Films like this one seem determined to make everyone else look bad by comparison. Abraham Polonsky directed Force of Evil and also wrote the screenplay based on Ira Wolfert’s novel, Tucker's People. The film features John Garfield, Thomas Gomez, Beatrice Pearson, Marie Windsor, Howard Chamberlain, and Roy Roberts. David Raksin composed the music, and George Barnes was in charge of cinematography. The story centers around Garfield as lawyer Joe Morse, who works for powerful gangster Ben Tucker (Roberts). Tucker’s plan is to take over all the numbers rackets in New York, which will put smaller operators out of business when the fix is set for July 4th. This creates a problem for Morse because his older brother Leo (Gomez) is one of those operators—an honest man who did everything he could to help Joe get on his feet. It’s now considered an important and influential film within the film noir genre. Critics, filmmakers, and enthusiasts have all expressed admiration for Polonsky's work. Whether it truly deserves such high praise will always be open to discussion, but there is something distinctive about the movie, particularly in its stylized dialogue and how it exposes a corrupt and morally bankrupt world. The conversations between Garfield and his love interest Pearson almost possess a poetic quality, especially given that much of the film suggests that evil cannot easily be defeated or overcome. The biblical allusions and allegorical elements also add to the film’s impact. While primarily dialogue-driven, it erupts into shocking violence during its final section, culminating in a finale where despair gives way to the potential for spiritual renewal…though perhaps even that will ultimately fail. The strong performances from the cast, along with evocative music and authentic location photography contribute to why this film has gained so much respect. It isn’t as dark as the title implies, and occasionally it risks becoming overly pretentious, but overall it's a worthwhile experience that becomes richer upon repeated viewings. 8/10

Source on TMDB