Force of Evil

Infobox Film
name = Force of Evil


caption = Theatrical Poster
director = Abraham Polonsky
producer = Bob Roberts
writer = Abraham Polonsky
Ira Wolfert
starring = John Garfield
Thomas Gomez
Marie Windsor
music = David Raksin
cinematography = George Barnes
editing =
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = December 25, 1948 (U.S.A.)
runtime = 78 minutes
country = United States
language = English
budget =
amg_id = 1:18176
imdb_id = 0040366|

"Force of Evil" (1948) is a film noir directed by Abraham Polonsky who had already achieved a name for himself as a scriptwriter, most notably for gritty boxing film "Body and Soul" (1947). Like "Body and Soul" it starred John Garfield. The movie was adapted by Abraham Polonsky and Ira Wolfert from Wolfert's novel "Tucker's People." [imdb title|id=0040366|title=Force of Evil.]

In 1994, "Force of Evil" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Plot

The drama tells of a lawyer, Joe Morse, (Garfield) working for a powerful gangster, Tucker, who wishes to consolidate and control the numbers racket in New York. This means assuming control of the many smaller numbers rackets, one of which is run by Morse’s older brother Leo Morse (Thomas Gomez). The plot which unfolds is a terse, melodramatic thriller notable for realist location photography, almost poetic dialogue and frequent biblical allusions (Cain and Abel, Judas’s betrayal, stigmata).

Cast

* John Garfield as Joe Morse
* Beatrice Pearson as Doris Lowry
* Thomas Gomez as Leo Morse
* Marie Windsor as Edna Tucker
* Howland Chamberlain as Freddie Bauer
* Roy Roberts as Ben Tucker
* Paul Fix as Bill Ficco
* Stanley Prager as Wally
* Barry Kelley as Det. Egan

References

External links

* [http://noiroftheweek.blogspot.com/2008/03/force-of-evil-1948.html Noir of the Week review]
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