Force of Evil (1948)

Director:

Abraham Polonsky

Writers:

Abraham Polonsky (screenplay) and
Ira Wolfert (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

Plot:

An unethical lawyer, with an older brother he wants to help, becomes a partner with a client in the numbers racket.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Gangster | Numbers Racket | Heart Trouble | Secretary

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Garfield	...	Joe Morse
Thomas Gomez	...	Leo Morse
Marie Windsor	...	Edna Tucker
Howland Chamberlain	...	Freddie Bauer (as Howland Chamberlin)
Roy Roberts	...	Ben Tucker
Paul Fix	...	Bill Ficco
Stanley Prager	...	Wally
Barry Kelley	...	Det. Egan
Paul McVey	...	Hobe Wheelock
Beatrice Pearson	...	Doris Lowry

Also Known As:

Tucker's People (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Enterprise Productions

Trivia:

This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1994.

Goofs:

Continuity: During a climactic montage set at an East Coast racetrack on the Fourth of July, people in the stock footage crowd scenes are dressed in winter garments nobody would wear in the middle of summer.

Quotes:

Leo Morse: [to Joe] All that Cain did to Abel was murder him.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Rules of Film Noir (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

String Quartet opus 131, no. 14: Ist Movement

A haunting, haunted film

FORCE OF EVIL has remained hovering over me like a ghost all these years. I was studying at Manhattan's Grand Street Playhouse at the time, and the political climate that was beginning to engulf the public had started. Polonsky barely hid the real undercurrent of this remarkable film. When it finally hit the VHS bins, I was almost first on line. I agree with all of the positive remarks on this strong movie, that has all kinds of ghostly memories hovering over it. I did indeed develop a strong crush on Beatrice Pearson, who was an established Broadway actress. She later did quite a turnaround, and even more effective role in LOST BOUNDARIES with excellent work alongside Mel Ferrer, Susan Douglas, Richard Hylton and Carleton Carpenter. From what I have read (if it is to be believed), she was difficult with a friend around offering advice at every turn. Pearson, after BOUNDARIES, returned to Broadway. Wherever she is now may be a mystery, but if she ever reads this, I hope she knows that this is one fan who still smiles at thoughts of her hair falling over the side of her face, her lovely smile, and the sight of her sitting atop a high hall mantle.