on the American film FIST', shortly go on general release.
But 'FIST' the rise of the Teamsters.
history has been rewritten.
FIST is apparently meant to be a working class American Cavitatier, about the rise ated sorl CHELSLEE tragic fall of Johnny Kovak (Sylvester Stallone).
Kovak, you see, is a leader of men and an all-around good guy. He is caught in a web of corruption that drags inexorably to his doom despite his better intentions and final, desperate efforts The possibilities for cliches are endless. Few are overlooked ACCURACY Kovak and the Federation of Inter-State Truckers are supposed to be based way — on linny Hoffa and IT ISN'T OFTEN that Hollywood looks at the labour movement. That in itself is enough reason to comment which opened at London's Leicester Square Theatre last week and will ANDY ROSE of the American Socialist Workers Party explains how that the Teamsters It would he absurd to insist on that account that FIST bo accurate sn Considerable could he allowed cither for ignorance or dramatic licence.
PAINFUL him What really makes FIST 2 his painful екретіелсе through is that che entire film is conceived around one outragcous falsitication.
The fondantental point of the film is that the power that built the union i to organise lie unorpanised and defeat the bosses Matin muscle.
in some Kovak. after ineffectual work stoppage in ILTY ale is to cheer for Johnny The leaders in building the Tearusters union in the 19305 were not the likes of Jimmy Holla. They were revolutionsocialists such as Farrell Dubbs, V.R. Donne, and Carl Contrary to the paternalistic and elitist attitude shown in FIST. (They've all got to jour up — it's for their own good, says Kovak), the revolutonary Teamster strategists aimed at times ALIC mobilise the ranks and to develop new leaders.
The real sery of how the Teamsters union was built is told in four books by Farrell Dobbs. It is not only accurare but also more interesting than FIST deserves low ratings on its politics, since it tries to make a poltical statement. It is also a zero artisticallvKovak character as anything more complex than a • small-lown sueet rumble, He is inarticu late, shows no hint of inten gence, and is hopelessly inept in strategy and tactics. Maybe Stallone is simply playing himself, as he is sand to have done in Rocky.
He shows he is 'militant" by growling at the bosses, going to cut your balls off He shows he in a leader by petting the chant Fis! Fist! Fist!
Ta doesnt come close lo Hoffa, much less Dobbs.
Rod Steiger does a beller job in his short time on scroen, playing the senator who bring thout Johnny's downfall, H reveals the 'crusader! against union corruption be something of a weasel as well FIST has no sex and neg enough violence to attract the Charles Broson crowd. May be it will be a commercial op. le deserves it *The four books by Farrell Dobbs are Teamster Rehellion 1E1.00) Teamster Power (62.45). TEster Public [E2.45) , and Teanister Bureau racy (L2.50). All ure aailable fros The Other Bookshop, 328 Lipper Street, London NI AQ. Please add 10% for postage. Three or wore tilles post freeSocialist Challenge 7 September 1978 page 15
----- pull-quotes -----
also deals with a chapter of labour history in which revolutionaries were deeply involved