Let's look at 1935: I don't think there's anyone reviewing now who went to the movies that year, so we have to rely on video. I've seen about 100 films from that year; many have not been preserved. "The Informer"won the Oscar, and a worthy film it was. "A Night at the Opera," "ChinaSeas," "The Good Fairy" "Lives of a Bengal lancer," "Naughty Marietta,"and "The Devil Is a Woman" also came out that year, all great films. "Black Fury" was better than any of them. It's gripping from the first frame to the last. It's as realistically set, and politically sensitive, as any Hollywood film. The closest political thriller I've seen to it is "Massacre" (1934). I loved it for the big factors, like digging itself into an impossible hole, then managing to escape, and Muni's performance. Also for the small ones, like all the supporting performances and the fact that the union happens to be integrated.
Review of Black Fury
