JohnHowardReid Copyright 15 September 1950 by Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. A Warner Bros.—First National picture. New York release at the Strand: 6 October 1950. U.S. release: 30 September 1950. U.K release: December 1950. Australian release: 6 June 1952. 8,789 feet. 97½ minutes.SYNOPSIS: An ex-G.I. attempts to make a living by chartering his fishing boat. NOTES: Domestic gross: approximately $1,100,000.COMMENT: Previously filmed as "To Have and Have Not: by Howard Hawks in 1945, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall; and the climax was used by John Huston in "Key Largo" (1948) also starring Bogart. The novel was remade in 1958 by Don Siegel with Audio Murphy in the Garfield part and Eddie Albert as Hannagan under the title, "The Gun Runners".Garfield's second-last film was one of the most memorable roles of his career. Comparisons with the Bogart interpretation in both To Have and Have Not and Key Largo are inevitable, but Garfield's embattled, realistic performance stays with the viewer long after the Bogart charisma is forgotten. Julie can hold his own even against Pat Neal, who is given all the sharp, caustic lines, all the make-up, glances and nuances of the glamorous femme fatale. Such is the power of his performance, he can even make his rejection of Pat in favor of plain Phyllis sympathetic and believable.The support cast is likewise excellent, Neal has a field day with the siren role, Thaxter is not afraid to look plain, even ugly as the harassed wife. Even the two kids quarrelsome and demanding, are far from the usual Hollywood butter-and-spice stereotypes. Wallace Ford turns in one of the most showy of his greasy performances as a shady lawyer, while Hernandez plays Garfield's too-loyal mate with his usual dignity."The Breaking Point" re-unites Ranald MacDougall, one of the scriptwriters of Mildred Pierce, with the producer of that film, Jerry Wald, and its director, Michael Curtiz. The taut, realistic dialogue and violent action are in expert hands — realized against stunningly-photographed locations and atmospherically-lit studio interiors. Curtiz's mastery of the film medium — his tight, deep-focus compositions re-enforce the drama and the feeling of the central character's inner torment and sense of persecution; his insistence on realism makes the explosive climax even more horrible and terrifying; while his ability to draw strong performances is self- evident — allied with an expansive budget and a tight, sharp script — is chiefly responsible for The Breaking Point's deserved reputation as the best screen version of Hemingway. In all, a totally entertaining film, with riveting performances, crackling dialogue, a powerful climax and a memorable conclusion as the crowd is cleared away from the wharf, and Joseph (Hernandez's real- life son) stands, puzzled and bewildered, alone!

MartinHafer Harry (John Garfield) is a guy who is having a world of trouble. His fishing charter business is having nothing but bad luck and he's having a hard time supporting his family as well as keeping his boat. He's so desperate that he does something he never thought he'd do--work for mobsters to make some quick money. But these people are thugs and the deeper Harry gets, the harder it looks for him to survive. Can he possibly keep his boat, his family AND his head?This film is a more faithful adaptation of the story that was made several times. First, it was a Bogart/Bacall picture, "To Have and Have Not" and later it was remade two more times as well as was the inspiration, in part, for "Islands in the Stream". So, if this all seems familiar, this is probably why.While the Bogart version is very stylish, I think this later John Garfield film is superior. The dialog (like the original) is very snappy but the film seems more realistic and taut. It also features some nice supporting performances by Juano Hernandez and Wallace Ford. In many ways, the film plays like "To Have and Have Not" merged with "The Killing" as well as "Key Largo". Tough, very dark and very well made--one of Garfield's best because it was NOT formulaic and that final shot by Michael Curtiz was amazingly good.By the way, if you watch the film, you might (like me) think that Patricia Neal's character wasn't necessary for the movie. What do you think?

