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Force of Evil

  • 1948
  • Approved
  • 1h 19m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
John Garfield, Beatrice Pearson, and Marie Windsor in Force of Evil (1948)
Film NoirCrimeDrama

An unethical lawyer who wants to help his older brother becomes a partner with a client in the numbers racket.An unethical lawyer who wants to help his older brother becomes a partner with a client in the numbers racket.An unethical lawyer who wants to help his older brother becomes a partner with a client in the numbers racket.

  • Director
    • Abraham Polonsky
  • Writers
    • Abraham Polonsky
    • Ira Wolfert
  • Stars
    • John Garfield
    • Thomas Gomez
    • Beatrice Pearson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    8.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Abraham Polonsky
    • Writers
      • Abraham Polonsky
      • Ira Wolfert
    • Stars
      • John Garfield
      • Thomas Gomez
      • Beatrice Pearson
    • 94User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins total

    Photos89

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    Top Cast94

    John Garfield
    John Garfield
    • Joe Morse
    Thomas Gomez
    Thomas Gomez
    • Leo Morse
    Beatrice Pearson
    Beatrice Pearson
    • Doris Lowry
    Marie Windsor
    Marie Windsor
    • Edna Tucker
    Howland Chamberlain
    Howland Chamberlain
    • Freddie Bauer
    • (as Howland Chamberlin)
    Roy Roberts
    Roy Roberts
    • Ben Tucker
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Bill Ficco
    Stanley Prager
    Stanley Prager
    • Wally
    Barry Kelley
    Barry Kelley
    • Detective Egan
    Paul McVey
    Paul McVey
    • Hobe Wheelock
    Murray Alper
    Murray Alper
    • Comptroller
    • (uncredited)
    Jessie Arnold
    Jessie Arnold
    • Sorter
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Ash
    Sam Ash
    • Citizen
    • (uncredited)
    Georgia Backus
    Georgia Backus
    • Sylvia Morse
    • (uncredited)
    Margaret Bert
    • Sorter
    • (uncredited)
    Larry J. Blake
    Larry J. Blake
    • Detective
    • (uncredited)
    Mildred Boyd
    • Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Brooks
    Ralph Brooks
    • Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Abraham Polonsky
    • Writers
      • Abraham Polonsky
      • Ira Wolfert
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews94

    7.28.6K
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    10

    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Force of Evil' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep (1946)
    Film Noir
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      (at around 44 mins) John Garfield, who was 5' 7", stood on an apple box when he was standing near Marie Windsor,who was 5' 9".
    • Goofs
      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
      • [after Joe bails his brother, Doris and the others out of jail]
      • Doris Lowry: You know I've got my whole life to think about now and you won't be of any help.
      • Joe Morse: How do you know? You know everything I touch turns to gold. It's raining out and I promised my brother to take you home.
      • Doris Lowry: Well, that's a lie.
      • Joe Morse: Well, it's not true; but I would have had he asked. You know you can't tell about your life 'til you're all through living it. Come on, I'll give you a lift. You're tired, I'm tireder. What can happen to either one of us? You tell me the story of your life and maybe I can suggest a happy ending.
    • Alternate versions
      All existing copies of the film are of the version that was cut by 10 minutes in order to fit into a double bill.
    • Connections
      Edited into American Cinema: Film Noir (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      String Quartet opus 131, no. 14: Ist Movement
      (uncredited)
      Music by Ludwig van Beethoven

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    Details

    • Release date
      • March 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Streaming on "Filmmaker54" YouTube Channel
      • Streaming on "Reel Classics" YouTube Channel
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Numbers Racket
    • Filming locations
      • George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(final scene)
    • Production companies
      • Roberts Pictures Inc.
      • Enterprise Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $1,150,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 19m(79 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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