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      The Lawless

      Released Jun 8, 1950 1h 23m Drama List
      Reviews 25% Audience Score 50+ Ratings In an early 1950s California border town, race relations between the white farmers and the migrant workers who harvest fruit for them have reached a boiling point. After a racial brawl erupts at a dance, a Mexican-American teenager flees after accidentally striking a policeman and, while on the lam, is wrongly accused of assaulting a white woman. Newspaperman Larry (Macdonald Carey) becomes the sole public advocate for the boy, but his courage turns the ire of the mob on himself. Read More Read Less

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      Critics Reviews

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      Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Occasional sluggishness and an all-too-casual romance fail to outweigh the many virtues of this stark, suspenseful drama. Nov 14, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A realistic B-film liberal melodrama about the discrimination of Mexican-American farm workers in California. Rated: B- Apr 1, 2016 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com This early, socially-conscious film by Joseph Losey, before he was blacklisted, deals with racial discrimination in a powerful way. Rated: B+ Jun 2, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Tightly paced social problem programmer is well directed by Losey. Carey was never the strongest of leading men and perhaps the film would have been better served by an actor with more gravitas in the lead but he turns in an acceptable performance. Gail Russell is fine in the limited screen time she has but her role isn't really noteworthy. The person who is underutilized is Lee Patrick as an out of town reporter, whenever she's on screen the other actors recede into the background so sharp is her presence, the mark of a truly outstanding supporting performer. The story is sadly relevant however even today, how people can be swayed by mob rule and unreasoning prejudice. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member NOT GOOD AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member wasn't too bad seen worse movies Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Poor acting, very much a B movie. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Lawless

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis In an early 1950s California border town, race relations between the white farmers and the migrant workers who harvest fruit for them have reached a boiling point. After a racial brawl erupts at a dance, a Mexican-American teenager flees after accidentally striking a policeman and, while on the lam, is wrongly accused of assaulting a white woman. Newspaperman Larry (Macdonald Carey) becomes the sole public advocate for the boy, but his courage turns the ire of the mob on himself.
      Director
      Joseph Losey
      Production Co
      Pine-Thomas Productions [us]
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jun 8, 1950, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 15, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 23m
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