Blue Collar (1978)
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Feb 10, 1978 Wide
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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 2,991
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Movie Info
Paul Schrader's directorial debut examines the trials of Detroit autoworkers living at the mercy of a heartless corporation and a corrupt union. Surviving from paycheck to paycheck, Checker Cab assembly linemen Zeke (Richard Pryor), Jerry (Harvey Keitel), and Smokey (Yaphet Kotto) scrape by and take pleasure in a few rounds of beer or bowling (and occasional illicit amusements). But when their money troubles pile up, Jerry and Smokey join Zeke in a desperate plan to steal cash from their local
Feb 10, 1978 Wide
Feb 8, 2000
Universal Pictures
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Cast
-
Richard Pryor
Zeke Brown -
Harvey Keitel
Jerry Bartkowski -
Yaphet Kotto
Smokey -
Ed Begley Jr
Bobby Joe -
Harry Bellaver
Eddie Johnson -
George Memmoli
Jenkins -
Lucy Saroyan
Arlene Bartowski -
Lane Smith
Clarence Hill -
Cliff De Young
John Burrows -
Borah Silver
Miller -
Chip Fields
Caroline Brown -
Harry Northrup
Hank -
Leonard Gaines
Internal Revenue Man -
Milton Selzer
Sumabitch -
Sammy Warren
Barney -
Jimmy Martinez
Charlie T. Martinez -
Jerry Dahlmann
Superintendent -
Denny Arnold
Unshaven Thug -
Rock Riddle
Blonde Thug -
Stacey Baldwin
Debby Bartowski -
Steve Butts
Bob Bartowski -
Stephen P. Dunn
Flannigan -
Speedy Brown
Slim -
Davone Florence
Frazier Brown -
Eddie Singleton
Ali Brown -
Rya Singleton
Aretha Brown -
Vermetta Royster
Neighbor -
Jaime Carreire
Little Joe -
"Spanky" McFarland
Doris -
Tracey Walter
Union Member
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All Critics (11) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (0) | DVD (5)
It's intense, well-acted, gives one a good idea about everyday factory life and offers a clear-sighted muckraking take on blue collar types ...
Although the film does not tell us how to break out of the plantations we know too well, it does give us a vivid sense of the problems and the pitfalls of those who try.
Audience Reviews for Blue Collar
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December 12, 2005:
Richard Pryor Passes Away at 65Richard Pryor passed away yesterday morning, and while he's probably best remembered for his...
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This is a heist film that shows who is really being robbed. This is not a pro-union film such as Norma Rae. Here, the Union is inaffective and indifferent, at first, until truths are exposed as the story develops. Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto don't really come off as romanticized or even as anti-heroes, since their characters do drugs, cheat on their wives and commit petty crimes. When one of those petty crimes reveals more than expected, "THE MAN" works harder at tearing them apart than having them unite. Gritty character drama that deserves a little more recognition.