The Vicious Circle (1948): cast, story & where to watch
1948 · Film · ★ 5
Released in 1948, The Vicious Circle is a crime film directed by W. Lee Wilder, running about 77 minutes. “Break it... or be broken!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In Hungary, a rich baron discovers that there are extensive oil deposits underneath nearby properties owned by villagers. He manages to convince all the property owners to sell to him, except for a few properties owned by Jewish families. Infuriated at their refusal to sell to him, he attempts, with the help of some corrupt local police, to have the men charged with the murder of a local woman, who in reality actually committed suicide.
Who’s in it. The Vicious Circle stars Conrad Nagel as Karl Nemesch, Fritz Kortner as Joseph Schwartz, Reinhold Schünzel as Baron Arady and Philip Van Zandt as Calomar Balog, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, The Vicious Circle has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Vicious Circle page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Vicious Circle tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Dark Knight.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Vicious Circle (1948)?
- In US, The Vicious Circle is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Vicious Circle worth watching?
- The Vicious Circle holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Vicious Circle?
- The Vicious Circle stars Conrad Nagel, Fritz Kortner, Reinhold Schünzel, Philip Van Zandt and Lyle Talbot.
- When was The Vicious Circle released?
- The Vicious Circle was released in 1948, with a runtime of about 77 minutes.