The Garment Jungle (1957)

A story about the struggle of the International Ladys Garment Worker Union (ILGWU) to unionize a New York sweat shop... See full synopsis »

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

Lester Velie (articles), Harry Kleiner (story)

Stars:

Lee J. Cobb, Kerwin Mathews, Gia Scala

Cast

Cast overview:
Lee J. Cobb	...	Walter Mitchell
Kerwin Mathews	...	Alan Mitchell
Gia Scala	...	Theresa Renata
Richard Boone	...	Artie Ravidge
Valerie French	...	Lee Hackett
Robert Loggia	...	Tulio Renata
Joseph Wiseman	...	George Kovan
Harold J. Stone	...	Tony
Adam Williams	...	Ox
Wesley Addy	...	Mr. Paul
Willis Bouchey	...	Dave Bronson
Robert Ellenstein	...	Fred Kenner
Celia Lovsky	...	Tulio's Mother

Storyline

A story about the struggle of the International Ladys Garment Worker Union (ILGWU) to unionize a New York sweat shop... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | based on article | new york

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Taglines:

The whole naked truth about the rackets in New York's garment center!

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Garment Center

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joanna Barnes' film debut.

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Goofs

The baby that Robert Loggia is holding in the office and hallway of the Dress Union building is different when he enters another room. The first baby is younger with short blondish hair. The other baby is much bigger with longer, blackish hair.

User Reviews

Great Little Film - Well Worth the Effort of Tracking Down

I was lucky enough to see a VHS-transfer copy of this, and despite the poor quality, I can recommend this as a top-notch Crime/Mob/Racket thriller. Not exactly noir, but shares many many similar qualities - fast pace, seedy NY locations, opening voice-over etc. Think 'Phenix City Story' and you won't go far wrong - though this is actually even better than that. As usual, Lee J. Cobb is outstanding. And it seems strange to see Cobb here, in such an unashamedly 'leftish' film, after the trouble he had with HUAC earlier in the decade. There's not one mention of the 'C' word, though "anti-communism" would undoubtedly have been the cover for the Mob's anti-union activities... This is only one of very few films I can think of from Hollywood with a pro-Union message - and I doubt if it could even have been made during the height of the McCarthyite witch-hunt. Find it, watch it, enjoy it. And then join your local trade union, organise to keep the mobsters and agitators out.