Immigration and immigrants are on people’s minds a lot in the current decade. There is a lot of negative sentiment right now against the idea that someone from a foreign country is moving in and taking our jobs, our livelihood, and our piece of the American dream. People who think this way harbor a deep hatred towards “foreigners” and anyone who isn’t like them. It led to the rise of the KKK and other hate groups that are still around to this day, spreading their rhetoric of hatred to anyone willing to listen. Black Legion was written with the intention of bringing to light not only the existence of such hate groups but to highlight the stupidity and destructive power these groups have.
The film follows Frank Taylor (Humphrey Bogart), a Midwestern family man and factory worker. Frank feels he is the best man for an upcoming foreman position, banking on the raise so that he can buy some nice stuff for himself and his wife. But the position is given to another worker, an immigrant with ideas on how to streamline the work. Bitter and disappointed, Frank is approached by a fellow worker and invited to an underground meeting of like-minded individuals who gather to spew their hatred and intolerance. Soon Frank is invited to join the others, taking an oath of loyalty, compelled to purchase a gun, and joining in on assaults on immigrants, including the new foreman. But the longer Frank aligns with these men, the more out of control things get and eventually he finds himself guilty of much worse than just assault.
This film tackles a lot of heavy subjects like racism, xenophobia, and violence. Frank’s first mistake was in shifting the blame for his missing out on the promotion. The better man got the job but he cannot see that, only that a foreigner got it when he felt he should have. As he listens more and more to the Black Legion’s poisonous words he grows more bitter and angry, eventually losing the good stuff he had in his life like his wife and son. Even when he does finally get the promotion, his affiliation with the Black Legion eventually leads to him making mistakes at work that get him demoted again.
Nothing good comes from hatred. Frank learns that lesson far too late and he pays a hefty price for it. While he eventually turns on his old friends, he is not exempt from punishment for his actions. It is heartbreaking watching him being led away to jail while his wife watches from the side, tears in her eyes. It is a slippery slope he has gone down, letting bitter and hateful words turn into actions. We see it gradually consume him and destroy him. His actions carry with them a lengthy prison sentence, one long enough to give him plenty of time to reflect. This is truly a tragedy and a film meant as a warning for all of us to check our hatred and avoid the trappings that come with it. 1937 - 83 minutes
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