The Garment Jungle *** (1957, Lee J Cobb, Kerwin Mathews, Gia Scala) – Classic Movie Review 10,080

Directors Robert Aldrich and Vincent Sherman’s 1957 gritty, realistic, involving film noir crime drama The Garment Jungle is about mobsters and unionisation in New York’s clothing district and the troubles faced by hard-nosed garment factory boss Walter Mitchell (Lee J Cobb), who has gone non-union to survive.

His Korean veteran son Alan Mitchell (Kerwin Mathews) tries to get back into the union fold, with the help of its leader Tulio Renata (Robert Loggia), but Artie Ravidge (Richard Boone)’s nasty union breakers have other ideas.

There is a little romance (with Gia Scala as Theresa Renata), but most of the emphasis is on macho atmosphere in a well-done movie, led to the winning post by potent performances and punchy direction, mostly by Aldrich. Sherman took over from an uncredited Aldrich towards the end of the shoot.

The Garment Jungle is written by Harry Kleiner (story and screenplay) based on Lester Velie’s articles.

Also in the cast are Valerie French, Joseph Wiseman, Harold J Stone, Adam Williams, Wesley Addy, Willis Bouchey, Robert Ellenstein, Celia Lovsky, Eve Brent, Jud Taylor and Dale Van Sickel.

Aldrich was fired as director and replaced by Sherman with two weeks left of filming but Sherman received sole screen credit. Aldrich claimed he was sacked because he made the film too tough, violent and uncompromising, ignoring frequent requests by Columbia Pictures studio boss Harry Cohn and Lee J Cobb to soften the story-line and characters. Aldrich came down with mild flu and missed a day’s work on 4 December 1956, providing the excuse for him to be fired. Filming went on till 20 December and possibly Sherman re-shot several scenes to make them less violent.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,080

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