Black Legion reviews
Review by on 27 Sep 2008
In many ways a rather poor quality film; but then there is a young Bogart who already dominates the screen, and a powerful subject matter that is still chillingly relevant. Worth seeing.
In many ways a rather poor quality film; but then there is a young Bogart who already dominates the screen, and a powerful subject matter that is still chillingly relevant. Worth seeing.
Review by on 27 Sep 2008
One of the more bewildering turns in Richard Schickel's Warner Bros. documentary YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS comes when Jack Warner is told that he can't produce a film about Hitler, given the pre-WW2 political environment. The result: a slew of films about domestic fascism and racial hatred, the pinnacle of which is BLACK LEGION.
Frank Taylor (Humphrey Bogart before CASABLANCA immortalised his name) is a dedicated family man and skilled machinist. When passed over for a promotion, losing out to a Polish immigrant, he joins the secret hate group the Black Legion (modelled on the Ku Klux Klan). As a member of the clan, he commits numerous atrocities which cause him to lose his family and the respect of his friends. When he realizes the error of his ways, it appears that it might be too late.
Watching this film, one is taken aback by how relevant the themes are today. The moment Frank turns the radio onto right-wing political commentary, there is a flash of recognition as the voice echoes American commentator Rush Limbaugh. When the Leader of the Legion declares, "Those who are not with us are against us", audience members may be justly surprised at the parallels with the Bush administration and the current republican party in America. To call the plot a morality tale would be too simplistic, because our protagonist crosses seemingly too many lines by the time he relents. Director Mayo paints a dark picture of racial hatred in America.
Jules Garnett, Festival Daily
One of the more bewildering turns in Richard Schickel's Warner Bros. documentary YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS comes when Jack Warner is told that he can't produce a film about Hitler, given the pre-WW2 political environment. The result: a slew of films about domestic fascism and racial hatred, the pinnacle of which is BLACK LEGION. Frank Taylor (Humphrey Bogart before CASABLANCA immortalised his name) is a dedicated family man and skilled machinist. When passed over for a promotion, losing out to a Polish immigrant, he joins the secret hate group the Black Legion (modelled on the Ku Klux Klan). As a member of the clan, he commits numerous atrocities which cause him to lose his family and the respect of his friends. When he realizes the error of his ways, it appears that it might be too late.
Watching this film, one is taken aback by how relevant the themes are today. The moment Frank turns the radio onto right-wing political commentary, there is a flash of recognition as the voice echoes American commentator Rush Limbaugh. When the Leader of the Legion declares, "Those who are not with us are against us", audience members may be justly surprised at the parallels with the Bush administration and the current republican party in America. To call the plot a morality tale would be too simplistic, because our protagonist crosses seemingly too many lines by the time he relents. Director Mayo paints a dark picture of racial hatred in America.
Jules Garnett, Festival Daily
Film details
Black Legion
CELEBRATING WARNER BROS.
Director: Archie Mayo
Actor: Humphrey Bogart
Actor: Dick Foran
Actor: Erin O'Brien-Moore
Actor: Ann Sheridan
Actor: Helen Flint
Actor: Humphrey Bogart
Actor: Dick Foran
Actor: Erin O'Brien-Moore
Actor: Ann Sheridan
Actor: Helen Flint
USA, 1937.
83 mins. English.
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