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The Enforcer

The Enforcer

Drama · Thriller · 1951

After years of investigation, Assistant District Attorney Martin Ferguson has managed to build a solid case against an elusive gangster whose top lieutenant is about to testify.

Movie details

The Enforcer

“They called him The Enforcer”

1951 Drama · Thriller 1h 27m

Critical arithmetic

The consensus, allegedly.

IMDb

7.3 / 10

5.7K votes

Rotten Tomatoes

89 %

Tomatometer

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

External scores via OMDb · CC BY-NC 4.0. Values normalized for display; availability varies by title.

After years of investigation, Assistant District Attorney Martin Ferguson has managed to build a solid case against an elusive gangster whose top lieutenant is about to testify.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Enforcer?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The File on Thelma Jordon

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The Pelican Brief

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A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.

Killer's Kiss

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Davey Gordon, a New York City boxer at the end of his career, falls for dancer Gloria Price. However, their budding relationship is interrupted by Gloria's violent boss, Vincent Rapallo, who has eyes for Gloria. The two decide to skip town, but before they can, Vincent and his thugs abduct Gloria, and Davey is forced to search for her among the most squalid corners of the city, with his enemy hiding in the shadows.

The Asphalt Jungle

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Insomnia

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The Big Combo

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Bretaigne Windust

Written by

Martin Rackin

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart

ADA Martin Ferguson

Zero Mostel

Zero Mostel

'Big Babe' Lazich

Ted de Corsia

Ted de Corsia

Joseph 'Joe' Rico

Everett Sloane

Everett Sloane

Albert Mendoza

Roy Roberts

Roy Roberts

Captain Frank Nelson

Michael Tolan

Michael Tolan

James 'Duke' Malloy

King Donovan

King Donovan

Sergeant Whitlow

Court is in session

Put The Enforcer on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.