Directed by Abraham Polonsky
1948/USA
Enterprise Productions/Roberts Pictures, Inc.
First viewing
#204 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Wally: What do you mean “gangsters”? It’s business.
This dynamite noir was the only film directed by screenwriter Abraham Polonsky before he was blacklisted by the Hollywood studios when he refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Joe Morse (John Garfield) is a corrupt Wall Street lawyer. His client Ben Tucker is a crime lord who seeks to organize the numbers racket into a combine by breaking the many small “banks” that take bets. At the same time Joe is trying to cash in, he is also trying to protect his brother Leo, who runs one of the very banks that will be put out of business. Along the way, Joe befriends and attempts to seduce Leo’s sweet young secretary, Doris. Joe rapidly finds out that business and family loyalty do not mix. As this is a noir, he also learns that he is not as smart or in control of the situation as he thinks. With Thomas Gomez as Leo Morse, Roy Roberts as Ben Tucker, Marie Windsor as Ben’s wife, and Beatrice Pearson as Doris.
This indictment of greed has a lot going for it. The screenplay is very literate, though the romantic bits are perhaps a bit cute for their own good. The ending monologue as Joe walks down the stairs to the river is almost poetic. The cinematography by sometime Hitchcock D.P. George Barnes is wonderful. There is a gunfight in a darkened room that is just exquisite. All the actors acquit themselves well. Recommended.
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”.
Trivia: Beatrice Pearson shares my own maiden name. This is one of only two films she made.
Sidney Pollock introduces Force of Evil on TCM
This is another of those noir, gritty films that make me want to wash my hands when it is over. It is so dark and depressing and I feel so sorry for Thomas Gomez. And who was Beatrice Pearson??? No wonder she only made two films….she didn’t appeal to me at all. But Garfield, who was at the top of his game in this type of role gives a great performance. I like this film a lot but it is disturbing.
Yes, I think I will be ready for an escape back to the glitz of the 30’s after noir month is over. But I’m enjoying it while it lasts.
I didn’t like Beatrice Pearson so much but it was my own name for most of my life. When I was young I just hated being named Beatrice. Nobody was named Beatrice. When I found out in high school that there had been an actress with my name, I felt slightly better! This was the first time I saw her act. She was too earnest for my taste.
Very nice introduction by Sidney Pollock!
Have you seen this one? I liked it, though it is a downer.
Finally I got the “Bea” reference! One of my best friends is called Beatrice ( a Spanish girl). Sorry for confusing your name.
I am getting more and more convinced that i did not give this movie the credit it deserves. I really need to see it again in a better state of mind.
It’s easy to confuse because of my user name. I think you would be glad to give the movie another try though it will definitely not stop being a downer.