The Racketeer (1929)





Rhoda is a young woman who is in a relationship with Tony, a violinist. Mahlon Keane, a wealthy and smooth-talking racketeer, becomes attracted to Rhoda and offers financial support to her and Tony. In return for his generosity in organizing a concert for Tony, Rhoda agrees to marry Keane.

On the night of the concert, after which Rhoda and Mahlon are to be married, a member of the racketeer’s organization kills the leader of a rival gang. Mahlon is killed in a gun battle when the police come to the concert hall to arrest him. Mahlon’s death leaves Rhoda free to marry Tony.


The most elegant gangster with a sumptuous mansion falls in love with a society beauty, just in time to give her up to the man she loves. Beneath their rough exteriors these racketeers have hearts of gold — if you're to believe the scenario writers. Nevertheless, this is a pleasing little picture with excellent performances by Robert Armstrong and Carol Lombard. This Lombard gal, by the way, is going to amount to something in talkies.
All Talkie.

Photoplay December 1929



Vintage magazines

Photoplay , December 1929
Photoplay , December 1929
Photoplay , January 1930


Books with substantial mentioning of The Racketeer

Frederick W. Ott
The Films of Carole Lombard
Secaucus, NJ, 1974

Books with an entry on The Racketeer

Larry Langman and Daniel Finn
A Guide to American Crime Films of the Thirties
Westport, Connecticut - London, 1995


Year: 1929
Country: United States
 
IMDb: 0020305