The Racketeer: a Dirty Martini of Hollywood Crime Flicks

So, The Racketeer kind of smacked me in the face like cold schnapps on a foggy Tuesday. Starring George Bancroft, who looks like he would’ve stolen my ice cream as a kid, and the always magnetic Evelyn Brent. Man, she could outstare a surströmming tin any day! The legendary Howard Higgin sat in the director’s chair, bringing this tough nugget to the screen. If you’re into those old-school crime dramas with more smoke than a midsummer bonfire, yeah – this one’s your jam.

The music, stodgy and plonky, makes me think of those autumn walks home from the video store in Falun, my pockets full of borrowed tapes and my head full of drama. The colours (or, well, utter lack of them since it’s black and white) give you that proper, heavy 1920s feeling. It’s a lump in the throat, in a good way. But, sometimes, it’s just talky, you know? I caught myself wishing for something to actually explode, or at least a wild car chase by Södermalm standards.

Funny story here – saw this with my cousin in Eskilstuna once, must’ve been December. We ate godis and tried to imitate Bancroft’s grumpy mug for like a week afterwards. Gran was NOT impressed.

Never really sure if I adore these kind of stories or just keep watching because it’s like comfort food for film-geeks. There’s a weird coziness to the gangster clichés, sort of like old football on a Sunday afternoon – not exciting, but comforting. You get pistols, sharp suits, and betrayals like mamma used to make, sort of.

If you like your cinema a bit crusty, and don’t mind pacing slower than a January morning in Umeå, give it a go. Lagom, as we say. Not too flashy. Not too boring. Just criminal enough.

watch the full movie on Mavshack Movies on YouTube

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