Force of Evil

Chosen for inclusion in the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1994, this classic 1948 crime drama is a landmark of film noir naturalism and one of Hollywood's most powerful productions of the era. Set in the New York underworld of numbers rackets, Force of Evil stars John Garfield—all cocky charisma and soulless confidence—as Joe Morse, an up-from-the-slums kid turned cynical, smart-talking lawyer to the mob. When his weary older brother, Leo (Thomas Gomez)—a small-time numbers man—is squeezed by the gangsters Joe represents, Joe is torn between ambition and family as the drama evolves into a gut-punch morality tale. Writer-director Abraham Polonsky shoots much of the action on the streets of New York rather than the studio back lots, capturing both a grimy urban reality and an exaggerated sense of a city in a shadowy underworld, while serving up a metaphor for growing corporate power putting entrepreneurs and mom-and-pop operations out of business (a theme that remains perennially relevant). The dialogue sports a hard, unaffected poetry, and Garfield delivers what is arguably his finest performance. Polonsky was blacklisted soon after Force of Evil was released and was unable to make another movie for two decades, while Garfield died just a few years after filming, making this a powerful memorial to both artists at the height of their talents. Newly remastered for this latest DVD edition and Blu-ray debut, extras include an intro by Martin Scorsese. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)