Cinema Revisited: Black Fury is a stirring and powerful social drama from 1935

Black Fury

Directed by Michael Curtiz. Cast: Paul Muni, Karen Morely, William Gargan, Barton MacLane, John Qualen, J. Carroll Naish, Vince Barnett, Tully Marshall, Henry O'Neill, Mae Marsh, Ward Bond, Sara Haden. Released May 18, 1935. 94 minutes.

In 1936 the Academy Awards allowed write-in votes, and, despite not being officially nominated, Paul Muni came second for his performance in "Black Fury." Muni plays Joe Radek, a Slavic coal worker in Pennsylvania who, after being betrayed by the woman he loves, gets drunk and angrily attends a union meeting. While there, he realizes the importance of workers organizing for better conditions. He transfers is anger toward doing what he feels is best for his fellow miners. A very controversial film, it was banned in some states as a result. And now, in the 21st century, it holds up a one of the best dramas about union organizing in the workplace.

Director Curtiz concentrates on the nuance of character performance, using the disquieting social commentary as a backup. Still, there are some especially brutal sequences when the union is split into radical and moderate factions, when friend battles friend with sticks and throw rocks. Meanwhile, the underlying corruption, set to profit from the rift, sends in labor thugs resulting in murder and serious injury. Joe Radek sacrifices his own freedom to influence a favorable union contract. Curtiz propels the excitement of the narrative by enhancing its structure with a series of shots from overheads to close-ups. Perhaps the best series of shots happens when a group of strkiebreakers (or "scabs") enter the mine to work, causing a violent outburst among all union factions, cops, and townspeople caught up in the fracas. Curtiz fills the frame with violence, then cuts to a bewildered Muni trying to assess the situation and his place within it.

The talented cast is strong, but Paul Muni turns in a performance that may surpass his work in films like "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" and "The Life of Emile Zola." Maintaining a consistent and authentic Slavic accent, Muni's character fluctuates from happy exuberance to explosive anger. Even in drunkeness he can either be happy or dangerously angry. It is a layered character requiring great balance from the actor. Muni plays it perfectly as the access of the entire narrative.

Barton MacLaine is well cast as the chief heavy, a thug who happily uses brutality against striking workers to maintain the stronghold. John Qualen is fine as a tragic miner whose character is based on a real life incident.

Originally titled "Black Hell," this film was originally banned in Chicago, Guatemala, Spain, Peru, Venezuela, Trinidad and other countries. Some places edited the film, cutting out the more brutal sequences. Today it is shown complete, allowing us to see the reason for its continued impact as remarkable cinema. A film like "Black Fury" helps make the case that it is 1935, not 1939, that is probably the best year for movies.