The Breaking Point

1950
Approved
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

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Film Noir Crime Drama Thriller

An otherwise moral captain of a charter boat becomes financially strapped and is drawn into illegal activities in order to keep up payments on his boat.An otherwise moral captain of a charter boat becomes financially strapped and is drawn into illegal activities in order to keep up payments on his boat.An otherwise moral captain of a charter boat becomes financially strapped and is drawn into illegal activities in order to keep up payments on his boat.

Director
- Michael Curtiz
Writers
- Ranald MacDougall
- Ernest Hemingway
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Michael Curtiz
Writers
- Ranald MacDougall
- Ernest Hemingway
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Reporter
(uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Taxi Driver
(uncredited)

Peter Brocco

Macho
(uncredited)

Mary Carroll

Girl at Bar
(uncredited)

Spencer Chan

1st Chinese Immigrant
(uncredited)

John Close

Deputy
(uncredited)

Director
- Michael Curtiz
Writers
- Ranald MacDougall
- Ernest Hemingway
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
According to TCM's Eddie Muller, John Garfield thought this was his best performance and that it was the film of which he was most proud.

Goofs
When she first steps onto the boat, Patricia Neal's voice is heard saying "we're off to sunny Mexico," but her lips aren't moving.

Quotes
Harry Morgan: You know, my wife dyed her hair.
Leona Charles: Coincidentally I've been thinking of letting mine grow out. Speaking of coincidences, I live in Number Seven. My friends just kick the door open.

Crazy credits
THE END close out. All lettering aligned and centered except for the line beneath Warner Bros. that begins PICTURES. It's left registered with whatever wording that followed it 'air brushed' over using the lower right drop shadow pattern leaving a Warner Bros. Pictures _?_?_?_?_ mystery.

Connections
Featured in The John Garfield Story (2003)

Soundtracks
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
(uncredited)
Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Sidney Clare
Sung by Patricia Neal in the bar

User reviews69

Review

Featured review

8/10

John Garfield Does it Again

No one played the haunted/hunted character better than John Garfield (Humphrey Bogart is a close second). Here, Garfield is a boat captain that gets in way over his head. The thing with Garfield's characters, is that even though the audience sympathizes with his plight, the character always brings it on himself. With Garfield's usual acerbic delivery, his Harry Morgan is hard to like but when he is with his family, one sees that he is basically a headstrong but good guy. Even though Michael Curtiz directed this, the tone and especially the ending shot kept reminding me of Fritz Lang. I think this film should be commended for the ending, which although a somewhat happy one, reminds the audience of the affect of one's actions on everyone. This generally was ignored in a lot of the crime dramas from the 30's to the 60's. My only complaint is the Patricia Neal character seemed tacked on for romance sake. She didn't add much and certainly didn't have an impact on the main thrust of the story. But that is a minor quibble. Another gem for one of the move overlooked actors - John Garfield.