The Racket

Year: 1951

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: John Cromwell

CrimeThrillerCrime

After the Senate crime committee’s investigation stalls, a powerful national crime syndicate moves into the city and teams up with the local mob boss Nick Scanlon. Captain McQuigg, the only honest captain, and his loyal patrolman Johnson band to battle Scanlon’s violent reign and try to bring justice back to a town overrun by corruption.

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Timeline & Setting – The Racket (1951)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Racket (1951). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

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Main Characters – The Racket (1951)

Meet the key characters of The Racket (1951), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:55

Major Themes – The Racket (1951)

Explore the central themes of The Racket (1951), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:55

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Gritty Cop vs. Corruption Stories like The Racket

Stories of lone honest lawmen taking on a city riddled with corrupt systems.If you enjoyed The Racket's story of a weary captain battling a corrupt city, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This section features crime thrillers where a single honest cop or investigator confronts systemic corruption, creating a high-stakes, morally complex narrative. Discover more films with this determined, gritty vibe.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a linear, investigative path as the protagonist doggedly pursues evidence and confronts powerful, entrenched foes. The journey is one of professional isolation and moral conviction, often climaxing in a confrontation that may be a pyrrhic victory, acknowledging the deep-rooted nature of the corruption they face.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared core conflict: the individual versus a corrupt system. They share a high-intensity, tense tone, a steady procedural pacing, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from themes of integrity, sacrifice, and the often-ambiguous nature of justice.

Tense Crime Procedurals with a vibe like The Racket

Linear, high-stakes investigations in a world of pervasive criminal threat.For viewers who liked the steady, tense build-up of The Racket's police investigation, this section collects similar procedural crime dramas. These movies share a gritty atmosphere, a linear plot focused on a central case, and a consistently high level of suspense. Find more films that capture this specific investigative tension.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread unfold in a straightforward manner, following the logical progression of a case. The structure is often a cat-and-mouse game, with escalating threats and set pieces (murders, bomb threats, chases) that maintain a high level of suspense from beginning to end. Character arcs are typically secondary to the momentum of the investigation itself.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their shared narrative engine: a linear procedural plot that generates constant tension. They prioritize a steady, relentless pacing and a high-intensity atmosphere over complex subplots or deep character introspection, delivering a pure, anxious crime thriller experience.

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The Racket Summary

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The Racket Timeline

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The Racket Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About The Racket

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Racket: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to The Racket

Discover movies like The Racket that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.