BLACK LEGION (1937)

 

Humphrey Bogart had a long apprenticeship as a movie actor. Between his screen debut in 1930 in A DEVIL WITH WOMEN and his breakthrough into major stardom with HIGH SIERRA (1941), Bogart acted in thirty-seven films. He was in everything from comedies to Westerns, and even got to play romantic leading men a few times. His first big success was as gangster Duke Mantee in THE PETRIFIED FOREST (1936), in which he repeated the role he had played on Broadway. His obvious talent at portraying complicated, conflicted characters was exploited again in Archie Mayo's BLACK LEGION. This serious drama was based on a real American hate group by the same name, an organization very similar to the Ku Klux Klan. Despite Warner Brothers inserting a disclaimer at the beginning of the film assuring the audience that no true characters or events were being portrayed, the film's story was based on a sensational murder trial involving the group. 

Bogart plays Frank Taylor, a factory worker. Frank and his wife, Ruth (Erin O'Brien-Moore) have a young son, Buddy (Dickie Jones). Frank is hoping for a promotion at his job, one he feels he deserves. But the promotion is given to a younger man, Joe Dombrowski (Henry Brandon), considered by Frank and some other co-workers as a "foreigner", not a true American. Frank's bitterness leads him to join a secret organization called the Black Legion, a group that preaches hate against foreigners who are seen as trying to take over the country. The group attacks Dombrowski and his father at their home, set fire to their property, and drive them out of town. Frank's involvement with the group causes a strain in his marriage. It also causes a conflict with his best friend, Ed Jackson (Dick Foran) and Ed's fiance, Betty Grogan (Ann Sheridan). 

When Ruth finds out the truth about the group's beliefs and actions, and decides to take Buddy and leave, Frank begins to pull away from the group. But he knows that he won't be able to break away completely. The members of the group swear to an oath that any attempt to leave or reveal information about the group will be punishable by death. This inevitably leads to tragedy.

I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't yet seen it. Suffice it to say there are a few surprises as the story comes to its climax, and there is no attempt to come up with a happy ending. In fact, I found the ending to this film nearly as haunting as the final scene in I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (1932). 

The Black Legion holds an initiation ceremony.

It is a credit to Bogart's talent that Frank is sympathetic throughout most of the film, even though he engages in truly evil activity. Despite Frank's initially enthusiastic embrace of the Legion's hateful beliefs, it soon becomes clear that the man is tortured by what he's doing. Bogart is supported by a fine cast of actors, many of them Warner contract players. Erin O'Brien-Moore brings the right amount of tension and emotion to her role as Frank's wife. Dick Foran, adept at playing likable working-class men, is effective as Frank's best friend. Ann Sheridan, working hard in her own apprenticeship years before her "Oomph Girl" phase began, manages to standout as the second female lead. Good work also by Joseph Sawyer as Cliff Moore, Frank's co-worker who brings him to his first Legion meeting. Also featured are Helen Flint, John Litel, Dorothy Vaughan, and Samuel Hinds.