The Racket
The Racket

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- 67/100 based on 3,247 votes

The big national crime syndicate has moved into town, partnering up with local crime boss Nick Scanlon. There are only two problems: First, Nick is the violent type, preferring to do things the old-fashioned way instead of using the syndicate's more genteel methods. The second problem is McQuigg, the only honest police captain on the force, and his loyal patrolman, Johnson. Together, they take on the violent Nick and try to foil the syndicate's plans to elect Welch, the crook... (Full plot summary below)

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Actors in The Racket:

Robert Mitchum
Lizabeth Scott
Robert Ryan
William Talman
Ray Collins
Joyce Mackenzie

Full Plot Details

The big national crime syndicate has moved into town, partnering up with local crime boss Nick Scanlon. There are only two problems: First, Nick is the violent type, preferring to do things the old-fashioned way instead of using the syndicate's more genteel methods. The second problem is McQuigg, the only honest police captain on the force, and his loyal patrolman, Johnson. Together, they take on the violent Nick and try to foil the syndicate's plans to elect Welch, the crooked prosecutor running for a crooked judgeship.

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Movie Reviews

Classic Film and Television - 10/10 by Michael E. GrostWell-told version of a famous stage play.
New York Times - 4/10 by Bosley CrowtherAs 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.
User Review - 8/10 by Ernie Pan action-packed noir with corruption as its main theme, as well as a dynamite confrontation between the two leads played by Robert Mitchum and Robert Ryan....both of these actors are staples of film noir, and both give solid performances here.
User Review - 8/10 by Marc LExcellent crime drama with the man, Robert Mitchum as a no-bullshit, tough as nails Captain in a town full of corruption. Well shot, well scripted, well acted. A great film.
User Review - 8/10 by Ian PIn 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, the disbelief of the population is almost total. Craig tells that the uncorrupted Captain Thomas McQuigg (Robert Mitchum) was moved to the 7th District Police Station and has the intention to clean his district. The Commission counts on the testimony of Roy Higgins (Howland Chamberlain) but Nick sends one of his men to eliminate him. McQuigg uses his honest Officer Bob Johnson (William Talman) to arrest Nick's brother Joe Scanlon (Brett King) and his lover and singer Irene Hayes (Lizabeth Scott) to press Nick, under the protest of the corrupt District Attorney Mortimer X. Welsh (Ray Collins), who is supported by the mafia to the position of judge on the next elections. When Nick kills Bob, he sees the collapse of his empire and the end of the support of "The Old Man". "The Racket" is a good but dated police story disclosing corruption in all levels of New York City. The ending is extremely commercial, moralist and without credibility, with the subpoenas of Mortimer Welsh and Detective Sergeant Turk and the romance between Irene Hayes and the naive City Press journalist Dave Ames. Robert Ryan is excellent in the role of the violent and old-fashioned criminal, but Robert Mitchum has a bureaucratic performance. Just as a curiosity, the name of the owner of the car used by Joe stamped on the newspaper is William R. Wyler, maybe in a tribute to the great director.
User Review - 6/10 by Paul DA tough talking no nonsense noir with Mitchum and Ryan at odds bringing out the best of the each other.
User Review - 6/10 by Dustin RTHE RACKET dir. John Cromwell Based on the play by Bartlett Cormack, this noir remake of the 1928 film pits a decent cop determined to clean up his district against a ruthless crime boss named Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan) with plenty of officials on the take. Ryan is a force of wonder in this film. Even standing completely still he seems to vibrate with energy. He plays Scanlon with a mesmeric intensity that is equally matched with that of Robert Mitchum as Captain Thomas McQuigg. McQuigg is the classic cop that can't be bought. Mitchum plays him with a piercing stare and eyes that do not flicker. Their scenes together are powderkegs just waiting to be blasted into eternity by one false move. Lizabeth Scott plays club singer Irene Hayes, a throwaway character that Scott provides with a hint of glamour and dry sophistication. Scott has some sharp dialog and a snappy, curt delivery that is disarming and biting. The story is a basic cops and robbers tale with mobsters playing the role of villian. Scanlon is a dapper, controlled figure who McQuigg wants to see take the rap for something that will stick. Scanlon has managed to escape justice because he has people in high places working for him. There's a man named Welsh (Ray Collins) who Scanlon intends on making a judge. Det. Sgt. Kirk (William Conrad) is a seedy sort who seems to be working both angles. On the other side is good cop Bob Johnson (William Talman); he's eager to earn his good guy badge as McQuigg's right hand man. The fight sequences are fairly credible and there is a slight hint of danger in the air at all times. Set designs are minimal as most of the film takes place in a number of found locations or outside. Overall, this film works as a vehicle for both Robert Ryan and Robert Mitchum. Lizabeth Scott's part is rather superfluous although she makes the most out of her limited screen time. The ending is a bit disappointing and predictable as it satisfies the edicts of standard noir aesthetics.
User Review - 6/10 by Penny SRyan and Mitchum are pretty good as rivals in this cops and gangster film, but the dialog is really the star here
User Review - 6/10 by Trent MPretty average noir-procedural that should have been better given this ideal cast.
User Review - 6/10 by Max MGood crime and corruption noir with Robert Mitchum and Robert Ryan as rival cop and gangster.

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