Racket Busters (1938): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
Racket Busters is a 1938 crime drama directed by Lloyd Bacon, starring Humphrey Bogart as John "Czar" Martin, Paul Irving and Walter Abel. It runs 1 hour 11 minutes. Stream it on HBO Max.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 11m (71 min)
- Director
- Lloyd Bacon
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Racket Busters About?
The premise of Racket Busters without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
WARNER BROS’ TIME BOMBSHELL! A trucker with a pregnant wife fights a New York mobster’s protection racket.
Racket Busters Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- b movie
- henchman
- farmers market
- racketeering
- deception
- double cross
- crime czar
- crime syndicate
- cigarette smoking
- gang leader
- gang member
- damsel in distress
+38 more Show fewer
- held at gunpoint
- sanitarium nurse
- crime commission
- state governor
- intimidation
- investigation
- bribery
- politics
- corrupt politician
- violence
- reprisal
- retribution
- snappy brim hat
- slang
- 1930s
- truck cropper
- treachery
- police officer
- lawlessness
- killer
- hired gun
- grief
- stress
- produce warehouse
- stock footage
- crime busting
- new york city underworld
- judge
- gangster
- labor union
- courage
- new york city
- murder
- businessman
- strike
- law
- sabotage
- trial
Where to Watch Racket Busters
Stream it on HBO Max. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Racket Busters Cast & Characters
Humphrey Bogart leads the cast as John "Czar" Martin, with Paul Irving as John H. Herbert (uncredited) and Walter Abel as Hugh Allison. Directed by Lloyd Bacon; 67 actors are credited in all.
- Director Lloyd Bacon
-
Humphrey Bogart as John "Czar" Martin - Paul Irving as John H. Herbert (uncredited)
- Walter Abel as Hugh Allison
- Mary Currier as Mrs. Hugh Allison (uncredited)
Also Starring in Racket Busters
· 63 more- Robert Strange Martin's Lawyer (uncredited)
- Charles Trowbridge Martin's Trial Judge #2 (uncredited)
- Harry Tenbrook Martin's Henchman (uncredited)
- George Brent Denny Jordan
- Gloria Dickson Nora Jordan
- Oscar O'Shea Pop Wilson
- Allen Jenkins Skeets Wilson
- Vera Lewis Jordan's Neighbor (uncredited)
- Irving Bacon Counter Man (uncredited)
- Henry O'Neill Governor
- William B. Davidson Trucking Chairman (uncredited)
- Jack Mower Plainclothesman (uncredited)
- Stuart Holmes Vic Thompson (uncredited)
- Glen Cavender Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Eddy Chandler Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Paul Panzer Truck Driver (uncredited)
Show all 67 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Ethan Laidlaw Martin's Henchman (uncredited)
- John Ridgely Yellow Stripe Truck Driver (uncredited)
- John Dilson Mr. Robbins (uncredited)
- Cliff Saum Policeman (uncredited)
- Jack Wise Cashier (uncredited)
- George Lloyd Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Dale Van Sickel Special Officer (uncredited)
- Dick Wessel Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Edwin Stanley Cotwald Sanitarium Doctor #2 (uncredited)
- John Harron Allison's Stenographer (uncredited)
- William Gould Police Sergeant (uncredited)
- Joe Devlin Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Jack Gardner Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
- Harrison Greene Merchant (uncredited)
- Lew Harvey Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Dick Rich Truck Driver Sick of Pop (uncredited)
- Bruce Mitchell Deputy (uncredited)
- Herbert Heywood Gas Station Owner (uncredited)
- Bob Perry Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Jack Kenney Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Monte Vandergrift Detective (uncredited)
- Frank Jaquet City Hospital Doctor #1 (uncredited)
- Egon Brecher Peters (uncredited)
- Penny Singleton Gladys Christie
- Elliott Sullivan Charlie Smith
- Norman Willis Gus Hawkins
- Gordon Hart Minister (uncredited)
- Wedgwood Nowell Business Man (uncredited)
- Harvey Clark Merchant (uncredited)
- Nat Carr Merchant (uncredited)
- Cecil Weston Angry Woman at Strike (uncredited)
- Fay Helm Mrs. Charlie Smith
- James Nolan Jim Smith (uncredited)
- Harry Myers Court Stenographer (uncredited)
- James Pierce Martin's Henchman (uncredited)
- Joe Downing Joe Pender
- Don Turner Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Joe De Stefani Proprietor (uncredited)
- Jimmy O'Gatty Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Loia Cheaney Angry Woman At Strike (uncredited)
- Don Rowan Cliff Kimball
- Georgie Cooper Woman On Platform (uncredited)
- Alan Davis Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Jack A. Goodrich Clerk (uncredited)
- Anthony Averill Dave Crane
- Jan Holm Cotwald Sanitarium Nurse (uncredited)
- Jean Maddox Angry Woman at Strike (uncredited)
Racket Busters Plot Summary
What happens in Racket Busters from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
John “Czar” Martin heads a ruthless racket that tightens its grip on New York’s trucking routes, coercing dealers and silencing witnesses to maintain control of the produce market. Hugh Allison is appointed Special Prosecutor to investigate and dismantle the operation, but he faces an uphill battle as Martin’s power relies on fear, bribery, and brutal coercion.
Denny Jordan is a respected trucker who refuses to join the gang, but his stance exacts a price when his truck is vandalized and he crashes on a hillside. His pregnant wife, Nora Jordan, stands by him and bears the strain. To support his family, Jordan robs Martin’s office; he is arrested, and Martin offers forgiveness if he joins his protective association.
Full summary
The whole story of Racket Busters, scene by scene
Cars in Racket Busters
16 cars on screen, including the 1938 Buick Limited and the 1937 GMC F-Series.
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1938 Buick Limited Important role -
1937 GMC F-Series Important role -
Sterling unknown Important role -
Sterling unknown Important role
Seen Racket Busters?
Movies Like Racket Busters
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Racket, The Racket and The Racketeer.
Racket Busters FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of Racket Busters, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Racket Busters?
Racket Busters runs 1 hour 11 minutes (71 minutes).
When was Racket Busters released?
Racket Busters was released on July 16, 1938.
Who directed Racket Busters?
Racket Busters was directed by Lloyd Bacon.
More films by Lloyd Bacon Who is in the cast of Racket Busters?
Racket Busters stars Humphrey Bogart as John "Czar" Martin, Paul Irving as John H. Herbert (uncredited) and Walter Abel as Hugh Allison, among 67 credited actors.
Where can I watch Racket Busters?
In the US, Racket Busters is streaming on HBO Max (availability from JustWatch).
Does Racket Busters have a post-credit scene?
No. Racket Busters has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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