THE WORKING MAN

US, 1933, 78 minutes, Black and white.
George Arliss, Bette Davis, Theodore Newton, Hardie Albright, Gordon Wescott, J.Farrell Mac Donald.
Directed by John G.Adolfi.

The Working Man is a star vehicle for George Arliss who had won the Oscar for Best Actor for Disraeli. The director is John G.Adolfi, who directed George Arliss in a number of films.

The film has an American setting, the years after the fall of Wall Street, shoe manufacturing, competitiveness and sales, and the portrait of the entrepreneur played by our Arliss. He has been successful but sales have gone down and he is angry with the salesmen in Chicago, giving them pep talks. His rival in the past, the man who married the love of his life, has been succeeding but has died.

John Reeves, Arliss, decides to go fishing but encounters some socialites who swim to the fishing boat from their yacht.. He discovers that they are the son and daughter of his rival and accept their invitation to go back to the yacht, concealing his own identity, their trusting him and his becoming their trustee, laying down the law, sending the young man to work in his factory, firing the manager who was doing shady deals, the daughter going to the rival company, concealing her identity and working but falling for John’s nephew.

A pleasant film, enjoyable watching George Arliss and his competitiveness – and Bette Davis in very young role.

1. A film of the 1930s, the Depression? Business, competition, the economy? Personal lives?

2. The film with George Arliss, his significance in films at this time? The director frequently working with him?

3. Black-and-white photography, the city of Buffalo, the factory, homes? American cities and homes? Parties? Factory? Sailing? Offices? The musical score?

4. The title, with reference to John Reeves? Character, personality, his past, losing the love of his life, devoting his life to business, his rival, animosity yet respect? His staff, reliance on his nephew? Pride in the company, sales going down, impatient phone calls to Chicago and galesmen, pep talks? News of the death of his rival?

5. John’s friend, fishing, the phone calls, the decision to leave everything to his nephew to manage, going fishing and enjoying himself, the socialites, their boat, swimming to the fishing boat, discussions, the discovery they belong to the family of his rival, his decision to go over to the yacht?

6. His false identity, the irresponsibility and reckless parties and spending of the younger generation? The visit to the factory, slack, the manager and his double deals, wanting to destroy the firm to be sold to associates? The invitation to move in, becoming a Guardian figure, the young people happy, his imposing regulations, their initial reaction, his challenge to them, the young man going to the office and doing his job, interactions with the manager? His sister, wanting to go to work, false identity, the irony of working for John’s company, interactions with the nephew? The nephew and his lack of humour, starchiness, but melting in the presence of Jane?

7. John’s fostering the rivalry, better product, better sales, firing the manager, the manager going to do deals with the nephew but failing? Discovering Jane, using it against Reeves?

8. John, enjoying the rivalry, the competitiveness, success, the influence on the younger generation?

9. The truth, the arrival of his nephew, Jane and the truth? And the obvious thing to do – a merger!