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The Enforcer

Play trailer Poster for The Enforcer Released Jan 25, 1951 1h 27m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
For as long as crime boss Albert Mendoza (Everett Sloane) has been running a notorious ring of hired hit men, District Attorney Martin Ferguson (Humphrey Bogart) has been hunting him down. But Ferguson cuts a deal with Mendoza's henchman Joe Rico (Ted De Corsia), and the mob boss is finally arrested. However, Rico dies mysteriously before he can testify against Mendoza, and Ferguson must reexamine years of potential evidence, desperately searching for something to incriminate the gangster with.

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Richard Brody The New Yorker Walsh... endows the film's deadly violence with stylishly macabre flourishes. Yet the movie's originality is mainly in its script, by Martin Rackin. Jul 26, 2021 Full Review Virginia Graham The Spectator [The Enforcer] is a very good film indeed, and one which must appeal to anyone who happens to have a base instinct about him. Jun 20, 2018 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Vivid film noir, with many images that recall other Raoul Walsh thrillers. Jan 1, 2011 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Fine latter day Bogie (1950), and the title says it all. Rated: 4/5 Feb 23, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 4, 2005 Full Review Thomas Delapa Boulder Weekly Rated: 2/5 Aug 25, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (51) audience reviews
Steve D Not a fan of Bogart but this one works. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/24/23 Full Review steven a Straight telling of the story in a series of flashbacks leaves little room for characterisation but makes for an efficient thriller. Burks' shadowy photography helps build atmosphere and the tension is held throughout by Windust's (and Walsh's) sure direction. Mostel puts in a good performance as a nervy bystander and Bogart adds his usual authority to his role of the obsessive DA. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review paul d Bretaigne Windust and Raoul Walsh deliver the goods in The Enforcer, a well-made crime drama. The cinematography has just enough artistry to make this an atmospheric film, not among the standout film noirs of its generation, but a very good one. Humphrey Bogart is playing his usual tough guy, but this time in favor of the law. The villains are well-drawn characters, with particular kudos to Ted de Corsia, and a very good Zero Mostel. The film has a large cast of fine character actors. The dramatic tension is sustained; there isn't a hint of romance, comedy, or sentimentality to distract us. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Not at the same level of other Bogart productions, but it is a solid film noir. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member a classic crime film noir movie with excellent acting and noir lighting and cinematography. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Solid crime drama. Bogart is his usual badass self, even in a suit. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Enforcer

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Cast & Crew

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Bretaigne Windust

Director

Humphrey Bogart

Dist. Atty. Martin Ferguson

Zero Mostel

Big Babe Lazick

Ted de Corsia

Joseph Rico

Everett Sloane

Albert Mendoza

Roy Roberts

Capt. Frank Nelson

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The Enforcer

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Movie Info

Synopsis For as long as crime boss Albert Mendoza (Everett Sloane) has been running a notorious ring of hired hit men, District Attorney Martin Ferguson (Humphrey Bogart) has been hunting him down. But Ferguson cuts a deal with Mendoza's henchman Joe Rico (Ted De Corsia), and the mob boss is finally arrested. However, Rico dies mysteriously before he can testify against Mendoza, and Ferguson must reexamine years of potential evidence, desperately searching for something to incriminate the gangster with.
Director
Bretaigne Windust
Producer
Milton Sperling
Production Co
United States Pictures
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 25, 1951, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 27m