The Breaking Point

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The Breaking Point

1950

1h 37m

Drama

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100%

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15 Reviews

88%

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250+ Ratings

A charter-boat captain winds up in the middle of a syndicate shootout after transporting illegal immigrants.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

It may not be spiritually ennobling, but it is Hemingway. And it is pretty true to life.

Aug 31, 2022

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The Breaking Point is crackling good drama.

Jul 30, 2019

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

The Breaking Point is an excellent thriller that Curtiz keeps from ever seeming contrived or hyperbolic. It also has a memorable ending that’s at once “happy” and tragic.

Jun 9, 2025

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Director Michael Curtiz draws us into the family life and the stresses on the marriage beautifully and he doesn’t let us forget the human cost of Harry’s actions...

Nov 22, 2022

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Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

A tumultuous film noir where one mistake results in an honest man’s life spiralling downwards.

Aug 12, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

An unrelentingly downbeat picture.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 1, 2021

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Will G

A great classic Hollywood film. The acting was nice. There’s romance. A man has a boat and drives it on the West Coast between San Diego and the Mexican border.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

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Aldo G

Hemmingway, Curtiz and Garner. It's a potent trio and their picture does not disappoint. Plus, the female supporting cast of Phyllis Thaxter (playing the ever supportive wife) and Patricia Neal (as a temptress) and more reasons to watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

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Andy F

Absolutely stunning, unpredictable dark drama full of unlikeable characters (in a good way). Beautifully shot, this film is as pretty much as unmissable as it is generally overlooked.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/23

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bao s

Nice noir films. Claustrophobic with lots of light and shadow and based on a Hemingway story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/23

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Audience Member

Slowly-paced noir adaption of a Hemingway story. Finale makes it worthwhile.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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deke p

Great scenes of 1950 NEWPORT BAY, where Garfield as a poor fishingboat cap'n lives in a very modest house on LIDO ISLE right on the water! Wow. Billion dollar location now. Even took the small car ferry with a brief scene of the Ferris Wheel on Balboa Peninsula, where I used to live. Great cast. Garfield. PATRICIA NEAL (sexy) & PHYLLIS THAXTER (sweet) both very glookn. And a story about smugglin in 'desperate Chinese' to avoid immigration. Very interestin plot. When his boat gets impounded his wife, Phyllis, suggests they go to SALINAS to pick lettuce, neither of which he likes. Good ending. On TV frequent.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Michael Curtiz

Director

John Garfield

Harry Morgan

Patricia Neal

Leona Charles

Phyllis Thaxter

Lucy Morgan

Juano Hernandez

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Synopsis

A charter-boat captain winds up in the middle of a syndicate shootout after transporting illegal immigrants.

Director: Michael Curtiz
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 25, 2016
Runtime: 1h 37m

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