HEART OF STEEL
US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Peter Strauss, Pamela Reed, Barry Primus, John Goodman, John Doucette, Gary Cole.
Directed by Donald Wrye.
Heart of Steel is deeply felt American telemovie. It focuses on the mill towns of Ohio and surrounding states, the collapse of industry, strikes and unemployment, the change of life for people who have spent all their years (and, their preceding generations) in the same mill town. The film was co-produced by its star Peter Strauss. The characters are well delineated. The situation of the American towns is persuasively put - the reliance on the mill, the mill and the union mentality, the hanging on to old traditions. The traditional family life is also presented strongly. The film is moving as well as thought provoking on corporation issues.
1. The impact of this kind of film memory? American audiences, world audiences, the problems dramatised? industry, changes in economies, the run down mills? Exploitation by owners? The place of unions? The human repercussions? A future?
2. The Ohio settings, the mill town, the mill itself? in the authentic atmosphere of the action? Persuasive? Musical score?
3. The title, American industrial history? The father of the mills, steel production? The unions, strikes?
4. Peter Strauss as Emery (in his role as producer)? His place in the family, relationship with his wife, sons? The detailed home life? His visits to his father, talking about the past, the effects of the mill life on his father, his father facing death? the importance of his buddies, at work, at home, at the meetings, letting off steam? His going to the meetings, speaking out on the workers' behalf? Reaction to the officials? His pride and hurt? Drinking? Reaction to his wife? His angers, drinking, slapping her? The reaction of his wife, children? suspicions of what was happening? Leaving, with his friends? The death and meeting his wife at the funeral? The possibilities of reconciliation? Having to face his future, the possibility of moving? The decision to go for one more day at the mill? Regaining his pride, ready for his future?
5. The portrait of his buddies, friendship, growing up together, sharing the same experiences, work, practical jokes and humour, the serious side, at the meetings? Supporting him in his troubles? His giving advice?
6. Emery's wife, her support of her husband, making ends meet, going to work, the money coming in, keeping the accounts, the clash with Emery? His leaving, her being hurt, the reconciliation? The kids, the relationship with their father, the home scenes, frightened at his behaviour, hitting their mother?
7. The portrait of his father, his experience in the mills, age, facing death? Faith in the unions? Puzzle over what was happening?
8. The unions, meetings, the tradition, doing investigations and surveys, taking so much time, experts from the cities? Wariness of the factory workers? The mill, the guards, keeping people out?
9. The portrait of the town, a dying town? moving to Texas and other states? Could the town regain its life?
10. The importance of the going to the factory, going in, setting, the machines in motion, the production, working together? Their making a stand?
11. The point about American economics, industrial traditions, the running down of industry, repercussions for the workers, change of life in the towns, futures?
