NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Warner Archive Blu-ray (November 2025): Warner Archive have transferred John Cromwell's The Racket to Blu-ray. It boasts an impressive HD presentation derived from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative, encoded in 1080P preserving the film's original 1.37:1 aspect ratio. It's quite and advancement over the 2006 vertically-stretched Warner SD. This new transfer delivers exceptional clarity, and cleanliness, with deep black levels that shine in grayscale during nighttime sequences, making shadowy noir elements pop with crisp detail and texture that far surpasses older DVD. Bright whites and a balanced grayscale ensure daytime shots are equally sharp, free from any noticeable artifacts, resulting in a visually stunning upgrade that captures the urban grit and atmospheric depth of John Cromwell's direction, with high praise for its fidelity to the source material.

NOTE: We have added 52 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Warner Archive use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The auditory landscape of The Racket complements its noir visuals with a functional yet understated approach, prioritizing crisp dialogue delivery and ambient urban sounds to build suspense, though it receives less critical attention than the film's performances or plot. Composer Paul Sawtell's (The Last Man on Earth, Jungle Queen, A Game of Death, Inferno, Silver City, The Fly, Denver and Rio Grande, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, 5 Steps to Danger, The Bubble, She-Devil and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) original score provides a standard orchestral backdrop typical of RKO's crime dramas, featuring tense, pulsating strings and brass during action sequences to amplify the drama of chases and confrontations, such as the bomb explosion or precinct shootout. Sawtell's music contributes to the film's thriller momentum without overpowering the narrative - its minimalist cues underscore the moral ambiguity, with low, ominous tones during revelations of corruption and more urgent rhythms in climactic scenes. Lizabeth Scott's husky voice as the nightclub singer adds a layer of sultry audio texture, particularly in her torch song performance (A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening,) which serves as a brief respite from the tension while reinforcing noir's fatalistic tone. No noted flaws in the lossless transfer. Warner Archive offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The extras package for The Racket on Warner Archive Blu-ray is modest but valuable, featuring an audio commentary by film historian Eddie Muller (Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir) in a second transfer standard definition (480i) - I have no idea why they couldn't add the track to the HD presentation - ported over from the original DVD release, where he offers an engaging, off-the-cuff analysis comparing it to the 1928 original, discussing uncredited directorial contributions like those from Nicholas Ray, and contextualizing the film's strengths and weaknesses without spoilers or negativity. Additionally, there's a brief theatrical trailer running in high definition, providing a nostalgic glimpse into the movie's original promo.

Produced by Howard Hughes under RKO Pictures, John Cromwell's The Racket updates the story to a postwar context, emphasizing organized crime's infiltration into urban politics and law enforcement. While the original silent version sparked Hollywood's gangster cycle and featured early talents like Edward G. Robinson, the 1951 iteration reflects the era's film noir sensibilities, blending moral ambiguity, shadowy visuals, and critiques of institutional corruption. The film's strength lies in its noir-studded cast, who embody archetypal roles with conviction. Robert Mitchum's (Pursued, Angel Face, Farewell My Lovely, The Night of the Hunter, The Yakuza, Out of the Past, Not As a Stranger, The Enemy Below, The Wonderful Country, The Friends of Eddie Coyle) McQuigg is a dapper, unflappable paragon of integrity, drawing on his post-arrest persona to convey quiet determination - his first role after the 1948 marijuana scandal. Robert Ryan (The Set-up, Born to be Bad, Day of the Outlaw, Odds Against Tomorrow, Berlin Express, Act of Violence, Horizons West, Crossfire, Clash by Night, The Woman on Pier 13, On Dangerous Ground, The Woman on the Beach, Inferno) delivers a snarling, psychopathic Nick Scanlon, an old-school thug resistant to syndicate modernization, whose volatile family dynamics with brother Joe add layers of personal animosity. Lizabeth Scott's (Pitfall, Too Late For Tears, Stolen Face, Red Mountain, The Weapon, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Desert Fury, I Walk Alone, Dark City) Irene Hayes evolves from a tough, husky-voiced torch singer to a reluctant state's witness, her romantic subplot with reporter Dave Ames (Robert Hutton - They Came from Beyond Space, Invisible Invaders, The Colossus of New York) providing emotional depth amid peril. Supporting standouts include William Talman (The Hitch-Hiker, City That Never Sleeps, Crashout, Big House U.S.A., Armored Car Robbery) as the idealistic rookie Johnson, whose doomed heroism contrasts his later Perry Mason role as a district attorney Hamilton Burger; Ray Collins (The Unseen, Touch of Evil, The Desperate Hours, Crack-Up, The Heiress, The Fountainhead, A Double Life, The Best Years of Our Lives, Leave Her to Heaven, The Big Street, The Magnificent Ambersons, Citizen Kane) as the fearful, corrupt Welsh, flipping his eventual Perry Mason lieutenant character; and William Conrad (The Fugitive TV Series narrator, -30-, Two on a Guillotine, The Killers, Cry Danger, Brainstorm, 5 Against the House, Cry of the Hunted, The Ride Back, Body and Soul, One Way Street, Canon) as the slinking Turk, underplaying menace effectively from his radio background. The Racket delves into themes of systemic corruption, the futility of individual heroism against entrenched power, and the clash between violent, localized crime and sophisticated national syndicates. `It critiques urban decay, political complicity, and institutional betrayal, with McQuigg's fight symbolizing resistance to mob usurpation of civic authority - blurring lines between business, government, and organized crime. Cromwell's (Of Human Bondage, Since You Went Away, The Enchanted Cottage, Made For Each Other, Night Song, The Company She Keeps, Dead Reckoning) direction emphasizes taut pacing and shadowy cinematography by George E. Diskant (Kansas City Confidential, Beware, My Lovely, The Narrow Margin, On Dangerous Ground, Port of New York, A Woman's Secret, They Live by Night, Desperate,) with inventive mise-en-scène like deep-focus shots and nighttime sequences in parking garages or rooftops. The Racket stands as a competent postwar noir that captures the genre's essence through stellar casting and thematic depth, though hampered by production compromises and familiar tropes. It remains a worthwhile watch for fans of Mitchum, Ryan, and classic crime dramas, offering timeless insights into corruption's grip on society while reflecting Hollywood's evolving treatment of gangster narratives. Though the extras are limited on this Blu-ray, the inclusion of Eddie Muller's informative commentary (albeit on an SD transfer) makes it a must-have for fans, delivering a highly recommended package that respects the movie's legacy while offering superior quality over prior home video iterations. Certainly recommended to 'dark cinema' aficionados.

Gary Tooze