F.I.S.T. is a film with two distinguished actors, Sylvester Stallone and Rod Steiger. Stallone is highly convincing in his role as a working man, Johnny Kovak, who becomes infuriated by the exploitation of truck-drivers, and makes a career in their union F.I.S.T. However the theme of the film may be even more interesting than the artistic achievement itself. In 1992 DeVito brought out a remake named "Hoffa", which was really vicious and an attempt to incriminate unionism. In fact Jimmy Hoffa actually existed, and was a highly successful and popular organizer and leader. Let me first summarize the story pictured by F.I.S.T. (I become dizzy with realism, and am inaccessible for hidden messages or psychological analyses). Kovak is asked to lead the local section of F.I.S.T., since he knows how to appeal to the truck-drivers. It is the roaring thirties, and the after-effects of the robber barons are still simmering. During his activities the tires of his car are punctured, and even worse, he is beaten up. However a real crisis evolves during a demonstration of the truck-drivers of the company Consolidated Trucking. The company has hired a private "security firm", whose thugs attack the workers using guns, iron rods and incendiaries. The police stands aloof, and several of the truck-drivers are murdered. This brings Novak to the conclusion that he needs a similar "push", and he starts to employ the services of his own admittedly not very respectable security firm. this includes the intimidation of scabs and the destruction of their trucks. Is this organized crime or derailed activism? I don't know. Kovak keeps pushing, against the orders of his national union board. Anyway, finally Consolidated Trucking caves in and signs the contract. Soon Kovak becomes the national leader of F.I.S.T. and a national celebrity as well. But he has to pay a price to his "securiy firm", among others granting loans from the F.I.S.T. pension fund to the people that previously supported his actions with their push. The loans are controversial, but illegal? He has to appear before a senatorial committee, that investigates the relations between trade unions and organized crime. One of the witnesses a charge is murdered, and Novak is urged by his former allies to step down. Being a fighter, Novak refuses and is eventually murdered himself and his body is somehow disposed of. It is a tale of a union leader searching for the boundaries of power, and IMHO surpassing them. Still the film justly leaves plenty of room for empathy with the man. And the makers had the tact not to slander the real Hoffa. Still, in view of the vicious remake "Hoffa" let us consider the true events. The real Jimmy Hoffa had an enormous success in organizing the American truck-drivers (with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters). During these endeavors he made a lot of enemies. For instance, the Teamsters were expelled by the CIO. Subsequently he also tried to organize the railways and airlines. It is said that this made him the target for the political elite, among others the Kennedy family, who feared that the organization of these branches would give Hoffa control over the whole USA. He was indeed brought under investigation by a Senatoiral committee, and also on trial. The first trial resulted in a hung jury voting 7-5 for acquittal. The judge declared a mistrial, believing that Hoffa was guilty and had bought the jury. The second trial resulted in a verdict of guilty and Hoffa was given eight years in federal prison. Hoffa was released on parole in 1971. In 1975 he mysteriously disappeared. There are several explanations circulating. One is that he had resisted the mafia and was subsequently liquidated. Another says that he had skipped off to Brazil with a "black go-go dancer". So it may be wise to reconsider before you believe the story of either "F.I.S.T." or "Hoffa". It is worth noting that in the union Hoffa was popular to such a degree, that his son has later been elected for president (which IMHO is rather unhealthy). If you are interested in collective bargaining or even sympathizer with unionism, there are definitely more informative and realistic accounts. Try Salt of the Earth, Norma Rae, Bread and Roses, Harlan County War, Matewan, Man of Iron. Or take a look at the other films about social action, that I have reviewed here on IMDb.