Force of Evil

Joe Morse is a young, ambitious lawyer working on Wall Street. His goal is to accumulate wealth quickly and make millions for himself. He becomes involved in a get-rich-quick scheme with Ben Tucker, a numbers racket kingpin.

Tucker plans to rig the number 776 to come out on July 4, causing many small bank policy holders to win and go deeply into debt. This will allow Tucker to absorb these smaller operations into his larger, more profitable illegal enterprise.

Joe, feeling indebted to his older brother Leo, tries to convince him to close his policy bank on July 4 to avoid financial ruin. Leo refuses, wanting to keep his operation running for his customers' sake.

Joe arranges for the police to raid Leo's policy bank just before July 4, hoping to force Leo to shut down. Doris Lowry, who had just quit her job there, is arrested during the raid, and Joe hopes this will make Leo retire.

The rigged number 776 comes up on July 4, causing a run on Leo's bank and leading to its bankruptcy. Tucker takes over Leo's operation, promising to make him money in larger illegal dealings, with Leo staying in charge.

Tucker's gangsters take control of the bank, intimidating Fred Bauer, Leo's accountant. Bauer fears for his safety and decides to inform authorities, aiming to shut down the illegal operation once and for all.

Fred Bauer is approached by Ficco, Tucker's rival. Bauer is instructed to set up Leo for an arrest, leading to Leo's second bust and his subsequent death from a heart attack during his attempt to escape.

Leo dies of a heart attack after being set up by Bauer. Ficcio's men inadvertently kill Bauer, mistaking him for Joe. This triggers Joe to seek revenge and confront Tucker and Ficcio.

Joe enters Tucker's house seeking revenge. He fights Ficcio and tricks him into confessing to Leo's murder. When Ficcio attempts to shoot Joe, a shootout ensues, resulting in Ficcio killing Tucker and Joe killing Ficcio.

After the violent confrontation, Joe is arrested. Recognizing the corrupt nature of the racket, he decides to cooperate with the police to help expose the illegal operations.