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The Racket (1928) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   206 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Lewis Milestone
Writers:
Bartlett Cormack (play)
Bartlett Cormack (adaptation)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Racket on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 November 1928 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Film-Noir more
Plot:
An honest police captain vows to bring down a powerful bootlegger who is protected by corrupt politicians and judges. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. more
User Comments:
Stagey early crime melodrama done in by stiffness more (12 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Thomas Meighan ... Police Captain James McQuigg
Louis Wolheim ... Nick Scarsi
Marie Prevost ... Helen Hayes
G. Pat Collins ... Patrolman Johnson (as Pat Collins)
Henry Sedley ... Spike Corcoran
George E. Stone ... Joe Scarsi (as George Stone)
Sam De Grasse ... District Attorney Harry Welch (as Sam DeGrasse)
Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher ... Reporter Miller (as Skeets Gallagher)
Lee Moran ... Reporter Pratt
John Darrow ... Cub Reporter Ames
Lucien Prival ... Chick
Dan Wolheim ... Sergeant Turck
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
84 min (2004 alternate version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Silent
Certification:
USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)
Company:
The Caddo Company more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 22 November 1927 and closed in March 1928 after 119 performances. The opening night cast included Edward G. Robinson, Romaine Callender, G. Pat Collins (who is also in the movie), Norman Foster, Hugh O'Connell and Willard Robertson. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
[McQuigg ducks into a doorway when one of Scari's henchmen shoots at but purposely misses him. Scarsi emerges from behind the door]
Nick Scarsi: Hello, Mac.
Police Captain James McQuigg: Hello, Nick.
Nick Scarsi: Take a tip, Mac... change your racket.
Police Captain James McQuigg: I like my racket... and I haven't shot yet.
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Movie Connections:
Remade as The Racket (1951) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
3 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
Stagey early crime melodrama done in by stiffness, 31 January 2005
5/10
Author: Arne Andersen (aandersen@landmarkcollege.org) from Putney, VT

I am one of the nay sayers, I'm afraid. Everyone else who has left a comment on this film loved it, it seems. I thought the first half hour or so went very well as this segment contained scenes that opened out the stage play, but the final hour, which is pretty much confined to one precinct house and two sets, is very stagy, very stiff and for me, very dull.

I am surprised that the other early crime melodrama of that time period, UNDERWORLD, which was far more interesting and cinematic, didn't cop the Best Film Oscar nom - it did get an Oscar for writing, so I guess it was the voters' way of being fair and divvying up the spoils, but THE RACKET is no way near as good a film as UNDERWORLD.

Walter Brennan's one scene occurs about ten minutes into the film, George Stone's mug as Joe Scarci is almost as homely as Louis Wolheim, who plays lead heavy Nick Scarsi. At least they match as brothers in central casting.

Meighan is wooden as the idealistic cop. Lucien Prival as Chick reminded me of Pee Wee Herman. I'm glad it was rescued from oblivion, but I for one am not one to think this a great film by any means.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
A great movie! wtl471629
On TCM July 14, 2008, 12am dautkomm
DVD stageactor
Banned in Chicago DooMer87
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