Black Legion | Rotten Tomatoes

Black Legion

Released Jan 16, 1937

1h 23m

Crime

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

58%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

Frank Taylor (Humphrey Bogart) believes he is about to be made foreman of the factory he works in. When the job goes to a Polish-born worker instead, Frank is enraged and decides to join a local organization that persecutes immigrants. Known as the Black Legion, the clandestine hate group uses scare tactics to help Frank get his promotion. However, his involvement with the Legion has dire effects on his marriage and jeopardizes the life of his best friend, Ed (Dick Foran).

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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

Each incident as it comes up is gone through skillfully, with a dexterous economy of relation and point. It has excitement, reality; and its seeds of truth are assured of being sown nationally.

May 8, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Much like Confessions of a Nazi Spy would do two years later by directly addressing Nazism in America, Black Legion explores the idea that it can happen here.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 12, 2022

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The Warner Bros. film, directed by Archie Mayo and an uncredited Michael Curtiz, is a gripping depiction of the organization's thuggery and violence and their devastating social and personal impact.

Feb 11, 2021

Full Review

Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

One of the year's best pictures. In it Humphrey Bogart rises to the rank of Paul Muni and Spencer Tracy.

Apr 22, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

A pretty grim study of human society, which adults will find authentic, deplorable and well worthy of their attention.

Oct 9, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A gripping social drama based on the newspaper headlines of the day.

Rated: B-

Feb 19, 2016

Full Review

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Steve D

Before its time but not especially good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/11/24

Full Review

John M

I live in England and I did like the movie however, to what I could see in first half. although it is on warner archive and I had to order the dvd from the States the first half of the movie plays ok then my dvd just freezes up I have cleaned the disc but it keeps on happening at the same location halfway through the movie and then my dvd just freeze. upon looking at other people who have the same problem I wonder if there is a problem in general with the way the disc is produced? my dvd player is multi-regional and I do have very many other warner archive movies that play ok on my dvd player. a shame really because the movie is great but I cannot see the whole movie owing to this error on the dvd itself.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Cindy L

Excellent early film on extremist groups in the United States. A young Bogart does a realistic performance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/23

Full Review

stu b

Early Bogie, ripped from the headlines of the 1930s, and released before he had cemented his reputation as Hollywood's quintessential tough guy. Here, he plays Frank Taylor, an easy-going factory worker and family man who--after being bypassed for a coveted promotion--joins a sinister band of "patriotic" (and violent) misfits (the "Black Legion" of the title) who promise to help him make things right. (Read: punish the Polish-born co-worker who ended up with the job, instead.) Awfully heavy-handed--it's about as subtle as a front lawn cross burning (the Klan is mentioned at least once)--but the performances, particularly by Bogart, Erin O'Brien Moore and Dick Foran (as his heartbroken wife and steadfast pal) are terrific, and there isn't a wasted moment or superfluous scene in the movie. A little-known Bogart gem that was selected by the National Board of Review as one of the 10 best films of 1937. Worth seeing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The significance of this movie has not diminished after almost a century.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a great movie that is even more relevant today. It exposes a way of thinking in America that we want to deny. All the actors were outstanding. And the story line is well written. I can see why it was nominated for best picture of the year in 1937- Pre Hitler. You should watch it on TCM to get the film and political history and a sense of place for 1937. If not just settle in for a good story with great characters!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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Archie Mayo

Director

Humphrey Bogart

Frank Taylor

Dick Foran

Ed Jackson

Erin O'Brien-Moore

Ruth Taylor

Ann Sheridan

Betty Grogan

Robert Barrat

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Synopsis

Frank Taylor (Humphrey Bogart) believes he is about to be made foreman of the factory he works in. When the job goes to a Polish-born worker instead, Frank is enraged and decides to join a local organization that persecutes immigrants. Known as the Black Legion, the clandestine hate group uses scare tactics to help Frank get his promotion. However, his involvement with the Legion has dire effects on his marriage and jeopardizes the life of his best friend, Ed (Dick Foran).

Director: Archie Mayo
Producer: Robert Lord
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 1937, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2016
Runtime: 1h 23m

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