The Racket (1951)

Directed by John Cromwell. Starring Robert Ryan, Robert Mitchum, Lizabeth Scott, William Talman, Robert Hutton, Ray Collins, Joyce MacKenzie, William Conrad, Virginia Huston, Walter Sande, Les Tremayne.

Racketeer Ryan keeps local law and government officials in his pocket, but can’t break through to scrupulous precinct captain Mitchum or straight-laced uniformed officer Talman in this tough and turbulent crime noir. Performances from Mitchum, Talman and especially Ryan breathe life into the sort of stressed roles that are so unoriginal that the carbon paper soot is practically visible, while the disorderly storytelling keeps starting down new blind alleys without purpose or payoff. Gritty camerawork and a few muscular moments keep the pic zipping along despite all those needless complications, but it doesn’t have the impact it should have (its climax is fairly memorable, though). Based on the play by Bartlett McCormack, previously filmed as a 1928 silent. Several people assisted Cromwell’s directing, including Nicholas Ray and Mel Ferrer (they all went uncredited for their contributions).

63/100