Blue Collar (Film)
- Richard Pryor: Zeke Brown
- Harvey Keitel: Jerry Bartowski
- Yaphet Kotto: Smokey James
- Ed Begley Jr.: Bobby Joe
- Harry Bellaver: Eddie Johnson
- George Memmoli: Jenkins
- Lucy Saroyan: Arlene Bartowski
- Lane Smith: Clarence Hill
- Cliff De Young: John Burrows
- Harry Northup: Hank
Blue Collar - Fight on the assembly line is a film from 1978, which deals critically with the union work and life of the workers.
Action
The three Assemblyman Jerry, Zeke [ zi ː k] and Smokey are employed in an automobile factory in Detroit / Michigan ( see Blue Collar ). Your life can only finance by borrowing. In order to pay off the loans that they need in addition to the hard line work take up part-time jobs. You are dissatisfied with their living and working conditions, with their poor treatment and with their union. The only goal of the union seems to be their officials to provide amenities.
This has long been broken castle of his clothes locker Zeke takes the occasion to complain to the union president Eddie Johnson about his works Clarence Hill. This enterprising something in matters of white workers, for the black workers he put not on. In union building Zeke noticed a weak security vault room. During a drug party Zeke, Jerry and Smokey forge the first plans to the union " a obliterate ".
The financial situation of the three men comes to a head: Jerry's daughter needs braces - she injured in the attempt itself to tinker braces. Zeke has the tax office over six specified instead of his three children and concealed a part-time job - he has to pay extra $ 2500. Smokey has a loan shark in the neck, which he owes $ 1,000.
The three friends break into the union building. Zeke assumes to be found between five and six thousand dollars. In fact, they capture only $ 600 from petty cash and a notebook: the union used the membership fees for illegal loans at usurious rates. The union is the missing cash to the press first with $ 10,000. After Smokey decides with the stolen list to blackmail the union exactly this amount, the insurance claim is promptly increased to $ 20,000. Smokey: "A life she rushing on the boys. The young against the old. The blacks against the whites. They will do anything so that we can be suppressed. "
The police find out the names of the three burglars, the names somehow get to the union. Their boss Eddie Johnson knows exactly what to do: Jerry is a union member and must only be set under pressure. Zeke is ambitious and would like to inspector instead of ordinary workers. Smokey was twice in prison and is dangerous.
Accordingly Jerry is followed and threatened his family. Zeke will works instead of the offset Clarence Hill and gives back in return the notebook to the union. Smokey is smothered in a painting booth. This is dismissed as accident at work, which is why the foreman is issued. Zeke offers Jerry on this post, if the matter is forgotten it. Jerry refuses, however, and now turns to the police.
When Jerry, accompanied by the police, once again goes to the factory, Zeke has completely changed both in its setting as well as for his clothes by his new position as a council. The two former friends go at each other.
Reviews
- TV Movie: " After much vaunted screenplays such as" Yakuza " for Sidney Pollack and " Taxi Driver " for Martin Scorsese Paul Schrader delivered with " Blue Collar " an impressive directorial debut. The nightmarish story between hard honest work and murderous corruption is regarded as a masterpiece of the New Hollywood cinema. "
- Kölner Stadt Anzeiger: "With his directorial debut ," Blue Collar - Fight on the assembly line » Paul Schrader created a ruthlessly realistic social thriller. He not only directed but also wrote the screenplay with his brother Leonard. Especially convincing: died in 2005 Richard Pryor as Zeke Brown, who played here one of the best roles of his career in film. "
- Encyclopedia of the International film: " [ ... ] politically credible, sober, staged brilliantly photographed and played. "