the silent film version of the racket be famous or infamous for a variety of reason . this stalwart cop vs. chicago gangland bos film predate the great warner brother film of the 1930s with edward g. robinson and james cagney and humphrey bogart and george raft and and pat obrien and and it create somewhat of a formula for these sort of film . thomas meigham play the self determine cop and who isn not exactly always operate on the up and up . louis wolheim be nick scarsi and chicago gangland bos obviously model after one alphonse capone and who doesn not care who he have to steamroll over to get his way . marie prevost be helen hayes and the prototype for jean harlow and her ilk in these film for the next decade . she have it all represent dumb blonde on the outside and smart cookie on the inside and and enough sensuality to mix up any guy thought . the film have a great opening sequence reminiscent of film noir with it camera angle and light and track shot . the first half of the film move quickly and be well edit . the second half degenerate into staginess and cheap look set and perhaps show the downside of it theatrical origin . it base on a bartlett cormack play and which originally star edward g. robinson himself on broadway . the play be only moderately successful and but the film be a best picture nominee direct by lewis milestone . howard hughes produce the film and which be painstakingly restore after disappear for more than 50 year ( complete with a brand new musical score especially write for it restoration ) . it often cite a an influence on film noir or consider a noir film itself and but except for the opening sequence and the film resemble noir only in content and not style . the film do hold up after 80 year now and and it still an entertaining precursor of a genre that largely go today . look fast for a young walter brennan in the first ten minute . of 4 star .