wes-connors Hard-working Newport Beach, California fisherman John Garfield (as Harry Morgan) is struggling to support practical housewife Phyllis Thaxter (as Lucy) and their two girls. For some desperately-needed extra cash, Mr. Garfield and his "Sea Queen" shipmate Juano Hernandez (as Wesley Park) agree to take alluring blonde Patricia Neal (as Lenora Charles) and her sugar daddy to Mexico. When the man jumps ship, Garfield is left without payment. He is tempted into a smuggling by wily Wallace Ford (as Duncan), and continues to receive sexual invitations from Ms. Neal. Eventually, Garfield faces "The Breaking Point"...This is the more faithful adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "To Have and Have Not" (1937), though it's not as flashy or memorable as the 1944 version, which focused on the sexual sparks being set off by co-stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. "The Breaking Point" is more of a "Harry Morgan" character study. Here is the more less romantic reverse of the "American Dream". Garfield plays a hard-working man who does not get ahead. Short-term satisfaction is represented by sex (Neal), drugs (alcohol), and Mr. Ford's offer of easy money. Ford's character predicts Garfield will, "break when the load gets too heavy..."Garfield offered yet another excellent performance in "He Ran All the Way" (1951), before succumbing to a heart attack. He had a history of heart problems, but some believe his heart may have been broken by those persecuting the actor for his "liberal" political views. Garfield was accused of being a Communist and declined to provide a list of "Communist" pals to Congress. As usual, director Michael Curtiz, Garfield and several co-workers excel. Yet the overall production is flat; or, like several Garfield pictures, this might have been a masterpiece. Watch Mr. Hernandez and his son for something buried in the mix.******** The Breaking Point (9/30/50) Michael Curtiz ~ John Garfield, Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter, Juano Hernandez

jpdoherty Made in 1950 Warner Bros. THE BREAKING POINT is one of Hollywood's great and classic Film Noirs! Meticulously directed by Michal Curtiz it is, after "Force Of Evil", John Garfield's best movie! Beautifully written by Ranald McDougall, from a short story by Ernest Hemingway, this was the third time it was filmed by Warner Bros. Both earlier versions "To Have & To Have Not" (1945) and "Key Largo" (1948) starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall but this version was the more definitive and broadest reworking of the story.John Garfield giving one of his best hard boiled performances plays down-at-heel charter-boat captain Harry Morgan who reluctantly falls foul of the law while trying to make ends meet for himself and his family. His wife (Phillis Thaxter overbearing in an over written role) pleads with him to give up his boat THE SEA QUEEN ("pop says you can have a job anytime on his lettuce ranch in Salinas" to which Harry balks "I'm not going to squat on my hunkers down in Salinas, trying to pick lettuce quicker than the bugs can eat it, I'm a boat jockey, it's all I know"). But when a fishing party lets him down and he runs out of money in Mexico - a shifty shyster lawyer, F.R Duncan, (brilliantly played by Wallace Ford) entices him to take some illegal migrants back on his boat into the United States, Harry has no choice but to comply. "Don't fight it Harry - relax - roll with it - let it happen" Duncan repeatedly advises Harry, to which Harry rounds on him - "you're poison!-....you'd sell your own mother if she was worth anything"! Later in the movie Duncan inveigles him to take a quartet of gangsters out to sea when they flee after their racetrack heist - culminating in the picture's gripping and climactic set piece - a suspenseful and bloody shootout on board THE SEA QUEEN.Peppered with sparkling dialogue throughout, everything in the film is splendidly executed. The movie just rattles along at a well defined pace. Crisply photographed by the great Warner cinematographer Ted McCord ("Johnny Belinda"/ "Treasure Of the Sierra Madre") his brilliant low-key black & white camera work gives the movie a compelling visual style. Oddley enough though the movie goes virtually unscored but it does have a lovely and beguiling orchestral piece heard over the opening credits and for the finale. There is no music credit on the picture except for Music Supervision by Ray Heindorf but the piece sounds suspiciously like something Max Steiner would have written. In a letter from the esteemed composer to this writer in 1968 he intimated to me that he had indeed written the piece - without credit - adding that he wrote it as a favor to Ray Heindorf. The following year Steiner, again without credit, would oblige Heindorf with a helping hand with the score for the Cagney classic "Come Fill The Cup"."The Breaking Point" is a terrific movie that badly needs a DVD release! I am surprised that Warner Home Video have not already included it in one of their noir box sets. Perhaps it will turn up in their next one? Or maybe in an overdue Garfield set - who knows?Classic line from "The Breaking Point"....... when smart-mouthed good time girl Patricia Neal, drinking in a Mexican bar - ignores the clamour of a cock-fight taking place in the background - Garfield asks "don't you like cockfights? To which she blithely replies "all that trouble for an egg".