The Enforcer

Released Jan 25, 1951

1h 27m

Crime

Drama

List

89%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Richard Brody

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

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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

andrey k

A very hard-boiled and serious movie about organized crime, very dark. Of course now it's all too familiar but back then I imagine it was quite a shocking movie. No need to add the awesome cinematography, flashbacks and other ingredients of film noir.

Rated 4 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

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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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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
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

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