Abraham Polansky, writer-director, was banished from Hollywood for approximately twenty years, after being blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) a few years after the release of Force of Evil. In my opinion, on the basis of this effort it couldn't have come sooner. More like a vapid 30s crime melodrama, there is no way "Force" deserves the appellation of "film noir," which usually implies a modicum of respectability.
Nothing about this film rings true in the least. Let's start with John Garfield as high-powered attorney Joe Morse who works for a mobster by the name of Ben Tucker (Roy Roberts). Why does he have such an intense filial obligation to his brother Leo (Thomas Gomez) especially after he hasn't seen him in so long? You would think that Joe, now a millionaire, could care less about the brother who is a failed businessman, now involved in a small-time numbers operation.
Joe comes to see Leo after Ben decides to consolidate the various "banks" by ensuring that the number 776 (played by millions on Independence Day) will come out, thus bankrupting all the small-time operators (including Leo). Joe offers to put Leo under Ben's umbrella but Leo refuses, somehow arguing that he's an "honest" businessman, as opposed to Ben and his brother, whom he pegs as crooked "robber barons."
Somehow Polansky sees some nobility in these small-time crooks. Despite Joe's affiliation with Ben, he basically is depicted as a good guy, especially after he arranges for Leo's bank to close the night before July 4th. But Leo stays open anyway and goes bankrupt after the 776 number hits.
There's a sub-plot here that goes nowhere with Joe falling for Leo's secretary, Doris Lowry (Beatrice Pearson) who's constantly telling him to go straight. Why a millionaire like Joe would suddenly take an interest in a woman whom most millionaires would regard as their social inferior, is another example of the fantasy world Polansky has constructed. I should also mention that the other main female part also goes nowhere-that of Edna (Marie Windsor, usually known for some really good femme fatale roles), who has nothing to do as Ben's wife.
Leo finally agrees to work for Ben but rejects Joe's attempt to buy him out. After the accountant Bauer (Howland Chamberlain) calls the DA and rats everyone out resulting in their arrest by the police, Leo still tries to protect him but it's not enough after Ben's rival Ficco (Paul Fix) kills Bauer and kidnaps Leo. While in captivity, Leo dies of a heart attack. Joe learns of the kidnapping by reading the morning headlines and later Ficco tells him that his brother died of a heart attack.
The upshot is that Joe ends up killing both Ben and Ficco. After the climax, we wrap up with Joe finding Leo's body under a bridge. Wracked with guilt, Joe is of course determined to make amends by working with the prosecutor. All his past corrupt dealings are evidently excused and now the once corrupt millionaire has joined with the forces of good to battle the evil capitalists.
Polansky's simplistic leftist views turns Force of Evil into a laughable potboiler. None of the actors can do anything with their roles due to a script that lacks one iota of verisimilitude. Proceed at your own peril!
Nothing about this film rings true in the least. Let's start with John Garfield as high-powered attorney Joe Morse who works for a mobster by the name of Ben Tucker (Roy Roberts). Why does he have such an intense filial obligation to his brother Leo (Thomas Gomez) especially after he hasn't seen him in so long? You would think that Joe, now a millionaire, could care less about the brother who is a failed businessman, now involved in a small-time numbers operation.
Joe comes to see Leo after Ben decides to consolidate the various "banks" by ensuring that the number 776 (played by millions on Independence Day) will come out, thus bankrupting all the small-time operators (including Leo). Joe offers to put Leo under Ben's umbrella but Leo refuses, somehow arguing that he's an "honest" businessman, as opposed to Ben and his brother, whom he pegs as crooked "robber barons."
Somehow Polansky sees some nobility in these small-time crooks. Despite Joe's affiliation with Ben, he basically is depicted as a good guy, especially after he arranges for Leo's bank to close the night before July 4th. But Leo stays open anyway and goes bankrupt after the 776 number hits.
There's a sub-plot here that goes nowhere with Joe falling for Leo's secretary, Doris Lowry (Beatrice Pearson) who's constantly telling him to go straight. Why a millionaire like Joe would suddenly take an interest in a woman whom most millionaires would regard as their social inferior, is another example of the fantasy world Polansky has constructed. I should also mention that the other main female part also goes nowhere-that of Edna (Marie Windsor, usually known for some really good femme fatale roles), who has nothing to do as Ben's wife.
Leo finally agrees to work for Ben but rejects Joe's attempt to buy him out. After the accountant Bauer (Howland Chamberlain) calls the DA and rats everyone out resulting in their arrest by the police, Leo still tries to protect him but it's not enough after Ben's rival Ficco (Paul Fix) kills Bauer and kidnaps Leo. While in captivity, Leo dies of a heart attack. Joe learns of the kidnapping by reading the morning headlines and later Ficco tells him that his brother died of a heart attack.
The upshot is that Joe ends up killing both Ben and Ficco. After the climax, we wrap up with Joe finding Leo's body under a bridge. Wracked with guilt, Joe is of course determined to make amends by working with the prosecutor. All his past corrupt dealings are evidently excused and now the once corrupt millionaire has joined with the forces of good to battle the evil capitalists.
Polansky's simplistic leftist views turns Force of Evil into a laughable potboiler. None of the actors can do anything with their roles due to a script that lacks one iota of verisimilitude. Proceed at your own peril!