Fast Workers
| Fast Workers | |
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Theatrical trailer
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| Directed by | Tod Browning (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Tod Browning |
| Written by |
Karl Brown (continuity) Ralph Wheelwright (continuity) Laurence Stallings (dialogue) |
| Based on |
Rivets unpublished play by John W. McDermott |
| Starring |
John Gilbert Robert Armstrong Mae Clarke |
| Cinematography | Peveral Marley |
| Edited by | Ben Lewis |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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66 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Fast Workers, also known as Rivets, is a 1933 pre-Code drama film starring John Gilbert and Robert Armstrong as construction workers and romantic rivals for the character played by Mae Clarke. The film was based on the unproduced play Rivets by John W. McDermott and directed by an uncredited Tod Browning. The supporting cast features Virginia Cherrill and Sterling Holloway.
Fast Workers is set in the early 1930s, in the time period of the film's release. It portrays the freewheeling lives and romantic escapades of two friends who work as riveters on high-rise construction projects. Gunner (John Gilbert) is a rake who loves women but hates the notion of emotionally committing to any of his romantic conquests. His close friend Bucker, however, is just the opposite, often easily losing his heart to the various "dames" he meets and quickly becoming entangled with them. Gunner therefore sees it as his ongoing duty as a pal to save Bucker from rushing headlong to the altar. True to form, Bucker one evening after work meets and becomes enamored with Mary (Mae Clarke), not knowing that she is one of the women whom Gunner dates regularly, although not seriously. He also doesn't know that Mary generally supports herself by fleecing men of their money. Once she learns that Bucker has a nest egg of $5,000 in the bank, she accepts his rather clumsy marriage proposal. Gunner soon learns of his friend's engagement, but he waits too long to scuttle the marriage plans. By the time he reveals to Bucker his own past and current involvement with Mary, Bucker has already married her.
Bucker's anger builds over his perceived betrayal, and the next day while working at their towering construction site, he tries to kill his friend by sabotaging a walkway between two iron girders. As a result, Gunner falls and is seriously injured; he is given little chance to live. Wracked with guilt, Bucker informs Mary what he has done. She is furious. She tells him their brief marriage is over and that if Gunner dies she will make sure he is convicted of murder and "burns in the chair." She then admits her feelings for Gunner, as well as to her wanton past, declaring to her soon-to-be-ex-husband, "I am anybody's girl."
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Wikipedia