Blue Collar
Blue Collar
Fed up with mistreatment at the hands of both management and union brass, and coupled with financial hardships on each man's end, three auto assembly line workers hatch a plan to rob a safe at union headquarters.
匚卂尺ㄥ reviewedFebruary 8, 2025
Blue Collar tells the tale of three friends (Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto) who work in a car factory and whose financial hardship and disaffection with their management/union results in them carrying out a daring robbery on their union office. The fallout from the heist then brings forth serious dilemmas for the intrepid trio and they find their characters and friendship tested to the extreme.
This looks like a cast to die for and performances are indeed excellent throughout. By all accounts none of the three stars got on (with a particular animosity between Pryor and Keitel) and this may actually have helped in some scenes, especially in the final third of the film. Although there are some laughs early on in the movie (and during the robbery itself), one shouldn’t go into a viewing expecting a typical Richard Pryor vehicle of the period, such as Stir Crazy or Silver Streak. Post-heist, the film takes on a much darker hue and some serious points are made about union corruption and the plight of the working man, caught between a rock and a hard place.
The picture and sound on this particular blu-ray release from Powerhouse Indicator were adequate, without being exceptional. Extras include a fascinating commentary from Paul Schrader (who directed Blue Collar and co-wrote it with his brother, Leonard) and also an archival interview with him from 1982, giving perspective on the film and the times in which it was made.
Funny, thought-provoking and ultimately tragic, Blue Collar should be seen by anyone with an interest in American films of the 70s.