On November 2, 2022, filmmaker David O’Russell unveiled his new film: ” Amsterdam “. The opportunity for him to narrate the events of a true story unknown to the general public: the development in the 1930s of a plot to install a dictator in power.
Amsterdam : the new film by David O’Russell
After successes like happiness therapy, fighter or american blufffilmmaker David O. Russell is back with his tenth feature film : Amsterdam. Supported by a prestigious cast notably led by Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington and Robert De Niro, Amsterdam tells the story of three close friends who find themselves, despite themselves, at the center of a plot to overthrow President Roosevelt.
Also worn by Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Rami Malek, Mike Myers or even Michael Shannon, Amsterdam divided critics. On the box office side, the film earned more than $27 million revenue worldwide in less than a week of operation.
At the beginning, Amsterdam depicts the unusual friendship of Dr. Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale), Harold Woodman (John David Washington) and Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie). As the story progresses, these three friends will meet at the heart of a business that is beyond them. With Amsterdam, David O. Russell uses the friendship of these three acolytes to tackle an astonishing plot, since passed over in silence.
An unknown episode in American history
Known as The Business Plot or Wall Street Putschthis conspiracy, which took place in early 1930s, aimed to overthrow the American president in place: Franklin D. Roosevelt. A coup attempt devised by big bosses and businessmen to replace the president of the USA with a dictator. More precisely, this organization also made up of veterans of the First World War, wanted to set up a totalitarian regime led by General Smedley Butler.
To contextualize, in the early 1930s, the West is hit by an unprecedented economic crisis. And at the same time, fascism is gaining importance in European territories. Mussolini took power in Italy, and Hitler begins to put his plan in motion to rule Germany.
To overthrow the president, The Business Plot therefore wanted to use the influence of General Smedley Butler to achieve its ends. Portrayed by Robert De Niro in Amsterdam, Smedley Butler, veteran of the American army, denounced the actions of this secret organization. He notably highlighted a certain Gerard MacGuire, a former soldier converted into finance, considered one of the thinking heads of this Business Plot. The latter was inspired by the rise of fascism in Europe to carry out his great operation in the United States. Smedley Butler was to be his Trojan horse to rise to power.
No one has been convicted
Smedley Butler (renamed Gil Dillenbeck in the film and played by Robert De Niro) betrayed MacGuire’s organization and sounded the alarm. But against all odds, no one in public opinion really took him seriously. For example, in 1934, the New York Times viewed Smedley Butler’s comments as “a gigantic farce”. A committee nevertheless conducted an investigation. The conclusions, published in February 1935, are instructive:
There is no doubt that these operations were discussed and planned, and could have been carried out when and if their financial backers deemed it appropriate.
Despite that, no one has been prosecuted let alone convicted. And even today, no one has been held responsible for this coup attempt. David O. Russell took advantage ofAmsterdam to pay tribute to the heroes in the shadows who opposed this secret putsch. Recently, an article by journalist Jonathan M. Katz brought this case to the fore. In particular, he compared this Business Plot to events of January 6, 2021 when the US Congress was stormed by supporters of Donald Trump, who contested the victory of Joe Biden. The proof as well as the subject ofAmsterdam is very topical. Especially in a political context where the far right continues to gain ground…
