The killing floor a feature length film directed by bill duke premiered in 1984 on pbs american playhouse series and then went on to engage audiences at the cannes and sundance film festivals.
The killing floor bill duke.
Bill duke s first feature the killing floor from 1984 a digital release from film forum displays an ingenious approach to the matter bringing a straightforward story and a distinct.
During world war i a poor black southerner travels north to chicago to get work in the city s slaughterhouses where he becomes embroiled in the organized labor movement.
He becomes prominent as a leader of fellow african americans in the union though many including his best friend view him as a sell out.
Duke spoke to salon in conjunction with the release of the 4k restored version of his acclaimed 1984 film the killing floor in the conversation he reflects on the personal and professional.
The movie according to press notes tells the story of black and white slaughterhouse workers who attempted to build an interracial union in the chicago stockyards.
He began directing theatrical films in the 1990s with crime dramas a rage in harlem 1991 deep cover 1992 and hoodlum 1997.
The killing floor re released.
Duke made the killing floor for pbs and it definitely has a tv movie feel and approach to narration.
While it lacks an aesthetic sheen it has a very important point of view.
For the killing floor actor turned director bill duke was drawn to the true story of black and white slaughterhouse workers trying to build an interracial union.
Back in the habit 1993 starring whoopi goldberg.
The killing floor is a 1984 american award winning made for television drama film directed by bill duke which highlights the plights of workers fighting to build an interracial labor union in the meatpacking industry in the years leading up to the chicago race riot of 1919 the film debuted on pbs via the american playhouse series on april 10 1984 and was produced by public forum productions.
Duke directed the tv movie the killing floor in 1984.
Director bill duke cast damien leake alfre woodard clemence felder moses gunn screenplay leslie lee cinematography william birch 1984 united states approx.
Directed by bill duke.
English the killing floor 1984 bill duke in his first feature director bill duke traces the racial and class conflicts seething in the city s giant slaughterhouses and the brutal efforts of management to divide the.
With damien leake alfre woodard dennis farina ernest rayford.
Bill duke s directorial debut is ripe for the classroom tv wheel in late in the semester.
