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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 735

The Racket

192884 minUnited States
DramaCrime
Video edition
Wikimedia Commons
Original language
No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: English.
This copy runs
82:05
Subtitles
No subtitle track in this language

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Lewis Milestone · Public domain

Synopsis

A Chicago police officer tries to arrest a powerful gangster, only to see political influence undo his work. Transferred to a quieter precinct, he receives an unexpected opportunity when the gangster's brother is brought in. Keeping the case alive requires him to face a system in which witnesses, lawyers and officials are all vulnerable to pressure.

Cast

DirectorsLewis Milestone

Historical context

The film links organized crime with municipal corruption during Prohibition. Its portrayal was contentious enough that both the film and the play on which it was based were banned in Chicago.

Inspirations

Bartlett Cormack adapted his Broadway play for the screen. The principal gangster and the political figure protecting him drew on recognizable figures from contemporary Chicago.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film referenceWikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 12, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

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