Blood Feud

For those of you that think Blake can only do "Barretta," watch this film the next time it is on television. Blake proves that he really is an excellent actor, when he tries. Blake's performance as Teamster Boss Jimmy Hoffa really does steal this show as this performance was, by far, the best he'd ever done up to that point. Originally shown as a 2-part mini-series, this movie depicts the epic battle between then-Teamster Boss Hoffa and the politically ambitious John F. Kennedy, the charismatic young Senator from Boston. Cotter Smith, a then unknown young actor, gave an equally strong performance as Bobby Kennedy, the younger brother of JFK, an idealistic lawyer himself, who fought for years to finally bring down Hoffa and send him to prison. Sam Groom gave his usual great performance as Senator, then President John F. Kennedy, who told Bobby that he didn't "want to be seen as anti-labor," while grooming himself for a run for the Presidency, wanting Bobby to be careful with his investigation of Hoffa. Glossy at times, this film strives hard to take a tough, gritty look at the battle between the Kennedys and Hoffa and succeeds in most aspects. Sadly, the Kennedys and Hoffa died for their beliefs and, (I believe) as a direct result of this battle. You'll have to see this movie on television as it has never been released on VHS. My rating out of 10: 8.5

So many people have played Jimmy Hoffa over the years, but I thought Robert Blake did the best characterization I've seen. All of the other actors who played him seemed like those actors portraying Jimmy Hoffa. Blake actually disappears into the part.

So why is this old film forgotten and never shown? Two reasons, probably. First, it was a made for TV movie and so many of those are buried in obscurity and rights problems. The other reason is the fact that Blake plays Hoffa, and since the scandal of him possibly/probably being mixed up in the oh so convenient death of his wife, though acquitted, so many of his appearances have just been relegated to obscurity.

The actor playing Robert Kennedy was actually pretty good too. It helped that actor Cotter Smith looked a great deal like Kennedy to begin with. Of course, some things were over dramatized and outright fictional for the sake of dramatic license, but still, if you ever get the chance to see it, I would say it is time well spent.

A Crusade against communism isn't working so the senators decide to pick on the unions instead. Newly installed Teamster president Jimmy Hoffa is on target as soon as he forced his indolent predecessor out. Unlike the Kennedys who'd like to appear to be pro-labour, Hoffa is a 100% pro union, winning in 1960 the best wage increase ever in an industry wide pact.

Enter snivelling Bobby Kennedy. He's out to get Hoffa by hook or by crook. Are they bound for mutual self-destruction? There's an excellent view of the utter cynicism in the hidden back passageways of power: "we can't fight communism so lets bust unions," says one Senator to John Kennedy.

Great production values for a TV miniseries. Director Mike Newell shows great gusto in dealing with groups of people, a trait which became even more evident as he went on to "Enchanted April," "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Pushing Tin." The supporting cast does distinguished work.

Cotter Smith is daring in his first venture outside series TV when he borrows so many of Robert Kennedy's unsympathetic mannerisms, and he certainly can't be accused of holding back. Unfortunately, he's missing the undisputed charisma of RFK and worse, he's up against Robert Blake as Hoffa.

Evil is always more interesting than good, and Blake has a lifetime of scene-stealing behind him. He's fifteen years past "In Cold Blood" here, and at the top of his game. He's a madman spouting hypocrisy so well that while he's talking you might believe him. You definitely can't take your eyes off him. In the acting duel, as opposed to real life, Kennedy doesn't stand a chance here.

So it's worthwhile viewing, but remember afterwards, after Kennedy was killed by a Palestinian gunman, RFK's lifetime of work for civil rights and against crime left the world a better place.

And as Jimmy Hoffa slumbers peacefully under the 50-yard line at Meadowlands Stadium, remember that he stole recklessly from his union membership, and connived at far worse crimes than that. Nixon may have pardoned him, but we don't have to.

I watched "Blood Feud" when it first aired, do not recall it being a made-for-TV special, it was so good. Robert Blake gives a first-rate performance, superior to that of Nicholson's somewhat too-studied take in "Hoffa." At one point Blake/Hoffa is making a call from a phone booth (yep, a booth, where the doors close) and his rage is memorable--not mere screaming...restrained enough to make it compelling. At least for one viewer.

Aside from "In Cold Blood," this likely is Blake's best film work. The supporting cast is superb: Aiello, Dennehy, Hendrikson, Borgnine, Ferrer. "Blood Feud" may have been a two-parter shown on consecutive nights. I would love to buy this movie but can't find it.

Speaking of Hoffa films, Stallone's "F.I.S.T." was a fine but unappreciated effort. It did lousy business; at the time nobody seemed to want to see "Sly" as anything but R. Balboa. And that title didn't help; sounds like another fight movie. But "F.I.S.T." is available and often appears on TV movie subscription channels, unlike "Blood Feud," which is better.