BLACK LEGION

US, 1937, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Humphrey Bogart, Dick Foran, Erin O’Brien-? Moore, Ann Sheridan, Helen Flint, Samuel S. Hinds.
Directed by Archie Mayo.

Black Legion was listed as one of the top ten films of 1937 by the National Board of Review and received an Oscar nomination for its screenplay.

The film is topical, the xenophobia consequent on the Depression and the lack of employment opportunities for Americans. It was also the period of white supremacy with the Ku Klux Klan particularly active. To that extent, Warner Bros were courageous in making this film, an expose of the Klan (though the credits indicate that there is no reference to any actual organisation, though the reference to the Klan in the screenplay). Warner Bros was interested in the ordinary audience, underdogs – and this film is typical of their output.

Humphrey Bogart was emerging as one of the top players at Warner Bros (Archie Mayo’s The Petrified Forest the year before). Dick Foran was popular singing cowboy star. Ann Sheridan was also at the beginning of her career.

This is a different kind of role for Humphrey Bogart, initially sympathetic, getting caught up with the Black Legion, becoming bigoted, his life collapsing, his committing murder in desperation, his lies in the court, his final confession of the truth. The film ends with an exhortation by the judge, Samuel S. Hinds, exhorting true Americanism rather than bigotry and fear of foreigners.

1. The 1930s, the post-Depression period, xenophobia, racism, the Ku Klux Klan? The realism at the back of the film?

2. Warner Bros and social concern, issues, challenges? The 1930s? Relevance in later decades?

3. Small budget, black and white photography, a brief B-feature film? The cast? American industry, the small town? The musical score?

4. The title – and the parallel with the Ku Klux Klan? Mention of the Klan in the screenplay?

5. Audiences identifying with the drama, the Americanism, the role of migrants, the Depression, scarcity of jobs, violence, the law? The judge and his final summation?

6. The picture of industry, the factory, the workers, the machines? Supervisors, camaraderie, family background and bonds?

7. Dombrowski, his Polish background, reading, studying, his invention? Appointed as supervisor? The men’s reactions?

8. Frank, worker, at home, friendly, playing with his son, listening to the radio? Typical American of the period?

9. Eddie, his drinking, his friendship with Pearl? Betty in love with him? Boarding with the Grogans? Mrs Grogan? Her household? The hopes?

10. Frank, his expectations of promotion, planning to buy things for the house, the discussion with the car dealer, his being passed over, his anger, the phone call to the dealer?

11. Frank, his friends, Cliff and his influence? Cliff’s sentiments, urging Frank to criticism, the invitation to the meeting, Frank going to the shop, the shopkeeper letting him in? The speeches at the Legion meeting? Taking the oath, the conditions, bigoted – racist, anti-Catholic? The speakers, the buying of the uniform, having to get the gun?

12. The violent episodes, the Legion and their uniforms, attacking the Dombrowski household? The beating of Mr Grogan? The media response? Ordinary citizens’ reactions?

13. The shopkeeper, Cliff, the other members of the Legion? The bosses and their planning to make money out of the Legion? Stirring up trouble, the different moods? The pursuit of Eddie?

14. Frank and his change, drinking, out, the meetings, the loyalties, the support he got from the members of the Legion? His violence towards his wife? Her leaving with her son?

15. The Legion and the threats, Frank drinking, talking, explaining things to Eddie? Realising what he had done? The discussions with Cliff? The Legion going after Eddie, tying him up, Eddie’s defiance, Frank shooting him? His reaction afterwards, in the bar, the police, his arrest?

16. Frank in prison, the case, the advice and the threats? Not telling the truth to his lawyer?

17. In court, Pearl and the fabricated story, her spinning it in the witness stand? Frank and his wife, her presence in the court? His being called to the stand, his confession, the expose? The judge shutting the doors? The arrest of the men, their trial, their condemnation? The final look of Frank to his wife? His life destroyed?

18. The speech by the judge, the moral challenge to Americans of the time?