7.5/10
2,554
38 user 21 critic

The Breaking Point (1950)

An otherwise moral captain of a charter boat becomes financially strapped and is drawn into illegal activities in order to keep up payments on his boat.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Ranald MacDougall (screen play by), Ernest Hemingway (based on the story by)
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Garfield ... Harry Morgan
Patricia Neal ... Leona Charles
Phyllis Thaxter ... Lucy Morgan
Juano Hernandez ... Wesley Park
Wallace Ford ... F.R. Duncan
Edmon Ryan ... Rogers
Ralph Dumke ... Hannagan
Guy Thomajan ... Danny
William Campbell ... Concho
Sherry Jackson ... Amy Morgan
Donna Jo Boyce Donna Jo Boyce ... Connie Morgan
Victor Sen Yung ... Mr. Sing
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Storyline

Fishing boat captain Harry Morgan charters his boat. Due to strained finances, he is none too careful as to whom he does business with. Real trouble erupts when Harry hires out his boat to transport four men who turn out to be criminals on the lam from a racetrack heist. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

SCREAMING OFF THE PAGES OF THE HEMINGWAY STORY!! [original poster] See more »


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Identified by critic Thom Andersen as an example of "film gris", a suggested sub-category of film noir incorporating a left-wing narrative. See more »

Goofs

When Harry goes to look at the plaques and pictures on the wall, the positions of some change between the longer shot and the close-up where he straightens the picture of the PT boat - most noticeably the plaque with his medal ribbons. See more »

Quotes

Harry Morgan: Don't you like cock fights?
Leona Charles: [dismissively] All that trouble for an egg.
See more »

Connections

Remade as The Gun Runners (1958) See more »

Soundtracks

Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
(uncredited)
Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Sidney Clare
Sung by Patricia Neal in the bar
See more »

User Reviews

 
Great and Underrated Garfield Movie
23 January 2006 | by prometheeusSee all my reviews

I just saw this movie in the last week at a recent Film Noir Festival here in San Francisco. Garfield owns this role as a down on his luck captain of his boat. He is willing to take shady deals to make money for him and keep his family (his two young daughters) with money. His wife played by Phyllis Thaxter gives a fine turn as a wife and mother. Patricia Neal is smooth and dangerous in her role as a two timing blonde broad. The daughters that played the kids were effective and smart like their ages were depicted. Garfield's mate Wesley Park was very good in his role of Garfiled's suffering partner. The reptilian role of the attorney was convincing and nasty. The final minutes of the movie had me choked up with the performances from Garfield and Thaxter. Another great movie by Michael Curtiz. Why isn't this movie on DVD?


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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Release Date:

6 October 1950 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Breaking Point See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »

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