Unlike the mid-40s film that first brought us Bogie and Bacall, The Breaking Point is a relatively faithful adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s story, To Have and Have Not. This one stars John Garfield (in one of his final films) and Patricia Neal. Michael Curtiz directs, but if that suggests a routine Warner Bothers potboiler (I love those) it is not. Garfield is a boat captain talked into doing some smuggling. There’s a love triangle and an ending that’ll just wrench you.

The Breaking Point

Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Nathan Alderman

Referenced Works The Breaking Point (1951) Show Notes & Links Get in touch with the show at lts@theincomparable.com or on the socials.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

• The Breaking Point trailer

  • Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
  • On disc: Criterion Blu-ray

The Self-Referential LTS

• LTS #73 73 Manly Seamanship)
• LTS #23 23 A Perfect Spherical Cow
• LTS #99 A Numerical Scale Of Trash Men

Next time, we’ll watch

• An American in Paris trailer