meighan as the upright cop. Both the silent and sound versions of the property were personally produced by Howard R. Hughes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: John Cromwell, Nicholas Ray
Written By: William Wister Haines, W.R. Burnett
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1951 Wide
On DVD: Apr 25, 1990

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
As for the film's observations on crooks and poltics, they are so generalized and familiar that this is just a case of one more time around.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
[A] hard-hitting melodrama.
, Time Out
Softer than it should have been, then, but still dark enough to lose yourself in.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A typical gangster film.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

I can't remember this movie very well, it didn't make a big impression on me, it's another cop drama. It's okay, not bad, but not good either.
Ken S

Ryan and Mitchum are pretty good as rivals in this cops and gangster film, but the dialog is really the star here
Michael G

This movie kicks ass even though the leading lady has a more masculine voice than Will Arnet.

Cast

            Robert Mitchum as Capt. Thomas McQuigg

            Lizabeth Scott as Irene Hayes

            Robert Ryan as Nick Scanlon

            William Talman as Johnson

            Ray Collins as Welch

            Joyce Mackenzie as Mary McQuigg

            Robert Hutton as Ames

            Virginia Huston as Lucy Johnson

            William Conrad as Turck

            Walter Sande as Delaney

            Les Tremayne as Harry Craig

            Walter S. Baldwin as Sullivan

            Brett King as Joe Scanlon

            Tito Vuolo as Tony

            Iris Adrian as Sadie

            Eric Alden as Sergeant

            Don Beddoe as Mitchell

            Robert Bice
            
            Matthew Boulton as Simpson

            Barry Brooks as Cameron

            Howland Chamberlain as Higgins

            John Day as Menig

            Donald Dillaway as Harris

            Pat Flaherty as Clerk

            Jack Gargan as Lewis

            Dick Gordon as Man

            Richard Karlan as Enright

            Hazel Keener as Secretary

            Harry Lauter as Police Officer Mosley

            Ralph Montgomery as Man

            Al Murphy as Newsboy

            Eddie Parker as Thug

            Ralph Peters as Davis

            Don Porter as Connolly

            Joey Ray as Reporter

            Richard Reeves as Leo

            Steve Roberts as Schmidt

            George Sherwood as Douglas

            Milburn Stone as Foster

            Herb Vigran as Headwaiter

            Max Wagner as Durko

            Bud Wolfe as Detective

            Jack Shea as Sergeant

            Dulce Daye
            
            Art Dupuis as Policeman

            Jane Easton as Operator

            Richard H. Gordon
            
            Howard Joslin as Sgt. Werker

            Michael Lally as Sergeant

            Allen Mathews as Man

            Sally Yarnell as Operator

            Bret Hamilton
            
            Ronald Lee as Elevator Boy

            Harriet Matthews as Librarian

            Miles Shepard
            
            Duke Taylor as Policeman
See full cast