Author Archives: Metro Council
Smoke Eaters (1926)
Director – C.J. Hunt
Running Time: 64 Minutes
Befitting its title, The Smoke Eaters is a fire-fighting melodrama, albeit one of little distinction. After a protracted prologue in which a fireman loses his wife and child to a conflagration, the story jumps ahead 20 years to concentrate on the romance between “smoke-eater” Cullen Landis and Wanda Hawley. Tieing past and present together is the fact that Landis is the adopted son of the selfsame firefighter who lost his family years before. The plot is forgotten as the hero proves that he’s as worthy a fireman as his foster father by staging a spectacular climactic rescue from a burning nightclub. While the fire scenes are reasonably well done, it was painfully obvious to the viewer that star Cullen Landis was never really anywhere near the flames. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Smoking Room (2002)
92m
Director: Roger Gual and Julio D. Wallovits
Cast: Miguel Ángel González, Francesc Orella and Francesc Garrido
Synopsis (IMDB): A combative office-worker is recollecting signatures. People are not allowed to smoke in the building, so he wants to ask the bosses to habilitate a smoking room. It seems logical and his colleagues praise the initiative. But actually what comes next reveals the fierce individualism, selfishness and cowardice that each one hide under their white collar.
Soldiers of the Rock (2003)
94m; South Africa
Director: Norman Maake
Cast: Vuyo Dabula, Lebo Mathosa and Glen Gabela
Synopsis ( Variety): “A South African gold mining crew struggles with cultural pride, internecine friction and constant danger in the bracing, socially-conscious actioner “Soldiers of the Rock.” Despite overly-ambitious plotting, novelty of milieu and gritty action set pieces will earn pic fest play and distrib interest, with genre elements a good draw in ancillary . . . Seemingly inspired by both Ken Loach and Michael Bay.”
The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956)
99m; U.S.
Director: Richard Quine
Cast: Judy Holliday, John Williams and Paul Douglas
Synopsis (IMDB): Laura Partridge is a very enthusiastic small stockholder of 10 shares in International Projects, a large corporation based in New York. She attends her first stockholder meeting ready to question the board of directors from their salaries to their operations. These are not the questions which the board expected to be asked of them, especially since they are all crooked, except for Edward McKeever, the current CEO who has resigned in order to take an advisory position at the Pentagon. Following the meeting, he bumps into Laura and offers to drive her home. On the way there, Laura displays her enthusiasm for being a stockholder, as a result, Edward takes a liking to her. With Edward in Washington, John Blessington and Clifford Snell establish their hold on International Projects – They see greater riches now that Edward has influence with the US senate, especially with the awarding of federal contracts.
Solidarity Has No Borders – The Journey of the Neptune Jade (2005)
26m; U.S.
Director: Video Labor Project
Synopsis: In 1997, in support of striking Liverpool dock workers, San Francisco longshore workers refused to handle cargo in the Neptune Jade ship.
Contact: lvpsf@labornet.org
Solitary Life Of Cranes (2008)
27m; U.K.
Directro: Eva Weber
Synopsis: In this companion piece to CITY OF CRANES (SILVERDOCS ’08), anonymous crane operators muse about their unique occupation while the camera voyeuristically captures London scenes. This is a wonderful short that contemplates the modern metropolis and its unceasing development.
Somers Town (2008)
71m; U.K.
Director: Shane Meadows
Cast: Thomas Turgoose, Ireneusz Czop and Piotr Jagiello
Synopsis: Two teenagers, both newcomers to London, forge an unlikely friendship over the course of a hot summer. Tomo (Thomas Turgoose) is a runaway from Nottingham; Marek (Piotr Jagiello), a Polish immigrant, lives in the district of Somers Town, between King’s Cross and Euston stations, where his dad is working on a new rail link. When Marek agrees to let homeless Tomo move into his room, unbeknownst to his father, the pair forms a strong bond, as they work odd jobs for an eccentric neighbor and compete for the attention of Maria, a beautiful young French waitress whom they are both infatuated with. But it’s only a matter of time before Marek’s dad discovers what’s going on…
Something to Hide (1999)
Director: National Labor Committee
Synopsis: A delegation of U.S. students and workers with the National Labor Committee visit sweatshops in El Salvador.
Contact: See the film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3tT45Q6uKM
Sometimes a Great Notion (1970)
114m; U.S.
Director: Paul Newman
Cast: Paul Newman, Henry Fonda and Lee Remick
Synopsis (IMDB): Hank Stamper and his father, Henry Stamper own and operate the family business by cutting and shipping logs in Oregon. The town is furious when they continue working despite the town going broke and the other loggers go on strike ordering the Stampers to stop, however Hank continues to push his family on cutting more trees. Hank’s wife wishes he would stop and hopes that they can spend more time together. When Hank’s half trouble making brother Leland comes to work for them, more trouble starts.
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