The Woman Racket | 1930 | Crime Drama

Title: The Woman Racket | 1930 | Crime Drama Director: Albert H. Kelley, Robert Ober, Paul Bern (uncredited) Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Starring: Tom Moore, Blanche Sweet, Sally Starr, Robert Agnew, John Miljan, Lew Kelly, Tom London, Eugene Borden Based on: Broadway play *Night Hostess* by Philip Dunning Release Date: January 24 1930 Runtime: 70 minutes Format: Black and white with sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Crime Drama Romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Raid on speakeasy and meeting 00:10:00 Tom and Julia begin courtship 00:20:00 Marriage and early domestic life 00:30:00 Julia’s discontent and return to nightlife 00:40:00 Entanglements with club owner Chris Miller 00:50:00 Crime escalation and threat 01:00:00 Confrontation and resolution --- Summary: The Woman Racket is a 1930 American pre-Code crime drama about Tom Hayes, a policeman who meets and marries Julia Barnes, a speakeasy employee he helps during a raid. While initially infatuated, Julia becomes dissatisfied with her husband’s steady but modest life and returns to the excitement of nightclubs and show business. Drawn into a dangerous world with a shady club owner, her choices lead to conflict and jeopardy until Tom must intervene to protect her and resolve the threats surrounding them. The narrative explores themes of marital conflict, the lure of excitement versus stability, and the moral complications of nightlife and criminal entanglements during the early sound era of cinema. --- Background: Produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, The Woman Racket was directed by Albert H. Kelley with contributions by Robert Ober and Paul Bern. Based on the play *Night Hostess*, the film reflects pre-Code Hollywood’s interest in nightlife settings like speakeasies and the social dynamics of those environments. --- Trivia: Actress Blanche Sweet, a veteran of early silent cinema, starred in one of her few talking film roles. Ann Dvorak appears in the film in an uncredited chorus girl role early in her career. The title refers to the societal “racket” of speakeasy culture and illicit entertainment prevalent during Prohibition. The film’s storyline features both romance and criminal elements, typical of early pre-Code dramatic narratives. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: January 24 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #TheWomanRacket1930 #BlancheSweet #TomMoore #PreCode #CrimeDrama #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain