STEVEDORE

In a brawling, red-blooded burst of realism, we have the perilous, rowdy, hardworking lot of the stevedore, with high percentage of accidents and low degree of respect and care to be found at that ""bilge-stinking Puget Dock"". Ben Saunders, son of a shareholder, wants to know why this dock is the worst of them all, and becomes a stevedore in order to answer some pretty vital questions. He blames the unions for not insisting on the regulations; he blames the men for griping over rules; he watches his friends maimed and even killed; but he sees the biggest factor in the deterioration of Puget Dock, the boss, Cragerud, and his henchman, Ace. In a narcotic plot, the villains are eventually unearthed- and prove to be these men. Ben develops a plan which should add up to increased safety and personal dignity for the stevedore. Good rough and tumble, timely views aired (an objective handling of the pros and cons of Communism), some pretty fervent cursing (which may condemn it in some libraries) -- but a good deal to recommend it for youth looking at all sides of life.