THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS

US, 1951, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Lloyd Bridges, Dorothy Gish, Carleton Carpenter, Murray Hamilton, James Westerfield, Lenore Lonergan.
Directed by Robert Siodmak.

The Whistle At Eaton Falls is a low-key film about unions and industry. Made at the beginning of the '50s, it echoes the tones of realism in American cinema at the time . These semi-documentaries still stand quite well today - they had moderate box office success. The cast is an interesting one - Lloyd Bridges was to star in films like this but to make his popular mark in television and remain a success for decades. He portrays the hero well. Arthur O'Connell and Ernest Borgnine can be seen in early roles. There is a guest performance by veteran actress Lilian Gish.

The film was directed by Robert Siodmak, better remembered for his eerie thrillers like A Spiral Staircase and The Dark, Mirror. The film is interesting in its portrayal of a small New England town, the atmosphere of industrial trouble and strikes, the sympathetic and harsh portrayal of both management and union members. The film is optimistic in its tone. Producer was Louis de Rochemont, who had made a number of documentaries after the war including such excellent films as The House On 92nd. Street, Call Northside 777. The film can be compared profitably with such other films about the unions as Britain's The Angry Silence and the American Norma Rae. The questions raised in the early '50s have not disappeared.

1. An interesting film about work, management, unions, the workers? A piece of Americana? Reflecting the social issues of 1950? The perennial value of these issues? How contemporary does the film seem? Entertaining, interesting?

2. Black and white photography, location photography in New England? The atmosphere of Eaton Falls itself - homes, hotels, entertainment? A local community and spirit? The atmosphere of the factory and national business? Competitiveness? Musical score? Songs? The atmosphere of the semi-documentary tone?

3. The conventions of a film about work: the establishing of the basic situation, the voice-over narrative at beginning and end? The identification of the town and the audience identifying with the people? The sketching in of the issues, dilemmas and crises, the main characters? The inevitable characters? Did the screenplay take sides? The optimistic ending - fitting in with the conventions of the work film?

4. Mrs Doubleday and her situation? Audience sympathy, the widow, the building up of the factory, changes? Her decision to appoint Brad Adams? Relationship with him, trust and hopes? Dealings with him? The reactions of the unions? The town? Difficulties and ultimate success?

5. Brad Adams as hero? His place in the union, his leadership? Home life, the support of his wife? Family? Mrs Doubleday and her trust in him? Aims, meetings, contacts? The clash with AI Webster? The support of Abbie? The change of machinery, his having to be ruthless, decision making? Strikes and closures? Negotiations? His supporters breaking the pickets? Success?

6. The clash with Al Webster? Webster in himself? Attitudes towards the change in machinery, Adams' administration? Anger and resentment? Rousing followers? Meetings, strikes? Picket lines?

7. The supporting cast - the humanity of the situation? Eddie, Abbie? The older people in the town? The human sub-plots to counterbalance the social themes?

8. Themes of change: machinery, the unions, resistance, employment questions, cost-cutting, ruthless administration?

9. Themes of management, the unions, stirring, manipulation, the power of the strike, the breaking of picket lines?

10. A film of the '50s reflecting social conditions, clashes? Need for change? As seen in the retrospect of later decades?