{"id":92488,"date":"2023-10-15T09:25:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T16:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=92488"},"modified":"2023-10-31T22:34:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T05:34:08","slug":"blue-collar-1978","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=92488","title":{"rendered":"Blue Collar (1978)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Maybe we should&#8217;ve robbed a liquor store like everybody else.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Poster-208x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-92489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Poster-208x300.png 208w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Poster-89x128.png 89w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Poster-187x270.png 187w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Poster.png 649w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a trio of in-debt auto workers &#8212; Zeke (Richard Pryor), Smokey (Yaphet Kotto), and Jerry (Harvey Keitel) &#8212; conspire to rob the safe of their corrupt union, unexpected consequences quickly ensue.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ed Begley Jr. Films<\/li>\n<li>Harvey Keitel Films<\/li>\n<li>Heists<\/li>\n<li>Labor Movement<\/li>\n<li>Paul Schrader Films<\/li>\n<li>Political Corruption<\/li>\n<li>Richard Pryor Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;excellent, unusual film by Paul Schrader, which he wrote with brother Leonard&#8221; at first &#8220;threatens to become a comedy, perhaps like <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3169\"><em>9 to 5<\/em><\/a>, in which three exploited employees &#8216;screw&#8217; the boss.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes-1024x566.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes-768x425.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes-488x270.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Costumes.png 1278w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>An early scene taking place at Pryor&#8217;s apartment &#8212; when he receives an evening visit from an IRS agent (Leonard Gaines), and quickly rallies with his wife (Chip Fields) to &#8220;produce&#8221; the additional children he has claimed on his returns: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man-1024x551.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man-502x270.png 502w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Tax-Man.png 1290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; is definitely written with a comedic undertone, though the circumstances behind it (constant, unrelenting financial pressures) are all-too-real;&#8221; and &#8220;when the union gets serious, the comedy disappears.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Peary notes that this &#8220;cult film is strongly written, provocative, [and] extremely well acted&#8221; &#8212; and for the time the movie was made, &#8220;Schrader&#8217;s to be commended for having two of his three leads be black.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car-1024x553.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car-1024x553.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Trio-Car.png 1290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To that end, all three lead actors turn in impressive, believable performances &#8212; though I&#8217;ll admit it was hard to watch a scene in which the men gather at Kotto&#8217;s apartment for a coke-and-sex-fueled party, given that both Pryor and Keitel have lied to their sweet wives (Fields and Luca Saroyan) about going out. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party-496x270.png 496w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Party.png 1290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I get it that the men want to let loose and relieve some tension, given the extreme frustrations of their work &#8212; but their wives don&#8217;t deserve either deception or STDs. With that caveat aside, the script is heavy-hitting in a refreshing way: we understand the massive corruption at play across all systems (including the union) right away, and how challenging these men&#8217;s choices are. There&#8217;s a particularly gruesome (and effective) murder scene that shifts the film into horror-flick territory &#8212; and things get even more harrowing from there. This isn&#8217;t an easy film to watch, but it&#8217;s a powerful and important one. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Watch for Ed Begley, Jr. in a small role as a fellow employee and friend.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr-496x270.png 496w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Begley-Jr.png 1290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Yaphet Kotto as Smokey<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto-1024x561.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"351\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto-1024x561.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto-768x421.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Kotto.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Harvey Keitel as Jerry<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel-1024x558.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"349\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel-1024x558.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel-496x270.png 496w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Keitel.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Richard Pryor as Zeke<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor-496x270.png 496w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Pryor.png 1290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine location cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-92494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team-768x417.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blue-Collar-Oreo-Team.png 1287w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a still-powerful neo-realist thriller. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0077248\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/review\/74159\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1978\/02\/10\/archives\/film-on-the-auto-frontthe-assembly-line.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Maybe we should&#8217;ve robbed a liquor store like everybody else.&#8221; Synopsis: When a trio of in-debt auto workers &#8212; Zeke (Richard Pryor), Smokey (Yaphet Kotto), and Jerry (Harvey Keitel) &#8212; conspire to rob the safe of their corrupt union, unexpected consequences quickly ensue. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Ed Begley Jr. Films Harvey Keitel Films Heists Labor Movement Paul Schrader Films Political Corruption Richard Pryor Films Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: Peary writes that this &#8220;excellent, unusual film by Paul Schrader,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=92488\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=92488"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92901,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92488\/revisions\/92901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=92488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=92488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=92488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}