It's obvious as to why Oscar winning actor Paul Muni is considered an acquired taste, quite bombastic in a very unsubtle way and justifiably referred to as a ham. That came out of his acting training so he knew no other way, and if you can watch him in this, then you can sit through him in anything. He's a Polish immigrant who is ruled by his emotions, and while he gets a lot of support from his colleagues in this film, his methods and mannerisms are a turn off for many others. Corruption in the mining industry is the subject matter here, and it's not the first industry to come under attack from Warner Brothers which ironically could be compared to the mining company in the way it was run.
The film is very dark which is appropriate because it's a really dark subject matter that is being dealt with. The ensemble of contract players and free lancers are fabulous with Karen Morley (an actress who had her own political controversies) as Muni's girlfriend who walks out on him for another man, William Gargan, John Qualen, J. Carrol Naish and Barton MacLane as mine workers with differing loyalties, Sarah Haden as the world weary wife of Qualen and Mae Marsh as Morley's mother. Overall, it's still an important film even though it's rather heavy handed at times. But the grim world of this community is presented brilliantly by director Michael Curtis and director of photography Byron Haskin.
The film is very dark which is appropriate because it's a really dark subject matter that is being dealt with. The ensemble of contract players and free lancers are fabulous with Karen Morley (an actress who had her own political controversies) as Muni's girlfriend who walks out on him for another man, William Gargan, John Qualen, J. Carrol Naish and Barton MacLane as mine workers with differing loyalties, Sarah Haden as the world weary wife of Qualen and Mae Marsh as Morley's mother. Overall, it's still an important film even though it's rather heavy handed at times. But the grim world of this community is presented brilliantly by director Michael Curtis and director of photography Byron Haskin.