The Racketeer (1929) | Region-Free (DVD) | Starring Carole Lombard & Robert Armstrong
$6.99
Title: The Racketeer (1929)
Alternate Title: Love’s Conquest (UK)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot Synopsis:
In 1920s New York City, influential mobster Mahlon Keane encounters destitute former socialite Rhoda Philbrooke at a charity event. After assisting her in winning money through a poker game, Keane becomes entangled in Rhoda’s efforts to rehabilitate her lover, alcoholic concert violinist Tony Vaughan. As Keane supports Vaughan’s return to the stage, he and Rhoda develop a complex relationship, leading to a love triangle fraught with emotional turmoil and moral dilemmas.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Howard Higgin
- Writers: Paul Gangelin, A.A. Kline
- Cast:
- Robert Armstrong as Mahlon Keane
- Carole Lombard as Rhoda Philbrooke
- Roland Drew as Tony Vaughan
- Paul Hurst as Officer Mehaffy
- Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Karen Lee
IMDb Link:
The Racketeer (1929)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- elginbrod2000 – ★★★☆☆
“Stereotypical gangster picture with a romantic twist. The performances are solid, especially Armstrong’s portrayal of a suave yet morally conflicted mobster. Lombard brings depth to her role as a woman torn between love and duty. The film’s pacing reflects its era, but the narrative holds up well, offering a glimpse into early sound cinema’s approach to crime dramas.” - boblipton – ★★★☆☆
“Well mounted, interesting story about suave racketeer Armstrong falling for impoverished deb Lombard, hampered a bit by the declamatory style of speaking any speech longer than three words and apparent immobility of microphones.”
Meta Description:
“The Racketeer” (1929), directed by Howard Higgin, is a crime drama exploring a love triangle between a powerful gangster, a reformed alcoholic violinist, and a conflicted socialite in 1920s New York City.