Politics and crime have long been uneasy partners on screen. Elected officials, political machines, reform movements, and government agencies can all become entangled with organized crime, corruption, bribery, and abuse of power. Some films expose the influence of criminals on public institutions, while others examine the compromises made by those entrusted with governing. This page brings together films in which political ambition, public office, and criminal activity intersect.

The Woman on Pier 13 (1949)

T-Men (1947)

House of Bamboo (1955)

The Third Man (1949)

Force of Evil (1948)

The Narrow Margin (1952)

The Set-Up (1949)