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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 11, 2023 6:34:38 GMT
Continuing our month of business movie melodramas, this Sunday, April 16th at 3pm ET / 1pm MT / 12pm PT, we will be watching and sharing our thoughts on the 1957 movie "The Garment Jungle," starring Lee J. Cobb, Kerwin Matthews, Gia Scala and Richard Boone.
It's the 1950s and New York City's shockingly brass-knuckles garment district is a volatile mix of management iron rule, mob enforcement, union agitation and sexual passion as seen through one large manufacturing firm fighting generational change at the top and a new unionizing effort on its plant floor, with violence and even murder on the table.
Link to the movie: "The Garment Jungle"
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Post by topbilled on Apr 11, 2023 13:52:52 GMT
It's been about ten years since I've seen this one. I tend to remember what I read about what happened behind the scenes. Lee J. Cobb was often a temperamental star, very passionate about the projects he did, which probably explains why he was such a good actor. Anyway, he did not get along with director Vincent Sherman and there were several clashes on the set. I think at one point they stopped talking to each other, because Cobb was trying to get the studio to fire Sherman. But maybe all that off-camera tension helped them to create a stronger motion picture...?
Kerwin Mathews was the opposite of Cobb. He did not like making waves, which probably endeared him to Harry Cohn. But Mathews had his own struggles...he was hiding his sexuality and trying to advance his career as a leading man in a heteronormal culture.
Added into the mix we have half-Italian actress Gia Scala (born in England) who would not reach the heights that Anna Magnani and Sophia Loren did in America.
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 11, 2023 14:52:39 GMT
That's good backstory. Cobb's passion comes through.
The movie, as you probably remember, is kinda hokey in its pure pro-union message as the businessmen are made to be cardboard villains and the union leaders mainly sainted people fighting for the underdog.
Still, it's a good soap opera with some talented and interesting actors.
A more balanced look at unions can be seen in "On the Waterfront."
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 13, 2023 6:09:50 GMT
Please join us Sunday, April 16th at 3pm ET / 1pm MT / 12pm PT, to see lust, power and passion collide in "The Garment Jungle."
Link to the movie: "The Garment Jungle"
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 15, 2023 5:46:32 GMT
Please join us tomorrow, Sunday April 16th at 3pm ET / 1pm MT / 12pm PT, to see 1957's "The Garment Jungle," a soap opera wrapped around an unabashedly pro-union tale that is less about historical accuracy than making a political point in favor of labor. Still, its two-dimensional story is entertainingly put over by a talented cast with famed director Vincent Sherman at the helm.
Link to the movie: "The Garment Jungle"
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Post by topbilled on Apr 15, 2023 22:10:50 GMT
I was thinking about other pro-union movies. I guess there's THE PAJAMA GAME and NORMA RAE. Oh, and GUNG HO, a comedy from Ron Howard that starred Michael Keaton.
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 16, 2023 6:20:40 GMT
I was thinking about other pro-union movies. I guess there's THE PAJAMA GAME and NORMA RAE. Oh, and GUNG HO, a comedy from Ron Howard that starred Michael Keaton. One of the most, maybe the most, balanced movies I've seen looking at management and unions is "Whistle Stop at Eaton Falls." Comments on it here: "Whistle Stop at Eaton Falls"
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 16, 2023 6:45:47 GMT
Looking forward to seeing everyone later today for "The Garment Jungle" at 3pm ET / 1pm MT / 12pm PT.
I still have a little Easter candy (no "chocolate snakes" though ) left over from last Sunday that will be gone by the end of the movie. This is the "egg" I saved for today's movie:
See's Mayfair Egg: A delectable dark chocolate egg packed with roasted pecans, creamy vanilla and sweet cherries. Decorated with a candy flower, it's a scrumptious spring treat. (From the See's Candies site)
Link to the movie: "The Garment Jungle"
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Post by Andrea Doria on Apr 16, 2023 12:10:21 GMT
I was just wondering If you had another chocolate bunny left! I have some tiny chocolate eggs left, perfect for movie watching.
I loved, "Gung Ho," and every other Michael Keaton comedy. I think he's very underrated. He played four very different characters in "Multiplicity!"
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Post by topbilled on Apr 16, 2023 14:21:12 GMT
I was thinking about other pro-union movies. I guess there's THE PAJAMA GAME and NORMA RAE. Oh, and GUNG HO, a comedy from Ron Howard that starred Michael Keaton. One of the most, maybe the most, balanced movies I've seen looking at management and unions is "Whistle Stop at Eaton Falls." Comments on it here: "Whistle Stop at Eaton Falls" I've never seen that film...thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I tried to google it, but I found THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS from 1951...is that the one?
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Post by topbilled on Apr 16, 2023 14:24:58 GMT
I loved, "Gung Ho," and every other Michael Keaton comedy. I think he's very underrated. He played four very different characters in "Multiplicity!" Yes, he deserves wider recognition. I loved his performance in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING as the flustered sheriff. He has greater range than people expect.
I find it interesting that he was married to Caroline McWilliams, with whom he had a child. They seem like people with very different personalities and approaches to acting, plus she was somewhat older than him. His life is full of surprises.
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 16, 2023 14:30:51 GMT
One of the most, maybe the most, balanced movies I've seen looking at management and unions is "Whistle Stop at Eaton Falls." Comments on it here: "Whistle Stop at Eaton Falls" I've never seen that film...thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I tried to google it, but I found THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS from 1951...is that the one? Yes, that's it. I messed up and added in the "stop." Sorry, for my brain fugue moment.
It's a good movie, but more like a made-for-TV effort than a major studio release. If we do another "businesses melodrama" month down the line, it would be a good one to include.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 16, 2023 14:37:01 GMT
Since we started doing these each Sunday, now when I watch a film with a melodramatic storyline, I am always thinking along the lines of 'hmmm, this one might be good to do one Sunday.' LOL
I watched ROSEANNA MCCOY yesterday and I realized, we could do a month later on teen melodramas. Which would have to include the 1968 version of Romeo & Juliet, and probably a film with Sandra Dee and/or Troy Donahue!
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 16, 2023 14:42:02 GMT
Since we started doing these each Sunday, now when I watch a film with a melodramatic storyline, I am always thinking along the lines of 'hmmm, this one might be good to do one Sunday.' LOL
I watched ROSEANNA MCCOY yesterday and I realized, we could do a month later on teen melodramas. Which would have to include the 1968 version of Romeo & Juliet, and probably a film with Sandra Dee and/or Troy Donahue! I do the same now and I also think of themes.
"A Summer Place" would be a great Donahue-Dee combo one as it's melodrama on crack and steroids at the same time.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 16, 2023 14:57:43 GMT
Since we started doing these each Sunday, now when I watch a film with a melodramatic storyline, I am always thinking along the lines of 'hmmm, this one might be good to do one Sunday.' LOL
I watched ROSEANNA MCCOY yesterday and I realized, we could do a month later on teen melodramas. Which would have to include the 1968 version of Romeo & Juliet, and probably a film with Sandra Dee and/or Troy Donahue! I do the same now and I also think of themes.
"A Summer Place" would be a great Donahue-Dee combo one as it's melodrama on crack and steroids at the same time. Yes, A SUMMER PLACE would be a good one. The month would also have to include a Molly Ringwald picture from the 80s, like SIXTEEN CANDLES. LOL
Going back to pro-union flicks, I find it interesting that Lloyd Bridges stars in THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS. He would be gray-listed shortly afterward. So in the early 50s, if you selected scripts that were a bit leftish in their politics, you had McCarthy and the witch hunters after you!
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