| Black Fury | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Michael Curtiz |
| Written by | Abem Finkel Carl Erickson |
| Story by | Michael A. Musmanno |
| Based on | Bohunk by Harry R. Irving |
| Produced by | Hal B. Wallis (uncredited executive producer) Jack L. Warner (uncredited executive producer) |
| Starring | Paul Muni Karen Morley William Gargan |
| Cinematography | Byron Haskin |
| Music by | Bernhard Kaun |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Black Fury is a 1935 Americancrime film directed byMichael Curtiz, and starringPaul Muni,Karen Morley, andWilliam Gargan. It was adapted by Abem Finkel andCarl Erickson from the short story "Jan Volkanik" by JudgeMichael A. Musmanno, and the playBohunk by Harry R. Irving.[1] The plot is based on a historic incident during a Pennsylvania walk-out in 1929, in whichJohn Barkowski, a striking coal miner, was beaten to death by private company police.[2]
In 1936, at the8th Academy Awards, Muni was not officially nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Actor, but he came in second on the basis of write-in votes, which were allowed that year.
Set inPennsylvania coal country, the film tells the story of Joe Radek, a miner of Slavic background. Upset after an argument with his girlfriend Anna Novak, he drinks and attends a union meeting, where he acts as a catalyst to splitting the union members into radical and moderate factions; radically inclined miners decide to walk out and strike, the others led by Radek's best friend Mike Shemanski stay at work. Meanwhile, the company brings in a private police force cobbled out of thugs by aPinkerton-type detective agency.
One night, when three drunk company cops attempt to rape Shemanski's daughter, both friends reunite in defending her honor. During the fight, Shemanski is killed by McGee, and Radek is injured and hospitalized. While he is recovering, the strike ends with no results and Shemanski's murder stays unpunished. Angry, Radek collects dynamite and provision and decides to start his own underground protest by hiding in the mine during the daytime and blowing up company property at night. His exploits draw the national attention after being reported by the media. Corrupted company cops are trying to catch Radek in the mine; he fights back with dynamite sticks and accidentally seals himself and Shemanski's murderer McGee in a mine tunnel. After an epic fight Radek emerges from the mine with subdued company policeman to deliver him to justice, and as a winner in the court of public opinion he is able to influence more favorable union contract for his mining buddies, making amends with his girlfriend as well.[1][3]
Pennsylvania state legislator and former coal minerMichael Musmanno acted to ban the privateCoal and Iron Police after the murder of minerJohn Barkoski inImperial, Pennsylvania, in 1929. Later he wrote a short story about the incident changing the name of the miner to "Jan Volkanik." Musmanno's story and the playBohunk by Harry R. Irving (1894–1960) were adapted for the film in a screenplay written by Abem Finkel andCarl Erickson.[3] InBlack Fury,John Barkoski is fictionalized as Mike Shemanski. In 1966, Musmanno published a novel version of the screenplay also namedBlack Fury.
Andre David Sennwald Jr. ofThe New York Times wrote in April 1935, "Magnificently performed by Paul Muni, it comes up taut against the censorial safety belts and tells a stirring tale of industrial war in the coal fields."[3] He described it as "the most notable American experiment in social drama sinceOur Daily Bread.'"[3] The film was banned in several American states as inciting social conflict.[2]
In 1936, a year in which the Academy Awards accepted write-in votes, Paul Muni came in second for Best Actor for his performance.[citation needed]
