The Racket
About The Racket
In Prohibition Chicago, Captain James McQuigg goes after bootlegger Nick Scarsi and will not be bought. After a gang shootout he arrests Scarsi's man Chick, and a call to "the Old Man" in the mayor's office gets Chick out. Scarsi kills rival Spike Corcoran at his brother Joe's party, then has McQuigg transferred to a quiet post. Joe is jailed for a hit-and-run. Nightclub singer Helen Hayes and reporter Dave Ames help put Scarsi in a room where he confesses to shooting a patrolman. The Old Man and the district attorney, protecting themselves, hand Scarsi an empty gun and kill him when he tries to run.
Cast & crew
More about The Racket
Lewis Milestone directed Howard Hughes's Caddo production, from Bartlett Cormack's 1927 Broadway play. Tom Miranda shared the script credit. Tony Gaudio photographed and Eddie Adams edited. Paramount released it on November 1, 1928.
Themes
Look
Tony Gaudio shot the precinct, the birthday party where Spike is killed, and the room where Scarsi confesses.
Preservation
The Academy Film Archive preserved a print in 2016.
Notes
- Thomas Meighan plays McQuigg, Louis Wolheim plays Nick Scarsi, and Marie Prevost plays Helen Hayes.
- George E. Stone plays Joe Scarsi. John Darrow plays Dave Ames. Sam De Grasse plays District Attorney Welch.
- It was nominated for Outstanding Picture at the 1929 Academy Awards, the first Best Picture category. It did not win.
- The Academy Film Archive preserved it in 2016.
- The story is set in Chicago. The politicians are never given a name beyond "the Old Man.
Scenes
- Scarsi shoots Spike Corcoran at Joe's birthday party.
- Helen Hayes draws a confession out of Scarsi in front of the district attorney.
- The Old Man and Welch kill Scarsi during an escape they have set up with an empty gun.
Influenced by
- Bartlett Cormack's play The Racket (1927)
Also available
- Academy Film Archive
