On Screen -- Black Legion (1937)




Bogart and Helen Flint

 
"Black Legion" is a very powerful film with a topic that's as sensitive today as it was during production of the film over 70 years ago.  The story begins in a machine shop in a typical American town in that era.  A promotion leaves a position open for a plant foreman and one of the workers "Frank Taylor" thinks he'll get the job due to his seniority.  Frank goes home and plans a big celebration with his wife "Ruth" and his son "Buddy".  But when the position goes to "Joe Dombrowski" who developed a device for the company, and who also happens to be an immigrant, Frank becomes very displeased. 

When "Cliff" one of Frank's coworkers notices how upset he is, he asks Frank if he would like to join the "Black Legion", a Klan type organization whose purpose is to rid the country of immigrants.  The gang, with Frank as a member, burns down the Dombrowski home and run Joe and his father out of town.  The thugs all celebrate and Frank gets his foreman position, but then loses it due to the time he wastes on the job recruiting for the organization.  The gang then systematically disposes of anyone who crosses their path.  When one confrontation leads to Frank panicking and killing one of his coworkers "Ed Jackson" because he knew too much, things get serious for Frank in a hurry.

Humphrey Bogart stars as "Frank Taylor", B movie idol and crooner Dick Foran as "Ed Jackson", Erin O'Brien-Moore as Frank's wife "Ruth", and Dickie Jones as Frank's son "Buddy".  Ann Sheridan also costars as "Betty Grogan" and Joseph Sawyer as "Cliff".

On Screen -- Dead End (1937)



Bogart and Trevor


"Dead End" is a tough, gritty drama about life on one of the streets on the East side of New York city in the 30s.  The film depicts the conflict between the tenement dwellers trying to make ends meet and the well-to-do neighbors who quite obviously seem to look down upon them. 

A killer, "Baby Face Martin", on the run returns to his old neighborhood attempting to reconcile with his mother and an old acquaintance, but is not exactly welcomed with open arms.  Martin has a corrupting influence on the local boys, making a life of crime seem glamorous.  "Drina" is a young woman on strike and picketing at her job for better wages in order to be able to move out of the apartment that she shares with "Tommy" her young brother that she's trying to keep from living a life of crime.  "Dave" is an out of work architect who dreams of moving away from the tenements with "Kay", the girlfriend of one of his rich neighbors.  But it's Drina who's actually been in love with Dave for years. 

Joel McCrea stars as "Dave", and Sylvia Sidney as "Drina", with Billy Halop as her brother "Tommy", while Humphrey Bogart steals the show starring as "Baby Face Martin".  The film marks the first on screen appearance of the "Dead End Kids" including Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, and Leo Gorcey.  Marjorie Main has a couple of brief but memorable appearances as Mrs. Martin, as does Claire Trevor costarring as "Francey".  Essential viewing for any Humphrey Bogart fan.