Taxi

According an article in the American Communist newspaper The Daily Worker, Taxi was "made jointly with the Taxicab Drivers Union of Greater New York and with the assistance of Theatre Union actors." The article also notes that because winter temperatures in New York were so cold during the production of the film, scenes had to be filmed in five minute periods. The cold weather was blamed for the lengthy four month production schedule. Many of the minor actors were unable to appear on the set with regularity during the filming, which resulted in the appearance of more than one actor portraying the same part. Another article in The Daily Worker indicates that the film cost $250 to make. According to modern sources, the film was inspired by the New York taxi strike of 1934, actual newsreel footage of which was included in the film. Modern sources add that the plot concerned four unemployed, blacklisted taxi drivers and a strike that was organized to reinstate them. The film reportedly took aim at ineffectiveness of the company unions in providing decent working conditions for its drivers. It also called for strong unions, and showed the detriment to the profession of the strike-breaking worker.