The Garment Jungle (1957)

80% of users liked it
(63 ratings)

Vincent Sherman replaced an uncredited Robert Aldrich as director of this noirish and atypically pro-union film from the 1950's. Tulio Renata (Robert Loggia), an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, campaigns to unionize the employees of dress factory owner Walter Mitchell… More Vincent Sherman replaced an uncredited Robert Aldrich as director of this noirish and atypically pro-union film from the 1950's. Tulio Renata (Robert Loggia), an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, campaigns to unionize the employees of dress factory owner Walter Mitchell (Lee J. Cobb). Viscerally opposed to the union, Mitchell has hired Artie Ravidge (Richard Boone) to thwart Renata's efforts. In a complex oedipal sub-plot, Walter's son Alan (Kerwin Matthews) returns home and joins the firm following the suspicious death of his father's partner. Alan is more sympathetic to the union and attempts to persuade his father to sign a contract. Only after Ravidge kills Renata, and the elder Mitchell finally admits to himself that Ravidge is a thug who also killed his partner, does he agree to negotiate with the union. Before he can do so, however, he, too, is murdered by Ravidge's goons. It is then left to Alan, increasingly involved with Renata's widow Theresa (Gia Scala), to run the business, bring Ravidge to justice, and settle with the union. Similar to Herbert Biberman's Salt of the Earth (1954) in its overt support of the labor movement, The Garment Jungle is clearly a liberal, not a radical, film. Rather than advocate class warfare, it asserts that honest unions and decent capitalists can work together honorably. The film's real fire is found in the personal conflicts between Tulio and Theresa and Walter and Alan. Cobb, Loggia, and Scala perform with intense and multi-dimensional passion. Particularly noteworthy is Theresa's fury at her husband for taking excessive, and ultimately fatal, risks. ~ Steve Press, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Vincent Sherman
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 25, 1957 Wide
On DVD: Sep 23, 2008

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A powerful film on the influence of racketeers in the garment industry.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

This film is part of the Martini Movie collection and it is an excellent movie with a huge cast of great actors from the fifties. About the garment district in New York City where at one time all dresses were made, The union is sweeping the garment district but there are a few hold… More
This film is part of the Martini Movie collection and it is an excellent movie with a huge cast of great actors from the fifties. About the garment district in New York City where at one time all dresses were made, The union is sweeping the garment district but there are a few hold outs, and those holding out are paying the mob for protection, one owners son comes home from the war and is determined to clean up his fathers business. The movies in the Martini Collection are outstanding and this one should not be missed. 4 1/2 stars

Cast

            Lee J Cobb as Walter Mitchell

            Kerwin Mathews as Alan Mitchell

            Richard Boone as Artie Ravidge

            Valerie French as Lee Hackett

            Robert Loggia as Tulio Renata

            Joseph Wiseman as Tony

            Harold J. Stone as Tony

            Adam Williams as "Ox"

            Wesley Addy as Mr. Paul

            Willis B. Bouchey as Dave Bronson

            Robert Ellenstein as Fred Kenner

            Celia Lovsky as Tulio's mother

            Suzanne Alexander as Joanne

            Archie Savage as Elevator Operator

            Anna Lee Carroll
            
            Dick Crockett as Miller

            Lillian Culver as Buyer

            Diane DeLaire as Head Seamstress

            Kenneth Gibson as Buyer

            Marilyn Hanold
            
            Bob Hopkins as Bartender

            Betsy Jones-Moreland as Secretary

            Ellie Kent as Stephanie

            Donald Kirke
            
            Frank Marlowe as Onlooker

            Kathryn Marlowe
            
            Sid Melton as Male Operator

            Laurie Mitchell
            
            Peggy O'Connor
            
            Gloria Pall as Fitting Model

            Gia Scala as Theresa Renata

            Irene Seidner as Old Lady Operator

            Jon Shepodd as Alredi

            Dale Van Sickel as Helper

            Paul Weber
            
            Joan Granville as Girl Operator

            George Robotham as Truck Driver

            Paul Power as Salesman

            Hal Taggart
            
            Shirley Buchanan as Announcer

            Jean Lewis as Receptionist
See full cast