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Force of Evil

Play trailer Poster for Force of Evil 1948,  1h 18m,  Crime/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 100% 19 Reviews Tomatometer 75% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In New York City, unscrupulous lawyer Joe Morse (John Garfield), has the opportunity to make it big by teaming up with cutthroat gangster Ben Tucker (Roy Roberts) to consolidate the numbers racket. The only hitch in the plan is Morse's brother, Leo (Thomas Gomez), who refuses to involve his bank in the plan. As a result, Leo's bank would go from being saved to being another casualty in Morse and Tucker's thirst for power. Now, Morse must choose between money and family.
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Critics Reviews

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Bosley Crowther New York Times Aug 8, 2006
4/5
For all its unpleasant nature, it must be said that this film is a dynamic crime-and-punishment drama, brilliantly and broadly realized. Go to Full Review
Don Druker Chicago Reader Jan 1, 2000
A poetic, terse, beautifully exact, and highly personal re-creation of the American underworld, with an unpunctuated Joycean screenplay by Polonsky that is perhaps unique in the American cinema. Go to Full Review
Pedro Gallego Espinof Jun 11, 2026
5/5
The complexity of the characters, the marvelous staging propelled by excellent black-and-white cinematography, and a truly revolutionary Garfield in his use of his attributes sustains 'Force of Evil' as an incredible work. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Nov 23, 2022
A
Bitter vision of postwar urban inhumanity. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Sep 15, 2022
4/4
Abraham Polonsky takes an unflinching jab at America’s all-consuming capitalism, powerfully links the film’s themes with its noirish visual treatment and cutting, and uses poetic dialogue that has the gravitas of a Greek tragedy. Go to Full Review
Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Mar 28, 2022
A peak John Garfield vehicle. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jan 26, 2019 The best, GREATEST gangster movie ever made!
Ron S Dec 7, 2017 It was a little hard to follow the plot in details, but what is undeniable is its unique dialogue, unorthodox in the movies like this; a conventional noir movie utilizes pretty straightforward vocabulary and wording. This doesn't apply to this movie. I might need to rewatch it some time to reconsider some of the aspects, but as for now I don't find it a masterpiece others claim it to be. But nevertheless I liked the movie, ugliness has never been more perfect, corruption of human nature of the highest level. See more
Hagrid S Mar 17, 2017 Garfield plus windsor=awesome noir thriller
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Force of Evil

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Cast & Crew

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Abraham Polonsky

Director

John Garfield

Joe Morse

Beatrice Pearson

Doris Lowry

Thomas Gomez

Leo Morse

Howland Chamberlain

Freddie Bauer

Roy Roberts

Ben Tucker

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Force of Evil

Force of Evil (1948) Force of Evil (1948) Force of Evil (1948) Force of Evil (1948) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In New York City, unscrupulous lawyer Joe Morse (John Garfield), has the opportunity to make it big by teaming up with cutthroat gangster Ben Tucker (Roy Roberts) to consolidate the numbers racket. The only hitch in the plan is Morse's brother, Leo (Thomas Gomez), who refuses to involve his bank in the plan. As a result, Leo's bank would go from being saved to being another casualty in Morse and Tucker's thirst for power. Now, Morse must choose between money and family.
Director
Abraham Polonsky
Producer
Bob Roberts
Screenwriter
Abraham Polonsky, Ira Wolfert
Distributor
Republic Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1948, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 11, 2004
Runtime
1h 18m
Sound Mix
Mono
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