Force of Evil — Abraham Polonsky

Force of Evil ... is a classic of the American cinema, a film that deserves its proper attention. It's been a major influence on my work, particularly in Mean Streets, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas. I first saw the film when I was thirteen years old, and I was overwhelmed by its writing, its direction, its use of music, and its acting. . . . And over the years I've had the pleasure of introducing the film to Francis Coppola, Robert De Niro, and Michael Powell, among others...Force of Evil was the only film that Polonsky was to direct for 21 years, because he was blacklisted. It's one of the great losses to American films and the world cinema. And I feel it's very fortunate that you are able to see this pristine, fully restored film today, and it should serve as a warning that this film's been saved merely by chance.