The Enforcer (1951)

Director:

Bretaigne Windust

Writer:

Martin Rackin (written by)

Release Date:

24 February 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Film-Noir

Tagline:

"If you're smart you'll come down - if you're dumb you'll be dead..." (one-sheet poster)

Plot:

A crusading district attorney finally gets a chance to prosecute the organizer and boss of Murder Inc.

Plot Keywords:

Murder Inc. | Murder | District Attorney | Prison | Flashback

Cast

Humphrey Bogart	...	Dist. Atty. Martin Ferguson
Zero Mostel	...	Big Babe Lazick
Ted de Corsia	...	Joseph Rico (as Ted De Corsia)
Everett Sloane	...	Albert Mendoza
Roy Roberts	...	Capt. Frank Nelson
Michael Tolan	...	James (Duke) Malloy (as Lawrence Tolan)
King Donovan	...	Sgt. Whitlow
Bob Steele	...	Herman (as Robert Steele)
Adelaide Klein	...	Olga Kirshen
Don Beddoe	...	Thomas O'Hara
Tito Vuolo	...	Tony Vetto
John Kellogg	...	Vince
Jack Lambert	...	Philadelphia Tom Zaca

Also Known As:

Murder, Inc. (UK)

Runtime:

87 min | 85 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:16 (nf) | UK:PG (1989) | UK:X (1951) (cut) | France:-16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:(Banned) (1951-1960) | Sweden:15 (re-rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #14747) | Finland:(Banned)

Company:

United States Pictures

Trivia:

After several days of filming, director Bretaigne Windust fell seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Humphrey Bogart asked his old friend, director Raoul Walsh, to come in and shoot the picture until Windust recovered. Unfortunately, Windust was more seriously ill than most realized, and his recovery took several months, during which Walsh finished the film. However, Walsh refused to take screen credit for it, saying that the picture was Windust's big break and he wasn't going to take it away from him.

Quotes:

Joseph Rico: [Giving Babe money] There's your first week's pay.
Babe Lazich: Thanks, Mr. Rico, Now I'm ready for the big stuff - maybe even a killing.
Joseph Rico: [grabbing Babe by the collar] Don't ever say that! A murder is a contract. A hit is the sucker that gets killed. Remember those words and use 'em. Then, even if the cops tap our phone, they don't know what you're talkin' about! Get that?
Babe Lazich: Yes, sir. Anything else?
Joseph Rico: Yes. Burn that tent you're wearin' and get yourself a suit!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sonetàula (2008)

Soundtrack:

Kiss Me Sweet

Playing to packed houses in Paris

The Enforcer, whose French title is La femme à abattre, plays often to packed houses in Paris. More than one French critic has called the film a gem (un joyau) among film noir classics. Indeed, its popularity in France says lots about pure plot lines and straightforward characterizations which make the film accessible to non-English-speaking audiences. As many readers know, the French are crazy about American film noir, and it's common to see parents bring their children to see movies like The Enforcer. I recently sat next to such a family when the film played in March 2003 at the Grand Action cinéma in Paris. It was almost moving to hear the father explain to his son that they would be seeing a film which, in his words, is a classic with great insights in the American psyche. Hearing them speak made me wonder how many American families use films of decades past to teach their children about the world in which we live.

By the way, the three cinémas in the Action chain in Paris regularly play American films noirs and other classic American movies, many of them in newly restored versions.

Don Ediger