Two poor Sheepshead Bay fisherman (Thomas Mitchell and John Qualen) become the victims of a seemingly charming (but really ruthless and violent) racketeer (John Garfield) who demands protection money. As they fall prey to his threats, he gets more demanding, and when he begins to ensnare Mitchell's daughter (Ida Lupino), papa gets fed up. At Mitchell's urging, he and Qualen have Garfield arrested for extortion, but a technicality gets him off and Mitchell is brutally beaten with a rubber hose. Mitchell convinces Qualen that they need to knock Garfield off to get out from under his skin and to protect his daughter. Of course, things don't go as planned and Lupino's old boyfriend (Eddie Albert) is implicated in his murder.
Garfield and Lupino are top billed, but is Mitchell and Qualen whom the story focuses on and are deserving of the acting honors. All of the sympathy lies with them because they are the victims of evil, and Lupino's heroine seems to willingly fall under Garfield's spell. Aline MacMahon and Odette Myrtil are the somewhat domineering women in their lives, although MacMahon appears only briefly which is sad considering her popularity at Warners less than 10 years before. Albert only has minor importance, even though he's an important part of the storyline. As a young male character, he's no match for Garfield's determination to manipulate and control everybody around him to achieve his own evil goal.
This is a very unique crime drama because it is about the victims of crime fighting back rather than the law. When Mitchell and Qualen begin plotting their revenge, the audience can't help but hope they succeed. Garfield's villain is his most ruthless, sort of a modern day Bill Sikes who enjoys making money at other's expenses. In small roles, Bowery Boy Leo Gorcey and his father Bernard, as well as "Bewitched's" George Tobias, offer amusing color of the Brooklyn neighborhood. This is a good chance to see Leo Gorcey giving an admirable performance, because rather than playing the over-aged teenager, he's actually acting his real age for a change.
Anatole Livak's direction is as crisp as the waterfront scenery and excellent photography that is downright moody at times. While some Warner Brothers street films often fall into the same archetype, "Out of the Fog" is very different and offers a fresh perspective on an all too familiar story.
Garfield and Lupino are top billed, but is Mitchell and Qualen whom the story focuses on and are deserving of the acting honors. All of the sympathy lies with them because they are the victims of evil, and Lupino's heroine seems to willingly fall under Garfield's spell. Aline MacMahon and Odette Myrtil are the somewhat domineering women in their lives, although MacMahon appears only briefly which is sad considering her popularity at Warners less than 10 years before. Albert only has minor importance, even though he's an important part of the storyline. As a young male character, he's no match for Garfield's determination to manipulate and control everybody around him to achieve his own evil goal.
This is a very unique crime drama because it is about the victims of crime fighting back rather than the law. When Mitchell and Qualen begin plotting their revenge, the audience can't help but hope they succeed. Garfield's villain is his most ruthless, sort of a modern day Bill Sikes who enjoys making money at other's expenses. In small roles, Bowery Boy Leo Gorcey and his father Bernard, as well as "Bewitched's" George Tobias, offer amusing color of the Brooklyn neighborhood. This is a good chance to see Leo Gorcey giving an admirable performance, because rather than playing the over-aged teenager, he's actually acting his real age for a change.
Anatole Livak's direction is as crisp as the waterfront scenery and excellent photography that is downright moody at times. While some Warner Brothers street films often fall into the same archetype, "Out of the Fog" is very different and offers a fresh perspective on an all too familiar story.