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The Racket

Play trailer Poster for The Racket 1951,  1h 28m,  Crime/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 25% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 44% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
25% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
As one of the few honest cops left in the city, Capt. Thomas McQuigg (Robert Mitchum) has his back against the wall when a large crime syndicate makes its way to his doorstep. After bringing aboard local mobster Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan), the illegal organization intends to help place corrupt attorney Mortimer X. Welsh (Ray Collins) in a prominent government position. But, if McQuigg can stay alive long enough, he just might be able to bring down the crooks with a key witness (Lizabeth Scott).

Critics Reviews

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Bosley Crowther New York Times Mar 25, 2006
2/5
As for the film's observations on crooks and poltics, they are so generalized and familiar that this is just a case of one more time around. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 8, 2025
2.5/4
The fractured approach isn’t the result of an offbeat angle as much as it’s the victim of a sloppy screenplay. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jun 14, 2023
1.5/4
...a predominantly underwhelming and uninvolving endeavor... Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia Jan 14, 2021
5/10
It is a film noir that, before an hour passes, takes away all my interest with its mechanical plot, the clichés and the repertoire of ductile characters of the police procedural. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Harry MacArthur Washington Star Feb 6, 2020
Director John Cromwell keeps crackling along at a fast and noisy clip. Go to Full Review
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Dec 26, 2016
Well-told version of a famous stage play. Go to Full Review
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The Racket

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John Cromwell

Director

Robert Mitchum

Capt. Thomas McQuigg

Robert Ryan

Nick Scanlon

Lizabeth Scott

Irene Hayes

William Talman

Officer Bob Johnson

Ray Collins

District Attorney Mortimer X. Welsh

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The Racket

The Racket (1951) The Racket (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As one of the few honest cops left in the city, Capt. Thomas McQuigg (Robert Mitchum) has his back against the wall when a large crime syndicate makes its way to his doorstep. After bringing aboard local mobster Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan), the illegal organization intends to help place corrupt attorney Mortimer X. Welsh (Ray Collins) in a prominent government position. But, if McQuigg can stay alive long enough, he just might be able to bring down the crooks with a key witness (Lizabeth Scott).
Director
John Cromwell
Producer
Edmund Grainger
Screenwriter
William Wister Haines, W. R. Burnett
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 28m
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