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 »

---

Plot Keywords:

gangster | based on article | new york

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir

---

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.

---

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

The Garment Jungle is a Dressy Film ****

Terrific film in the genre of "On the Waterfront." This one involves efforts to unionize the dress industry and the violence by mobsters hired by bosses to thwart the unions from getting a hold on the workers.

Lee J. Cobb is perfect as the role of the garment boss who has paid for years to keep the union out of his business. When his partner is murdered by gangsters when the former is willing to sign on with the union, this occurs just in time as Cobb's son, well played by Kerwin Matthews, arrives from Europe on the scene and is willing to learn the business. He soon realizes why his father has kept him out and when an organizer for the union is murdered, he becomes totally sympathetic with the union movement as well as the widow (Gia Scala) of the slain organizer.

The picture captures the woes of garment workers and the mobsters who were hired to keep them out.

It is to be noted that the garment industry always had a history of difficulty with labor. Many of these places were in violation of National Labor Board rules and were continuously fined for abusing workers.

This is a picture of rare quality with solid acting performances by a terrific cast.

The film should especially be viewed by all the anti-union activists out there.