THE WHISTLE AT EATON FILES (1951) is a real time capsule of turn of the 20th century America and that is its greatest asset. Shot almost entirely in the town of Portsmouth, NH and a couple of other New England locations, it gives us the look and feel of what is was like back then. This is only fitting as producer Louis de Rochemont started his career by making the popular MARCH OF TIME short documentaries shown in theaters in the 1930s. He continued to make documentaries during World War II. After the war he made a couple of dramatic films in a Film Noir setting starring James Cagney before making what he called docu-dramas of which WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS is one.
It tells the story of the struggle between labor and management at a plastics factory in the fictional town of Eaton Falls, New Hampshire. The factory's equipment is old and outdated and they can no longer produce their products at a competitive price. The opportunity arises to install new more efficient equipment which will need to employ only half the workforce. The head of the local union naturally opposes this until the company CEO points out that not doing it will result in the closure of the plant and a loss of all jobs. The CEO is then unexpectedly killed in a plane crash and the union boss is appointed the new head of the company. How does he keep the plant open and protect his workers?
Complicating matters are a disgruntled office manager who resents being passed over and a union rabble rouser who tries to organize a general strike of all the employees. The CEO's widow is sympathetic to the worker's plight but is opposed by her lawyers and other top management who pressure her to sell the company. After a beloved worker is killed in a confrontation, things are ready to explode and only a miracle can save the plant. Despite being a low budget, independently produced feature shot on location, it's still a Hollywood movie with a "deus ex machina" ending which I won't reveal other than to say it concerns a new phenomenon called television.
A young Lloyd Bridges is very good as the union boss who becomes CEO. He is likable but tough when he needs to be. Silent movie star Dorothy Gish (Lilian's sister), in one of her rare sound film appearances, is even better. The strong supporting cast includes Ernest Borgnine, Murray Hamilton, Anne Francis, and Arthur O'Connell. The movie was directed by Noir specialist Robert Siodmak. The biggest problem with WHISTLE is producer de Rochemont's insistence on even-handedness. There are heroes and villains on both sides and as a result there is no dramatic tension just a "you are there" approach. In trying to appeal to both union and management viewpoints, he appealed to none.
The film flopped big time and then disappeared from view for over 60 years, It was eventually located in the Library of Congress and was restored with the help of the Louis de Rochemont estate and the team behind the recent Cinerama restorations. THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS is the second in an ongoing series from Flicker Alley called Flicker Fusion. The first was THIS IS FRANCIS X. BUSHMAN. FF offers high quality Blu-Rays at an affordable price. In addition to the disc there are a number of bonus materials including audio commentary, subtitles, a restoration comparison, and a booklet essay about producer Louis de Rochemont from film historian Richard Koszarski...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.
