The Racket (1951): Cast & Plot
The Racket is a 1951 crime thriller directed by John Cromwell, starring Robert Ryan as Nick Scanlon, Bud Wolfe and Virginia Huston. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- John Cromwell
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- RKO Radio Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Racket About?
The premise of The Racket without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After the Senate crime committee’s investigation stalls, a powerful national crime syndicate moves into the city and teams up with the local mob boss Nick Scanlon. Captain McQuigg, the only honest captain, and his loyal patrolman Johnson band to battle Scanlon’s violent reign and try to bring justice back to a town overrun by corruption.
The Racket Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- political corruption
- police corruption
- brother brother relationship
- murder of a police officer
- nightclub singer
- racketeer
- gangster
- criminal investigation
- witness intimidation
- incorruptible
- bribery
- mob lawyer
+38 more Show fewer
- crime commission
- state investigator
- crime syndicate
- corrupt police detective
- corrupt district attorney
- police officer shot to death
- subpoena
- female singer
- eating an apple
- shot in the street
- police officer kills suspect
- forced to sign a confession
- henchmen
- goons
- nationwide racket
- suspect kills police officer
- corrupted attorney
- election campaign
- sweaty face
- reference to execution by hanging
- police officer's widow
- dead body in the street
- mob hit
- older brother beats younger brother
- empty gun
- explosion
- fistfight
- murder
- slapped in the face
- police chase
- urban setting
- based on play by same name
- political election
- fatal fall off building
- gangster crime
- hard boiled investigator
- newspaper reporter
- female witness
The Racket Cast & Characters
Robert Ryan leads the cast as Nick Scanlon, with Bud Wolfe as Detective with Johnson at the Paradise Club (uncredited) and Virginia Huston as Lucy Johnson. Directed by John Cromwell; 65 actors are credited in all.
- Director John Cromwell
-
Robert Ryan as Nick Scanlon - Bud Wolfe as Detective with Johnson at the Paradise Club (uncredited)
-
Virginia Huston as Lucy Johnson -
Robert Mitchum as Captain Thomas McQuigg
Also Starring in The Racket
· 61 more- Ray Collins D. A. Mortimer X. Welsh
- William Conrad Det. Sgt. Turk
- Lizabeth Scott Irene Hayes
- Joyce Mackenzie Mary McQuigg
- Robert Hutton Dave Ames
- Matthew Boulton Simpson (uncredited)
- Howland Chamberlain Roy Higgins (uncredited)
- Mike Lally Sergeant (uncredited)
- Dick Gordon Pedestrian (uncredited)
- Max Wagner Durko (uncredited)
- Charles Sherlock Pedestrian (uncredited)
- Don Beddoe Mitchell (uncredited)
- William Forrest Head of Crime Commission (uncredited)
- Walter Sande Sgt. Jim Delaney
- Pat Flaherty Car 43 Policeman (uncredited)
- Philo McCullough Man Seated at Bar (uncredited)
Show all 65 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Herb Vigran Paradise Club Manager (uncredited)
- Jack Gargan Lewis (uncredited)
- Eddie Parker Garage Roof Thug (uncredited)
- Frank Marlowe Pedestrian with Morning Newspaper (uncredited)
- Milburn Stone Member of Craig's Team (uncredited)
- Harry Lauter Officer Mosley (uncredited)
- Walter Baldwin Sgt. Sullivan
- Ralph Peters Davis (uncredited)
- William J. O'Brien Counterman / Short Order Cook (uncredited)
- Walter Reed Policeman at Roll Call & in Locker Room (uncredited)
- Thomas Martin Governor's Butler (uncredited)
- John Daheim Mannick (uncredited)
- Joey Ray Reporter (uncredited)
- Les Tremayne Harry Craig
- Don Dillaway Harris (uncredited)
- Ralph Montgomery Pedestrian (uncredited)
- Robert Bice Police Dispatcher (uncredited)
- Gregg Barton Rookie Cop (uncredited)
- Jack Shea Night Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
- Don Porter R. G. Connolly
- Stephen Roberts Schmidt (uncredited)
- Richard Reeves Leo (uncredited)
- Tito Vuolo Tony
- John McGuire Policeman in Locker Room (uncredited)
- Eric Alden Sergeant (uncredited)
- George Sherwood Douglas (uncredited)
- Art Dupuis Police Car Driver (uncredited)
- Herbert Lytton Police Doctor (uncredited)
- Al Murphy Newsboy (uncredited)
- Richard Karlan Breeze Enright
- Howard Petrie The Governor (uncredited)
- Allen Mathews Pedestrian (uncredited)
- William Talman Officer Bob Johnson
- Sally Yarnell Police Operator (uncredited)
- Barry Brooks Cameron (uncredited)
- Hazel Keener Secretary (uncredited)
- Jayne Hazard Girl (uncredited)
- Duke Taylor Policeman (uncredited)
- Howard Joslin Sgt. Werker (uncredited)
- Jane Easton Operator (uncredited)
- Brett King Joe Scanlon
- Miles Shepard Policeman (uncredited)
- Bret Hamilton Reporter (uncredited)
- Harriet Matthews Librarian (uncredited)
- Ronald Lee Elevator Boy (uncredited)
The Racket Plot Summary
What happens in The Racket from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Nick Scanlon, Robert Ryan, is a ruthless racketeer who has managed to buy off several of the city’s local government and law-enforcement officials in a sprawling Midwestern city. Yet one figure remains beyond his reach: Captain Thomas McQuigg, Robert Mitchum, an incorruptible police officer who refuses every bribe and every attempt at intimidation. The crooked edges of power are further twisted by Welsh, Ray Collins, the city’s prosecuting attorney, and Turk, William Conrad, a state police detective who pair up to complicate McQuigg’s mission. When Higgins, a corrupted deputy prosecutor, falls victim to a mob hit, the balance of fear and influence becomes even more fragile.
Full summary
The whole story of The Racket, scene by scene
The Racket Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Racket.
How Well Do You Know The Racket?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays the incorruptible police captain Thomas McQuigg?
Cars in The Racket
10 cars on screen, including the 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial and the 1951 Nash Ambassador.
-
1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial Important role -
1951 Nash Ambassador Important role -
1951 Plymouth Cambridge Important role -
1942 Chrysler Minor role
The Racket Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “La trampa” and “El soborno”.
- Also known as
-
- La trampa
- El soborno
- Gangster
- A Estrada dos Homens Sem Lei
- La gang
- Organització criminal
Seen The Racket?
Movies Like The Racket
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Racket, The Racketeer and Racket Busters.
The Racket FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Racket, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Racket?
The Racket runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was The Racket released?
The Racket was released on October 25, 1951.
Who directed The Racket?
The Racket was directed by John Cromwell.
More films by John Cromwell Who is in the cast of The Racket?
The Racket stars Robert Ryan as Nick Scanlon, Bud Wolfe as Detective with Johnson at the Paradise Club (uncredited) and Virginia Huston as Lucy Johnson, among 65 credited actors.
Does The Racket have a post-credit scene?
No. The Racket has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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