In blind rage

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Movie
German title In blind rage
Original title Black Fury
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1935
length 95 minutes
Rod
Director Michael Curtiz
script Abem Finkel
Carl Erickson
production Hal B. Wallis
Jack L. Warner
music Bernhard Kaun
camera Byron Haskin
cut Thomas Richards
occupation

In Blind Fury is a 1935 American drama directed by Michael Curtiz based on the short story Jan Volkanik by Michael A. Musmanno and the play Bohunk by Harry R. Irving.

action

Joe Radek, who immigrated from Eastern Europe, fell in love with Anna Novak. He dreams of quitting his job as a miner, buying a farm and living there with Anna as his wife. Anna likes John, but she can't imagine a relationship with him. She runs off with Slim Johnson. Joe is depressed and gets drunk.

Steve Croner arrives at a miners' meeting. Croner wants to break the power of the shareholders and incites the workers to rebellion. Joe's friend Mike Shemanski, the union leader, is trying to keep Joe at the union. But Joe is fired. The mining company has its own police force, which is led by the thug McGee. The union calls for strikes, society hires scabs. Croner, who is exposed as a social informant, leaves town.

One night, McGee and his men put Mike in an unequal fight. Joe happens to come by and try to save his friend. But Mike is killed and Joe is seriously injured. In the hospital, Joe is visited by Anna, who asks his forgiveness. At first Joe doesn't want any help from Anna, but soon he changes his mind. With their help, he penetrates the mine. He threatens to blow up the shaft if the company does not agree to negotiate with the union. McGee tries to find Joe in the mine. A tough fight ensues that ends with McGee becoming Joe's hostage.

Joe holds the position for a few days. Now the company agrees to his demands. A state investigation reveals that society instigated the strike. Joe and Anna are warmly welcomed by the townspeople.

background

The Warner Bros. production premiered on April 10, 1935. In Germany it was first seen on October 26, 1977 as part of a TV premiere in the third program of the BR .

Because of some brutal and controversial scenes, the film was banned in Chicago as well as in Spain, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and other countries. The US censors were amazed that Joe's criminal acts like extortion and hostage-taking were not punished, but the scenes could be left in the film. In Pennsylvania, the center of the coal industry, the film was shown without reservation.

The murder of Mike Shemanski is based on a true story in which miner John Barkowski was killed by three security workers in 1929. The judge who led the trial against the three men was Michael A. Musmanno, who wrote his short story from these events.

criticism

The lexicon of international film writes about the film: "Socially critical film, honest in its layout, not devoid of sentimentality, but well presented."

Andre Sennwald of the New York Times praised the excellent performance by Paul Muni. The constant whitewashing is disturbing, but considering that the censorship authority sees the film as a seditious social document, one understands the dangers the studio has exposed itself to.

Dave Kehr of "Chicago Reader" found that Michael Curtiz had staged the good social drama without considering the political implications, but with a good tempo and characterization.

Awards

In 1936 Paul Muni was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actor category.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Black Fury (1935) Articles. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved June 23, 2019 .
  2. In blind rage. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film Service , accessed February 10, 2011 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  3. Review of the New York Times (English)
  4. Critique of the Chicago Reader (English)