The Racket

The Racket (1951)

  • 20% of critics liked it
    (5 reviews)

  • 44% of users liked it
    (803 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

In Theaters
Jan 1, 1951 Wide

Critic Reviews

  • , Time Out

    Softer than it should have been, then, but still dark enough to lose yourself in.

  • 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.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    A typical gangster film.

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Bruce B


    In New York, corruption has reached all levels under the command of the powerful mobster lord "The Old Man" and the local crime boss Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan). When the Crime Commission under the command of Chief Investigator Harry Craig (Les Tremayne) meets with governor,… More

  • 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.

Currently unavailable on Flixster

Also available on

UltraViolet Retailers

Other Retailers

Not Available
Not Available

Subscription Services

Not Available
Not Available
Not Available

Cast

See more (56)