"If you're smart you can be a hero, if you're dumb you can be dead!" Joseph Rico (Ted De Corsia) tells D.A. Martin Ferguson (Humphrey Bogart) in this very dark, intense factual story of a Murder for Profit organization. Rico offers to give Ferguson the top man Albert Mendoza (Everett Sloan) if Ferguson plays ball. Ferguson needs Rico's testimony to convict Mendoza. In the building while under surveillance by Sgt.Whitlow (King Donovan) awaiting trial the next day, Ferguson loses his only eyewitness when Rico falls to his death.
From this point on the movie reveals it's plot & storyline from a series of flashbacks & several times we see flashbacks within a flashback. The flashback device is effective & even adds a dimension to the crime/film noir genre. Despite Bogart's star billing he doesn't dominate the film & is not in every scene & his absence is not missed due to the top notch supporting cast led by Ted De Corsia, Zero Mostel, Bob Steele, Jack Lambert etc.
Though we already know Rico is dead he is very much seen afterwards & dominates the film from the flashback scenes. Eventually when the movie transports us back to the present situation we still hear Rico's voice from a tape recorder.
Bogart's role as the D.A. Martin Ferguson is reminiscent of his earlier role in the 1937 film Marked Woman opposite Bette Davis as D.A. David Graham modeled after real life D.A. Thomas Dewey who convicted Lucky Luciano in 1935. For once Bogart appeared in a gangster film as a crusader of justice & again in 1951 in The Enforcer.
I really enjoy watching this movie but what I find disappointing is the abrupt, unexpected & inconclusive ending that leaves you up in the air. Bogart's exit line is "Alright Miss Vetto you got a date in court, I want to see the look on Mendoza's face when he looks into those big blue eyes again". Well as the viewer I would've also liked to have seen the doom & gloom on Mendoza's face when he see's Angela Vetto's big blue eye's. As Ferguson rebuilds his case with a new eyewitness.
We are robbed & deprived of all this & the subsequent courtroom trial proceedings & the chilling death scene of Mendoza walking his last mile to the hot seat, while a gloating Martin Ferguson watches as he has finally burned Mendoza in the chair in the name of justice. Just like James Cagney's electric chair scene in Angels With Dirty Faces or when he blows himself up in White Heat. 2 very strong endings. No place else to go. The Enforcer is a strong movie with a weak ending that could've been a lot better.
From this point on the movie reveals it's plot & storyline from a series of flashbacks & several times we see flashbacks within a flashback. The flashback device is effective & even adds a dimension to the crime/film noir genre. Despite Bogart's star billing he doesn't dominate the film & is not in every scene & his absence is not missed due to the top notch supporting cast led by Ted De Corsia, Zero Mostel, Bob Steele, Jack Lambert etc.
Though we already know Rico is dead he is very much seen afterwards & dominates the film from the flashback scenes. Eventually when the movie transports us back to the present situation we still hear Rico's voice from a tape recorder.
Bogart's role as the D.A. Martin Ferguson is reminiscent of his earlier role in the 1937 film Marked Woman opposite Bette Davis as D.A. David Graham modeled after real life D.A. Thomas Dewey who convicted Lucky Luciano in 1935. For once Bogart appeared in a gangster film as a crusader of justice & again in 1951 in The Enforcer.
I really enjoy watching this movie but what I find disappointing is the abrupt, unexpected & inconclusive ending that leaves you up in the air. Bogart's exit line is "Alright Miss Vetto you got a date in court, I want to see the look on Mendoza's face when he looks into those big blue eyes again". Well as the viewer I would've also liked to have seen the doom & gloom on Mendoza's face when he see's Angela Vetto's big blue eye's. As Ferguson rebuilds his case with a new eyewitness.
We are robbed & deprived of all this & the subsequent courtroom trial proceedings & the chilling death scene of Mendoza walking his last mile to the hot seat, while a gloating Martin Ferguson watches as he has finally burned Mendoza in the chair in the name of justice. Just like James Cagney's electric chair scene in Angels With Dirty Faces or when he blows himself up in White Heat. 2 very strong endings. No place else to go. The Enforcer is a strong movie with a weak ending that could've been a lot better.