Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Michael_Elliott Racket Busters (1938) ** (out of 4) Tired crime flick from Warner has Humphrey Bogart playing a racketeer who decides to form a truckers union so that he can take over all the store, drivers and the produce. If people don't go along with this they end up beaten but one man (George Brent) decides to stand up to them. I've always been a fan of Warner's various "B" pictures but this one here left me disappointed for many reasons. For starters, the screenplay really doesn't offer up anything that original as we've seen this story countless times before. Some might say that all of these pictures had the same story and that's true to an extent but I think most took that basic structure and tried to do things their own way. That really doesn't happen here because there isn't a single second in the film where you feel anything for the stuff that's going on. Some of this problem should fall on the shoulders of Bacon who seems to be sleep walking in his director's chair. He usually manages this type of material quite well but perhaps he too found the story boring. Another problem is the D.A. who is extremely boring and his character just doesn't have enough fire behind him to make anyone interested in anything he has to say. Even the performances are rather disappointing as Bogart doesn't do too much and doesn't have half the energy he usually delivers in this type of role. It was somewhat fun seeing Brent in this type of picture but the screenplay doesn't do him any justice either. The normally reliable Allen Jenkins is here playing the comic sidekick but even he can't deliver any laughs. The movie is mildly entertaining if you're a fan of this genre but I think most people are going to sit here and just know that there are much better movies out there and this here is strictly by the numbers.

MartinHafer I liked this film and I am sure part of this is because I really do love the Warner Brothers gangster films of the 1930s. Sure, they were very predictable, but the stock company of actors (Bogart, Cagney, Robinson and others) and writing have made these movies timeless--something that can still be enjoyed into the 21st century. And this film has many of these wonderful elements--including Bogart in his "pre-nice guy" part of his career, as the evil mob boss.However, this Warner formula is a little different because of some of the plot elements and George Brent is playing a different sort of character. Brent usually did not play in gangster films even though he was a Warner contract player, and the guy he plays in this film really isn't a villain or exactly a good guy either. In many ways I appreciated that he was more a "typical guy who rises above when the chips are down"(how's that for using the lingo?). This doesn't always work well, though, as Brent's character just isn't very consistent--ranging from a dull-witted hothead who thinks he can take on the mob single-handedly to a wimp who willingly serves the mob to save his own sorry skin. With a bit of a re-write, this character could have been great and elevated the movie to greatness. As is, he's very interesting but very flawed. Another flawed character is the Special Prosecutor. Again and again he begs and threatens but can't understand why truckers won't give evidence against the mobsters. However, EVERY TIME that anyone talks(except at the end), they are either dead or beaten almost to death and the Prosecutor's Office did NOTHING to help!!! Duh!!!As for the plot, it's not exactly the typical gangster film with hoods knocking each other off or selling bootleg hooch (like in THE ROARING TWENTIES or THE PUBLIC ENEMY) but is about mob control of the trucking industry. The steps by which they muscle into the union and the lengths they go to destroy the opposition were actually pretty interesting and timely. By being a little different, the film really kept my interest. A very good film, but certainly not a great one due to a few plot holes.

classicsoncall "Racket Busters" is a Warner Brothers period piece that zeroes in on racketeering in the food and trucking business of the 1930's. John "Czar" Martin (Humphrey Bogart) has his sights set on the entire industry, seeking tribute from everyone in the food chain through intimidation and bribery. Denny Jordan (George Brent) is the wavering hero, who at first stands up to the mob, but falls victim to their tactics after stealing a mob satchel to provide for his ailing wife. Martin is willing to overlook Jordan's indiscretion, provided he cooperates with Martin's plans to take over the trucker's association. A few of the truckers stand true to their ideals throughout the film - "Pop" (Oscar O'Shea), the father figure of the working stiffs; and Skeets Wilson (Allen Jenkins), a friend of Jordan's who manages to see through the corruption even after his friend falls under Martin's influence. Future "Blondie" star Penny Singleton is on hand as Skeets' fiancée, providing a moral anchor for her man.The film is fairly formulaic, with the bad guys holding the upper hand for most of the film, but after "Pop" is murdered, and Skeets takes the lead in riling the truckers to action, Jordan wakes up to the reality of the situation and takes up the cause once again. In a climactic scene, Jordan and Martin duke it out, as special prosecutor Hugh Allison (Walter Abel) finally collects enough damaging evidence to put Martin away for years to come. Humphrey Bogart is top billed, but it's George Brent who has more screen time and is the film's center of interest. Allen Jenkins does a credible job, keeping the faith even as his tomato commission business takes it on the chin. "Racket Busters" is not as hard edged as the title might make it seem, but it deserves at least a single viewing. For another Bogey film with a trucking theme, try 1940's "They Drive by Night", co-starring George Raft.

Brian Ellis If you want to see this movie because Humphrey Bogart is the star, save your time. He gets top billing because of what he became after this movie. In this movie he is in it enough to barely be called a supporting actor. George Brent is the real star, so all Brent fans should watch this (if there are any). Here we have an oddity - our hero prevents the mob from taking over the trucking industry! Of course we know what really happened. Atypical gangster ending for this movie; the length of the jail sentence is also stated! The ending came so quickly that one thinks that is was hastily cobbled together. One positive note is that Allen Jenkins actually plays a good guy for a change.