SLAUGHTER ON TENTH AVENUE

US, 1957, 102 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Egan, Jan Sterling, Julie Adams, Sam Levene, Charles McGraw?, Walter Matthau, Dan Duryea.
Directed by Arnold Laven.

Slaughter on Tenth Avenue is a reminder of Richard Rodgers’ ballet music and its use in the Rodgers and Hart biography, Words and Music. However, Tenth Avenue in New York City is the setting for this film, the New York waterfront, and Rodgers’ music is played throughout the film. It is a strange combination of theme and music.
The film appeared three years after On the Waterfront and it is in its tradition. While there are some scenes on the waterfront, at the beginning with the bashing of a protestor and at the end with a huge brawl between the waterfront workers and thugs brought in by Al Dahlke, most of the action is in the preparation of the case to convict a man of the attempted killing of a worker.
Richard Egan his very serious in the central role of the investigator from the district attorney’s office. His fiancée, quite glamorous, is played by Julie Adams. She contrasts with the wife of the victim, a woman with a something of a shady past, played in her usual strong manner by Jan Sterling.
The film has a strong supporting cast with Charles McGraw? as a policeman frustrated in his attempts to bring water from criminals to justice. Water Matthau, in an early film, is the head of the corrupt union, throwing his weight around on the waterfront - and sounding, with his intonations, accent and speech manners exactly as he would in the many comedies in the future. Dan Durea is very strong at the end of the film as the smiling and shrewd defence lawyer. There is also a priest who takes a stand, generally supportive in the background, but praying and then handing out bats to the strikers to confront the strikebreakers.
The film was directed by Arnold Laven, soon to move into television and was a prolific director in that medium.

1. The 1950s issues drama? Legal drama? Unions and corruption?
2. The waterfront, in the aftermath of On the Waterfront? The same issues? Characters? The legal problems?
3. A smaller-budget production? The cast and the director? But an earnest film?
4. The film based on a memoir of the central character? A strong man, ambitious, brash, wanting to see justice done?
5. The title of the film, Richard Rodgers’ music, an unusual combination?
6. The black and white photography, New York City, 10th street and the streets around the waterfront? Police precincts? Hospitals?
7. The opening, Sol and his marriage, at home, getting ready for work, the killers assembling, Benny waiting in the car? Sol and his being shot down on the staircase?
8. His telling Madge who did it, not dying, the police arriving, his going to the hospital, treatment?
9. Vosnick, at the hospital, talking with Madge, her then telling Keating, Vosnick not taking notes? His anger at the criminals on the waterfront, his continued investigations?
10. Keating, strong character, ambitious, in the D. A’s Office, new at the job, the possibility of investigating the crime, going to the hospital, the discussions with Madge, her hesitation? Driving her home?
11. The character of the DA, strong, hard work? The board? The possibility of winning the case? The decision?
12. The arrest of the killer, his associates going free? The interrogation? Denial?
13. Al Dahlke, his role in the unions, tough, his henchmen, being driven around, going to the waterfront, Midget’s protest, the bashing, his being thrown in the water, Keating observing this, rescuing him?
14. Midget, his experience, the death of his wife, his protests, his angers, the bashing, in the river? His being interrogated by Keating and his refusal to answer?
15. The corrupt policeman, introducing Keating to Dahlke, Dahlke misreading Keating, offering the money?
16. The building up of the case, the investigations, the denials by Madge and Benny? Their final agreement? Going with the prosecution?
17. Keating, his fiancée, her glamour, work, search for the house, her supporting Keating, the ceremony, reading the threatening telegram?
18. The discussions with Benny, his friendship with Sol, the denials and his changing his mind? His getting the new job on the waterfront, calling the strike?
19. Madge, as a character, love for her husband, going to hospital, telling the truth, her not getting the words exactly right, Keating and his strong interrogation, preparing her for the case, her disappearance, trying to find her, bring her back to the case? Her motivations?
20. The informer and his interrogation, mention of Fr Paul for his motivation?
21. The trial, Masters and his smooth manner, working for the killers, the threats?
22. The conduct of the case, the witnesses, going back into Madge’s past and her character, Benny and his changing his testimony? Vosnick and his being interrogated and humiliated? Keating, the interruption to his testimony, his forcefulness, defending himself? The prosecutors final speech, the defence speech?
23. The role of the priest, in the background, supportive of Madge and the others? The informer and his trying to do the right thing by Fr Paul? Last rites for Sol? Solidarity with the workers, going to the waterfront? His prayer and then handing out the bats to the workers?
24. The waterfront, the battle, Al Dahlke arriving, trying to call off the demonstration, the men refusing, the brawl, Keating and his involvement? The police, his fiancée arriving?
25. The radio, the unexpected result, success?