Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Verity Robins Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

utgard14 Very unusual movie for Humphrey Bogart, made a few years before he would become a headline star for WB. He plays a machine shop worker who takes for granted that he will become his shop's new foreman because of his seniority. But when they give it to an educated young Polish-American instead, Bogie becomes resentful and angry. This leads him to joining up with a hate group known as the Black Legion, which is basically the KKK. The Black Legion has a pledge that has to be heard to be believed, so make sure you pay attention to it. Strong performance from Bogie, as well as a great supporting cast that includes Ann Sheridan, Dick Foran, Joe Sawyer, John Litel, Samuel S. Hinds, and more. A lot of people seem to pick on the movie for not being strong enough in its message, despite the fact that they can't point to any other movies from the period that were even brave enough to try this much. They did what they could do. It's a powerful movie, even if it seems watered down by today's standards. But today we aren't exactly living in the age of subtlety, are we?

Richard_vmt Assuming you are a Bogart fan you will enjoy this unexpected glimpse into his character's deep past. Toothy and gushing, not far from the Bowery Boys (they wear jagged beanies like Jughead), yet he is already a successful family man with the astounding O'Brien-Moore.It is a worker's paradise, yet he gets sucked in to a violent secret society designed to further the good of WASPS like himself. So now at last you see Bogart playing the Fascist! Or the film's interpretation of what Fascism really is. Of course it is not altogether ridiculous but it is really no more than a Boston Blackie action film, typical of the time.It is good though, very entertaining film. You will see images of Bogart which are entirely uncharacteristic.

Michael_Elliott Black Legion (1937) *** (out of 4) Pretty hard-hitting Warner drama about factory worker Frank (Humphrey Bogart) who loses a promotion to a Jewish man so a friend (Joe Sawyer) introduces him to the "Black Legion", a KKK-type group. Soon the men are pushing out those who they don't consider real Americans and Frank begins to lose control of his wife (Erin O'Brien-Moore) and best friend (Dick Foran). There's no question that this film has it's heart in the right place but at the same time you can't help but know the real history of things and have a hard time buying into this "equal" talk here especially when you know very well that things were a lot uglier in this country in terms of race issues. This film pretty much just talks about foreigners and never mentions the fact that groups like this were going after blacks so leaving this out, as if they were important enough to throw into the subject, is a bit misleading and really goes again the message of treating everyone equal. With that in mind, the rest of the film is pretty good and contains some very good performances and some dark situations. I wasn't shocked that a blue-collar studio like Warner would dig deep into the subject matter and try to give an honest look at the events. What did shock me is that the film stayed true to its dark nature and carried it out till the end. This might explain why the movie was banned all across the world but I give the studio credit for not weakening out towards the end. The Oscar-nominated story might leave out certain groups but it works outside of that one issue. I think the movie does a great job at making people understands Frank issues and I think the movie does a great job at making us side for Frank. I'm sure many Americans were feeling frustrated just like this character so the movie lets us feel for him but then it makes sure that people know violence in these types of groups isn't the way to correct things. The movie, except for the very end, never becomes preachy and instead it lets the story do all the talking and we're never constantly beat over the head with any type of message. We get to view the events that happen and I think most people will clearly get what the film is trying to say. Bogart turns in a wonderful performance and I was really surprised at how good he was in this type of role. I'd certainly say this is the best work I've seen from him in these pre-fame years as he really makes for a believable character. I think he really fits into that working class nature and he makes you understand everything Frank is feeling and fearing. Dick Foran is just as good as his best friend who tries to get him to quit the group and O'Brien-Moore and Ann Sheridan add nice support as the wives. Apparently Michael Curtiz stepped in when it came time to director the Black Legion scenes and I believe it as these sequences seem a lot different than everything else. That's certainly not a bad thing as they contain some nice drama and just contain an overall different feel. This is certainly an impressive film but at the same time I wish the "message" would have gone for everyone being effected by groups like this instead of it just limiting itself to those running the studio.

George Wright Not a bad movie for its time, since it tries to show how otherwise well-meaning men like Frank Taylor (played by Humphrey Bogart)can become involved in vigilante activities against foreigners and immigrants. It is the low man on the totem pole who has to bear the brunt of competition for jobs when newcomers arrive. This is an old story and the reaction today is much the same as it was then: anger and frustration, leading to a loss of self-esteem and sometimes to criminal behaviour. Fortunately, thugs who engage in lynchings and beatings are no longer on the loose.In some ways, Frank is the hero as well as one of the villains since it is his testimony that puts members of the Black Legion behind bars. The sermonette delivered by the judge is full of platitudes by a character who never had to worry about his own position or status. The movie seems to deliver a message that says "watch out and don't become like him, if you know what's good for you." The real challenge then and now is to unite people so that they are not fighting one another but working together.