Did you know Bette Davis wasn't the only person whose name had qualified for the Academy Awards but was scratched off the list at the last minute? Paul Muni endured a similar snub for his role in Black Fury, a film about an ignorant coal worker who falls in love with Anna Lee, who doesn't love him back.
As you might expect from a Paul Muni movie, he gives a very energetic performance. And, as you might expect from a pre-retirement Paul Muni movie, he plays someone ethnic and is forced to put on an accent. In this movie, he's Polish, and while his accent does sound a little silly, his blond wig is incredibly cute. For me, the best scenes of the movie were those in the beginning. He's happy, well-liked by his friends, in love with Anna, and even sings while he dances with her. It's really adorable.
Then, the movie turns into a drama. What did you expect from a coal mining movie? There's an attack, a false accusation, a heartbreak, an angry response, and a less enjoyable second half to the film. If you're a Paul Muni fan like I am, you don't really have to sit through this one. For cute Paul, rent Hi, Nellie! and for dramatic, accented Paul, rent Bordertown.
As you might expect from a Paul Muni movie, he gives a very energetic performance. And, as you might expect from a pre-retirement Paul Muni movie, he plays someone ethnic and is forced to put on an accent. In this movie, he's Polish, and while his accent does sound a little silly, his blond wig is incredibly cute. For me, the best scenes of the movie were those in the beginning. He's happy, well-liked by his friends, in love with Anna, and even sings while he dances with her. It's really adorable.
Then, the movie turns into a drama. What did you expect from a coal mining movie? There's an attack, a false accusation, a heartbreak, an angry response, and a less enjoyable second half to the film. If you're a Paul Muni fan like I am, you don't really have to sit through this one. For cute Paul, rent Hi, Nellie! and for dramatic, accented Paul, rent Bordertown.