AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE: THE KILLING FLOOR (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series. Based on actual events, this film is set in a Chicago slaughterhouse at the end of World War I, and depicts a black worker's attempts to unionize his fellow workers amidst a climate of racial tension. Young Frank Custer leaves his family to travel north in search of employment, and he finds work in a Chicago slaughterhouse with treacherous and unregulated conditions. Although Frank eventually earns enough money to send for his family, he grows increasingly disturbed by the abusive supervisors and the unscrupulous management. Ultimately, he becomes swept up in a movement for reform, and events culminate in a monumental riot that, in subsequent years, became known as the Chicago race riot of 1919. Includes a promo for the "American Playhouse" production of "Heartland." (This program received the Silver Medal at the International Film and Television Festival of New York; an award for First Place in the Drama category at the National Black Consortium; and the Special Jury Award at the U.S. Film Festival.)
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 14, 1984
- RUNNING TIME: 1:58:37
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:21295
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Labor unions; African-American Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1982-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "American Playhouse"
CREDITS
- Lindsay Law … Executive Producer
- Elsa Rassbach … Executive Producer
- George Manasse … Producer
- Don Tull … Associate Producer
- Sue Williams … Associate Producer
- Carol Rathman … Assistant Producer
- Bill Duke … Director
- Leslie Lee … Writer
- Elsa Rassbach … Writer
- Elizabeth Swados … Music by
- Michael Small … Theme Music by
- Donald Douglass … Choreographer
- Damien Leake … Cast, Frank Custer
- Alfre Woodard … Cast, Mattie Custer
- Jason Green … Cast, Frank Custer, Jr.
- Jamarr Johnson … Cast, Lionel Custer
- Micaeh Johnson … Cast, Sarah Custer
- Paul Eaton … Cast, John Spriggs
- Ernest Rayford … Cast, Thomas Joshua
- Samuel J.. Mohammad Jr. … Cast, Young Migrant
- William Pierce … Cast, Newsboy
- Tony Stokes … Cast, Army Recruiter
- Stephen Henderson … Cast, James Cheeks
- Jimmy Spinks … Cast, Black Worker
- Dick Sollenberger … Cast, Supervisor
- Dennis Farina … Cast, Harry Brennan
- Miklos Simon … Cast, Dan Michora
- Clarence Felder … Cast, Bill Bremer
- Vernon R. Schwartz … Cast, Jimmy O'Rourke
- Moses Gunn … Cast, Austin "Heavy" Williams
- Wally Taylor … Cast, Robert Bedford
- Phillip East … Cast, Joe Hodges
- Jack Wallace … Cast, Hide Room Committeeman
- Mary Alice … Cast, Lilah Dean
- Henryk Derewenda … Cast, John Kikulski
- Patrick Nugent … Cast, Jack Johnson
- Gene Janson … Cast, Dennis Lane
- James O'Reilly … Cast, John Fitzpatrick
- Michael Nowak … Cast, Worker
- John Mahoney … Cast, Thomas Condon
- Ward Ohrman … Cast, Secretary of Labor
- John Cothran … Cast, Man
- Nathan Davis … Cast, Judge Alschuler
- Barbara Redlinski … Cast, Michalina Michora
- Gerry Becker … Cast, Meyer
- Rob Riley … Cast, Nelson Morris
- James Lashly … Cast, Man
- Michael J. Kovacs … Cast, Hungarian Witness
- A.H. Sturgis … Cast, Interpreter
- Rick Sparks … Cast, White Youth
- Frank Rice … Cast, Dewitt Washington
- Jeris L. Poindexter … Cast, Lonnie
- Cynthia Baker … Cast, Tess O'Rourke
- Richard Lavin … Cast, White Worker
- Michael Dunn … Cast, White Youth
- Robert Kurcz … Cast, Policeman
- Letitia Toole … Cast, Mrs. Bethea
- Zaid Farid … Cast, Black Boarder
- Jeff Nathan … Cast, Militiaman #1
- Sam Sanders … Cast, Man
- Joe Krowka … Cast, Militiaman #2
- Howard Elfman … Cast, Militiaman #3
- Corney Morgan … Cast, Policeman
- Ted Levine … Cast, Commander
- Michael Myers … Cast, Minister
- Jack McLaughlin-Gray … Cast, Man
- James Eichling … Cast, White Man