The Killing Floor

The Killing Floor is a 1927 American silent drama film, directed by William A. Wellman and starring Richard Barthelmess and Mae Marsh. The movie, based on the novel of the same name by William A. Nourse and Paul Laurence Dunbar, is set during the Great Migration, a wave of African Americans who moved from the rural South to the urban North during World War I in search of better-paying jobs and an escape from the harsh realities of Southern life. The film's protagonist, Slocum (played by Richard Barthelmess), is a proud and hardworking black Southerner who has lived his entire life in the rural South. Feeling confined by his circumstances, Slocum sets out for Chicago, a city that promises better opportunities for those willing to work hard. He leaves behind a loving wife, Eda, and their small child, but the promise of a higher wage at the Chicago stockyards drives him northward. Upon arrival in Chicago, Slocum finds himself in the midst of a bustling city teeming with life and energy. He is immediately struck by the stark contrast between the relative luxury and wealth of the white community and the poverty and squalor that surrounds the African American community. After weeks of searching, Slocum finally finds work at the Chicago Packing Company, one of the city's largest and most infamous slaughterhouses. As Slocum navigates the challenges of his new job, he becomes increasingly politicized, learning about the struggles of the organized labor movement and the role that the city's black workers play in it. The labor movement at the time was led by white reformers, but African American workers, many of whom were recent migrants from the South, were particularly vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment. The movie's portrayal of this struggle is an early and powerful example of the intersection of racial and economic tensions that would continue to shape American society for decades to come. Slocum, who begins to see himself as part of a broader community of workers fighting for their rights, becomes disillusioned with the racism and exploitation he faces on the job. He joins a group of African American workers, including a fiery and passionate organizer named Joe (played by Alan Roscoe), who is determined to challenge the status quo. With the help of Eda, who has joined him in Chicago after struggling to make ends meet on their own, Slocum becomes a leading figure in the fight for workers' rights. As the struggles of the labor movement intensify, Slocum finds himself increasingly at odds with the ruthless and calculating management of the Chicago Packing Company, which is determined to crush the union at all costs. The movie's climax features a dramatic showdown between Slocum and the company's management, with the future of the labor movement hanging in the balance. The Killing Floor was praised by critics at the time for its portrayal of the struggles of African American workers and its depiction of the complex and often fraught nature of racial dynamics in the early 20th century. The film's use of location shooting in Chicago, combined with its dynamic and expressive cinematography, helps to bring the city and its inhabitants to life in vivid and unforgettable detail. Despite its reputation as a lost classic, The Killing Floor has not been widely seen in recent years, but its themes and message continue to resonate today. The movie serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for workers' rights and the critical role that African American workers have played in shaping American labor history.