Racket Busters

Crusading lawyer Hugh Allison (Walter Abel), a lawyer with a reputation for putting gangsters in jail, is asked by the city to break up the trucking rackets. In response to his appointment, the racketeers, led by John Martin (Humphrey Bogart), crack down on the truckers, using brutal attacks to force them to join their organization; these intimidation tactics work on anyone cooperating with the law or resisting Martin's influence. Denny Jordan (George Brent) is a holdout against the Martin organization, and is soon the target of attacks. After his pregnant wife Nora (Gloria Dickson) is threatened, Denny sends her to the country for her safety. Because his business has been ruined by the gangsters, Denny steals money from the trucking association to pay for her lodging. That night when he returns home, he finds Martin's men waiting for him. They tell him he can keep the money but he must join their organization, and he finally gives in to their demands. But when Nora tells Denny that he has lost her respect for not standing up to Martin, he decides to take action. (Verleiher-Text)