Grade: B+ (**** out of *****)
Narrative Structure
Harry Morgan (Garfield), a sport-fishing boat captain whose business is on the skids and whose family is feeling the economic pinch, begins working with a shady lawyer, Duncan (Wallace Ford), who persuades him to smuggle Chinese men from Mexico into California in his boat.
When his plan goes wrong, Harry comes even more under the influence of the lawyer, who blackmails him into helping the escape of some crooks, who pull a racetrack heist using his fishing boat to get them away.
Harry’s loyal wife Lucy (Phyllis Thaxter) suspects Harry is breaking the law, urging him to stop but he refuses and walks out.
Meanwhile, Harry’s partner Wesley Park (Juano Hernandez) arrives, and Harry tries to send him on an errand. The crooks arrive before Wesley leaves, though, and kill him. Harry is horrified, but is forced at gunpoint to transport the crooks out to open sea without drawing attention of the Coast Guard. Harry learns that Duncan was killed during the escape from the heist. Wesley’s body is dumped overboard. Harry uses a ploy to get the guns he had hidden away prior to the journey and kills the crooks in a dramatic shootout.
When Harry is critically wounded, Lucy tries to convince him to allow the amputation of his arm (which he initially perceives emasculation), Speaking with difficulty, Harry then reaffirms his love for Lucy as he closes his eyes.
The Breaking Point lacks the prestige of To Have and Have Not (Garfield is not Bogey), but some critics prefer this version due to its fast-speed, adherence to the spirit of Hemingway’s characters, and above all a stoic top-notch performance of Garfield.
Over the years, this feature has become a staple of noir classics, shown frequently in retrospectives of the genre as well as those devoted to the impressive if short career of Garfield.
Cast
John Garfield as Harry Morgan
Patricia Neal as Leona Charles
Phyllis Thaxter as Lucy Morgan
Juano Hernández as Wesley Park
Wallace Ford as F.R. Duncan
Edmon Ryan as Rogers
Ralph Dumke as Hannagan
Guy Thomajan as Danny
William Campbell as Concho
Sherry Jackson as Amelia Morgan
Donna Jo Boyce as Connie Morgan
Victor Sen Yung as Mr. Sing
Credits
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Produced by Jerry Wald
Screenplay by Ranald MacDougall, based on To Have and Have Not 1937 novel by Ernest Hemingway
Music by Howard Jackson, Max Steiner
Cinematography Ted D. McCord
Edited by Alan Crosland Jr.
Produced and distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date: September 30, 1950
Running time: 97 minutes