F.I.S.T.

US, 1978, 145 Minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, Rod Steiger, David Huffman, Peter Boyle, Melinda Dillon.
Directed by Norman Jewison.

A popularised look at the Depression origins of a powerful union, the uneducated organisers, arrogant employers cowed and the brutal club fights as well as its 50s bureaucratic prosperity, financial links with the Mafia and Senate investigations. It is an interesting story and particularly and uniformly well acted. Sylvester Stallone breaks through what initially looks 'Rocky'-like and makes a serious attempt at portraying Johnny Kovack, the powerful union man, an ambiguous hero whose ideals are admirable but whose methods have corrupt implications. vivid is the impression of union loyalty and the need for workers uniting as well as the need for accountability. Interesting and intelligent popular cinema.

1. The impact of this film? Union, labour, America? A re-presentation of the 30s and the 50s? The interpretation of those times in the 70s for 70s interests and issues? An effective interpretation of aspects of the union movement in American history?

2. The meaning of the title, its tone? Strength and toughness? Its use throughout the film, visual presentation of the initials, the making of the fist and the war cry of 'FIST'?

3. How interesting is the presentation of the unions, origins, difficulties and issues, pressures and violence? The place of the growth of the Union movement in the United States? The pioneering atmosphere of the Depression with victimization and arrogance on the part of the owners? The transition to the 50s and everything well established? Bureaucratic, wealth, powerful, political, the dangers of corruption? How fair was the film in its presentation of the unions? Did it present both sides, take a side?

4. The portrait of industry during the credits collage? Impact? Especially with the musical score and its background throughout the film for moods of the Unions? The portrait of Cleveland in the 30s, the factories, the homes, bars, the world of management? The visual transition to the 50s and the change of style of photography from muted and mellow and dark colours to the bright sharpness of the glass sky-scrapers?

5. The film gave a great deal of attention to the initial crisis situation, the difficulties of the men, dropping heavy loads, breaking things and destroying fruit, having to pay for them out of their own meagre wages? People being fired at the whim of bosses? Johnny Kovack within this situation? His representing the men, being articulate, the invitation to deals with management representatives, his naive approach and his being fired? His being approached by the Union Organiser to become one himself? The integrity of the Union Organiser and the enthusiasm of Johnny and Abe at the beginning? The contrast with Vince Doyle, the background of school friendship and yet Doyle's association with criminals? How were all these initial ingredients blended together to form a basis for the various issues of the film?

6. The portrait of the Benton family, Benton senior and his attitudes towards the workers, his ruthlessness, the attitudes of management? Board meetings, confrontations, henchmen and deals? The picture of the bargaining over the table - how authentic? Did it raise the real issues and the clashes of workers and employers?

7. Sylvester Stallone and his portrayal of Johnny? Physical appearance, manner of speaking, presence? As a person, strong character? The men looking up to him in their initial disputes, his capacity as a leader, his ability to talk? His plain and crude talking over the table? His becoming a union Organiser, seeing him in action persuading the drivers to join the union? Hostility? His presence at the meetings and his ability to control the men? Harris and his scepticism and his being persuaded to join the union? His work with Abe and the bond between the two? His dramatics at meetings, e.g. bringing the crippled man in and persuading them to join because of insurance? His insight into his own tactics? His awareness of his ability to persuade?

8. What did Johnny and Abe achieve in their work for the Unions? Bringing the men together, awareness of rights, payment, injustice? The sequences of their being bashed and their resilience? Their presence at meetings? The reason for their being involved, their sense of honour? Abe and integrity? Johnny and his view of having muscle and push? His friendship with Vince and relying on him after the bashings? The introduction of Bae Milano and money? The thugs and the bashings and shootings for the strike clashes?

9. The presentation of the strike, the issues behind it, the interviews? Johnny's attack that the employers were not shrewd businessmen because of the losses because of the strike? The calling of thugs on both sides? The Bentons watching from the windows? Shootings and death? The capitulation by Benton and the humiliation, the win by the unions?

10. How effective was the background, old-fashioned romantic story of Johnny's courting Anna? Following her in the car, explaining himself to her, attacking her snobbery? Their going out together, his visit to her home and the discussion with her mother about the weather, meals and outings with Abe and Molly? The parallel with Abe and Molly and their courtship in the hotel, the build-up to marriage? The presentation of the wedding ceremony and the celebration?

11. The portrait of Max and his role as a union leader, coming in from Washington, taking over meetings? The clash of personality with Johnny and Max being ousted? Max as a compromiser with the authorities? His accusation about Johnny being on the take and the later revelation about Max?

12. How effective was the transition of 20 years? The fade-out after the wedding, the introduction to the sky-scraper of the late 50s? Bureaucracy, buildings, P.R. work, meetings? The main characters and the change of 20 years in their age, appearance? Johnny and his greying hair, gruffer way of speaking, suit, the success of 20 years in the unions? The huge number of members, unity within the unions, loyalty? The example of the Chicago leader and his capitulation - Babe Milano and his violence, especially with the leader's wife? This kind of basis for the success and unanimity of the Union? Johnny and his strong voice tactics, Vince Doyle using Milano's thugs? The prospect of corruption in the Union?

13. The character of Babe Milano? The connection with Vince, money, the deals that he made in the 30s, especially about the juke boxes? Supplying thugs and muscle? Johnny's not questioning this? The pattern over 20 years and Milano's continued influence in the 50s? The need for million dollar loans? Corruption in the use of union funds? Babe and his personality, his taking for granted his supremacy over the unions? The final clash with Johnny and leading to his death?

14. The contrast with the careers of Johnny and Abe? Abe and his leaving because of the deals with Milano, his organisation on the West coast and his success, his handling of strike situations? His decision to testify, the scene of discussion between the two friends after so many years and the sudden announcement of Abe's death?

15. The Congressman and the introduction of the new critical generation? His watching of Johnny's performance in reality, television, his quips and the suggestion of attack? How ambitious was he in his investigation, how smug and self-righteous? Rod Steiger's style and his being more subdued for the role? His plans for investigation, his conduct of the inquiries, his attitude towards Johnny and especially towards Vince Doyle, his expose of what was happening in the unions? The personal attack on Johnny leading to Johnny's vindication of himself, especially as regards Abe's death? The assistants and the personnel at these meetings? The use of Senate hearing methods and audience interest in these?

16. The presentation of the Union Congress and all the delegates, the hoop-la of such meetings, Max and his wanting to be President again? The exposure by Johnny and all the information against him. the double talk as he resigned in his speech. Johnny taking over and the popular acclamation and the shouts of 'FIST'? Johnny's power in the union?

17. Vince in the new era, Vince as a person, his crooked connections, violent methods and organization. his behaviour at the hearing and his refusal to answer because of possible incrimination? The film's critique of this kind of union man?

18. Babe and his apprehensions about the hearing? His meeting with Johnny and the rejection of friendship leading to death?

19. The death of Abe and its effect on the hearing Johnny's testifying, Johnny's own death?

20. Johnny at the end of his career - his behaviour at the hearing, his wanting to be honest. his having to face his crooked methods even though he. himself was not on the take. the confrontation at the hearing and his justification of himself, the atmosphere of his going how and admitting the final truth, searching for Anna. the violence of this death?

21. The film as a piece of Americana a portrait of industrial history, a picture of industrial relations, power. money, law, human rights? Themes of the union and union membership and rights? The treatment of Union people? The place of Unions and their good, corruption? American violence used in solving problems? How much insight into human nature and society?