Blue Collar 1978
""Blue Collar" is the American Dream. If you're rich, you can buy it. If you're anything else, you gotta fight for it."
Paul Schrader's *Blue Collar (1978)* dives into the raw, unfiltered struggles of America's working class, where three Detroit auto workers—each crushed by financial strain and corporate exploitation—take drastic measures to reclaim control.
Director: Paul Schrader
Cast
Richard Pryor
Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
Harvey Keitel
Jerry Bartowski
Yaphet Kotto
Sam 'Smokey' James
Ed Begley Jr.
Bobby Joe
Harry Bellaver
Eddie Johnson
George Memmoli
Jenkins
Lucy Saroyan
Arlene Bartowski
Lane Smith
Clarence Hill
Cliff DeYoung
John Burrows
Borah Silver
Dogshit Miller
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blue Collar (1978) about?
This hard-hitting drama follows three auto workers who, pushed to the edge by financial desperation and corporate betrayal, plot to rob a union safe. Their desperate act uncovers the rot beneath the American Dream's glossy surface.
Who directed Blue Collar?
Paul Schrader, known for his sharp, socially conscious films, directed *Blue Collar*.
Who stars in Blue Collar?
The film features powerhouse performances from Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, and Yaphet Kotto as the three auto workers at the heart of the story.
Is Blue Collar (1978) worth watching?
With its raw energy, stellar cast, and unflinching exploration of class struggle, *Blue Collar (1978)* is a standout crime drama that resonates as strongly today as it did in the 1970s. It's a film for those who crave honest, hard-hitting storytelling.
How long is Blue Collar?
The runtime of *Blue Collar* is 114 minutes.
🎥 Trailer
About Blue Collar (1978) — A Gritty Crime Drama Rooted in Working-Class Struggle
Paul Schrader's *Blue Collar (1978)* dives into the raw, unfiltered struggles of America's working class, where three Detroit auto workers—each crushed by financial strain and corporate exploitation—take drastic measures to reclaim control. Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, and Yaphet Kotto deliver powerhouse performances as Zeke, Jerry, and Smokey, their characters pushed to the brink by greedy union leaders and indifferent bosses. The film crackles with gritty realism, blending crime drama with biting social commentary on class warfare and broken promises. As the trio plots to rob a union safe, the tension simmers beneath a veneer of camaraderie, revealing how desperation erodes trust and loyalty.
Set against the industrial decay of the late '70s, *Blue Collar (1978)* captures the suffocating atmosphere of a system rigged against the little guy. Schrader crafts a tense, morally ambiguous tale where the line between victim and criminal blurs, and every punch feels earned. The cinematography and soundtrack amplify the film's rebellious spirit, making it a standout entry in the gritty, no-holds-barred cinema of its era.
