Rough, tough tale of a union leader in the line of the actual Jimmy Hoffa character, a head executive who had to make business with the mob. This episode begins with a trial where prosecutors do their best to nail the union chief: Jack Warden, here at his very best. You deal here with the high scale corruptors, folks, and certainly not the petty ones. I also appreciated the Brian Keith character, as an ordinary family man who tries to save his wife and boy kid against all odds, concerning the syndicate and union interests. This episode seems to be in two following parts. This is part one, directed by the prolific TV maker Don Madford, who later gave us the tremendous HUNTING PARTY. The most violent and downbeat western of all time, maybe not best but at least at the same scale as WILD BUNCH. I will comment the second part of this story tomorrow. See ya.
3 Reviews
The Organizers: Part 1
Prismark1014 August 2023
Shades of Jimmy Hoffa. Jerry Skala (Jack Warden) is the president of an amalgamation of union workers in Chicago.
He is tough and smart but also under pressure. He and others in the union are being investigated by a Senate committee for corruption and fraud.
Eddie Murray (Murray Hamilton) is a union official who is about to snap under the same pressure. Skala takes care of him though his links with gangsters.
Eddie's son Jack Murray knew something is shady about his father's death but he may be too much of a coward to do anything about it.
George Vaclavic (Brian Keith) is a local union head who feels conflicted. Eddie was a friend but he knows taking on Skala could be suicide.
Paul Marino wants Skala and tries to force George to do the right thing.
This is a two parter and very prescient about corruption within unions. It is lucky that the story has the calibre of actors like Warden, Hamilton and Keith. They really elevate the story such as Eddie's desperation.
I did wonder if Marino knew that by pressuring George, he could be writing George's death sentence.
He is tough and smart but also under pressure. He and others in the union are being investigated by a Senate committee for corruption and fraud.
Eddie Murray (Murray Hamilton) is a union official who is about to snap under the same pressure. Skala takes care of him though his links with gangsters.
Eddie's son Jack Murray knew something is shady about his father's death but he may be too much of a coward to do anything about it.
George Vaclavic (Brian Keith) is a local union head who feels conflicted. Eddie was a friend but he knows taking on Skala could be suicide.
Paul Marino wants Skala and tries to force George to do the right thing.
This is a two parter and very prescient about corruption within unions. It is lucky that the story has the calibre of actors like Warden, Hamilton and Keith. They really elevate the story such as Eddie's desperation.
I did wonder if Marino knew that by pressuring George, he could be writing George's death sentence.
Brilliant episode, perhaps the show's best.
Sleepin_Dragon21 September 2023
A Senate Committee are closing in on Jerry Skala, The Head of Chicago's amalgamation of Union workers, who's in hock to the mob, even Marino is struggling to get anything on him, that is until one of his men who dared to oppose him, is killed.
The very best of The Target Series, a huge story focusing on corruption at the very top, a corruption that's played out in a public court.
As this show is reaching its end, it just feels as though it's getting better and better, I thought this was a terrific episode. This two part story has an almost film like quality about it, it does genuinely feel like a well made feature film.
This first episode focuses very much on the character development of Skala, Murray and Vaclavic, I'm sure the second part will see Marino more heavily focused on bringing Murray's killer to justice.
Credit to Jack Warden, who is absolutely terrific as Skala, it's a captivating performance, Brian Keith and Murray Hamilton are both superb also.
What a start!
9/10.
The very best of The Target Series, a huge story focusing on corruption at the very top, a corruption that's played out in a public court.
As this show is reaching its end, it just feels as though it's getting better and better, I thought this was a terrific episode. This two part story has an almost film like quality about it, it does genuinely feel like a well made feature film.
This first episode focuses very much on the character development of Skala, Murray and Vaclavic, I'm sure the second part will see Marino more heavily focused on bringing Murray's killer to justice.
Credit to Jack Warden, who is absolutely terrific as Skala, it's a captivating performance, Brian Keith and Murray Hamilton are both superb also.
What a start!
9/10.
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