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:

  1. 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.”
  2. 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.

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