The Turning Point

The Turning Point

Year: 1952

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

Director: William Dieterle

DramaCrime

Special prosecutor John Conroy vows to eradicate organized crime, naming his father, cop Matt Conroy, chief investigator. John can’t understand Matt’s reluctance; Jerry McKibbon suspects Matt’s ties to mob lieutenant Harrigan. Jerry’s loyalty to John is strained by doubts about Matt and attraction to girlfriend Amanda, as the racketeers turn to violence.

The Turning Point (1952) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Turning Point (1952) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a restless Midwestern town where the promise of progress sits beside shadowed alleys, a city’s legal system finds itself on the brink of a reckoning. The newly appointed special prosecutor, John Conroy, arrives with a fierce determination to dismantle the entrenched networks of organized crime that have long whispered through the streets. His approach is relentless and methodical, driven by an ideal that the law can still be a force of order amid the growing unease. The town itself feels like a character, its bustling markets and dimly lit backroads reflecting both hope and the simmering threat that lingers just out of sight.

Matt Conroy, a seasoned police chief and John’s own father, is tasked with leading the investigation that could finally expose the criminal underworld. The partnership is fraught with unspoken tension: the younger Conroy’s impatience clashes with the elder’s measured restraint, hinting at deeper complexities beneath the badge. Their familial bond adds a layer of personal stakes to the professional pursuit, as each man wrestles with his own sense of duty, loyalty, and the weight of legacy in a city that demands answers.

Meanwhile, the city’s pulse is captured by Jerry McKibbon, a local journalist whose sympathetic lens follows the prosecutor’s crusade with both admiration and apprehension. Jerry’s commitment to the truth is tested as rumors about Matt’s possible connections begin to surface, forcing him to navigate a delicate line between loyalty to his friend and the need for accountability. His growing attraction to Amanda, a woman caught in the same tangled web, further complicates his resolve, while whispers of escalating violence hint that the criminal forces are less inclined to surrender than to retaliate. Together, these intersecting lives set the stage for a tense, morally charged confrontation where the very definition of justice hangs in the balance.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:39

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Noir Corrupt System Investigations like in The Turning Point

Idealistic heroes confront a deeply corrupt system where victory is personal and pyrrhic.If you liked The Turning Point, explore other movies like it that focus on gritty crime investigations into systemic corruption. This thread features similar noir dramas where idealistic protagonists uncover dark truths, facing moral compromises and bittersweet endings in their fight for a hollow victory.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows an investigation that exposes a web of corruption, often implicating trusted figures or institutions. The protagonist's initial idealism is eroded by the discovery of personal betrayals and the high cost of justice, leading to a climax where the system is damaged but not destroyed, and the hero is left emotionally scarred.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on challenging a corrupt establishment, their dark, cynical tone, and their exploration of the heavy emotional toll exacted on those who seek the truth. They deliver a consistent vibe of gritty suspense and moral conflict.

Movies about Paternal Betrayal like The Turning Point

Stories where a hero's quest is shattered by the corruption of a trusted father figure.Discover films similar to The Turning Point that explore the heavy theme of a father's betrayal. If you were gripped by the moral conflict between John and Matt Conroy, you'll find other powerful dramas and thrillers centered on shattered trust, familial duty, and the painful cost of uncovering the truth about a parent.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically involve a protagonist who admires or works closely with a paternal figure. The plot is driven by the gradual or sudden revelation of the father's deep moral failing or criminality, creating an intense internal conflict for the protagonist who must choose between family and justice, leading to a emotionally devastating resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are unified by the powerful, emotionally crushing theme of paternal betrayal. They share a heavy emotional weight, a morally complex atmosphere, and a focus on the psychological damage inflicted when a foundational relationship is destroyed by corruption or crime.

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The Turning Point Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Turning Point

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Turning Point

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