the enforcer and whose u title should have remain murder and inc. be a greatly underrated film noir . with all the praise heap on humphrey bogart over the decade and it be surprising that more viewer do not know this film at all . perhaps the reason for the relative neglect of the enforcer lie in it total lack of romantic interest . in bogart most popular work and he be usually pair with a well like female star . and in common with the contemporary kiss tomorrow goodbye ( star james cagney ) and there be a pervasive atmosphere of evil . more than half the film be shoot in nearly pitch dark interior and create a strong sense of claustrophobia and fatalism . the enforcer set bogart detective ferguson against one of the dark and most amoral villain in the annals of noir . it isn not likely that everett sloane ever receive his due for this brilliant characterization represent his mendoza be so matter of fact and so chillingly calculate . tell in a complex and but intelligible series of flashback and the film establish a world where evil exert an overwhelming influence . in the opening sequence and we see a tough hit man ( ted de corsia ) reduce to whimper terror at the thought of mendoza revenge turn upon him . de corsia give an extremely fine performance and a do bogart and king donovan and a then nearly unknown zero mostel and and jack lambert and to name just a few . one slight criticism represent how could it be that ferguson and his men have never hear the term contract and hit before . do these now well know underworld expression originate here . it seem unlikely . but this and and an occasional reliance on happy coincidence and should not subtract from the many pleasure of this dark gem .