The Molly Maguires
by Martin Ritt
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Actor: Anthony Zerbe, Frank Finlay, Richard Harris, Samantha Eggar, Sean ConneryDirector: Martin Ritt
Brand: CONNERY,SEAN
Cinematographer: James Wong Howe
Producer: Martin Ritt
Editor: Frank Bracht
Producer: Walter Bernstein
Writer: Walter Bernstein
Writer: Arthur H. Lewis
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Digital Sound, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Surround Sound, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 124 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-04-27
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Reviews of The Molly Maguires
DVD Review: Tales Of The Irish Diaspora
Summary: 4 Stars
In a post in this space "In The Time of The "Robber Barons" And The Early American Union Movement- The Molly Maguires", dated February 21, 2007, reviewing a book about these early labor militants, The Molly Maguires, Wayne Broehl, Jr., Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Ma, 1964, I hit the high points that I want to make about the Molly Maguires and that are reinforced by this commercial film effort starring Sean Connery as a leader of the Irish coalminers in the Pennsylvania coal fields of the 1870's, the age of the American "robber baron" capitalists, their "Gilded Age". This film is also directed by 1950s "blacklisted' director Martin Ritt (director of the Woody Allen film on the blacklist, "The Front) so he has a feel for telling labor's story (and providing some very naturalistic cinematography, as well) I will make additional points about the film below the repost:
"The tale of the famous "Molly Maguires" of the Pennsylvania coal fields in the period immediately after the American Civil War is another in the seemingly endless stories of the Irish diaspora triggered by the ruthless policy of the bloody English imperialists, who come what may, refused to part with their colony until forced to by the Irish national liberation fighters of the early 20th century. One can read the Molly Maguire story as one of the first attempts in the post-Civil War period to organize an industry-wide labor union in the coal industry, including its sectionalism, political immaturity and oath-bound secrecy. One can also read it as a story of atomized labor confronted by the consolidation of capitalism in the extractive industries linked up to the carrying trade of the railroads and financed by stockholders here in America and in Britain. Finally one can read the story as a police procedural, highlighting the role of the infamous Pinkerton Detective Agency and its founder Alan Pinkerton in bringing some of the alleged leaders of the "Mollies" to trial and execution on behalf of the railroad and coal bosses. That is the route the author of the book under review has taken..."
"Another point to make is how the mainly English capitalists of the area aggravated the already existing antagonisms between ethnic groups, like the Irish, Welsh and Germans (and later the various Slavic groups) to their benefit in a classic example of capitalist "divide and rule" policy. Finally, the story points out the key role that privately-employed detective agencies, private police and ultimately state and federal troops played in bringing about the early defeats in the American labor movement (and continue to do so today as about one billion dollars a year is spent on keeping unions out or keeping them docile in the United States, one need only think of Wal-Mart)....."
Sean Connery as a no-nonsense, level-headed, driven, militant labor leader of the benighted Irish Pennsylvania coalminers works here. (Of course, he also "worked" as British super-spy James Bond, but we will let that pass.) Jack (Connery's role) tasks are not easy ones as he has to keep the younger hotheads in line, deal with the "peelers" (police), deal with planning some kind of strategy that will get labor out from under the thumb of the greedy, very greedy, coal and rail bosses who will stop at noting to break the union efforts. But most of all, and what forms the dramatic tension of the film, Jack has to deal with one James McFarland (played by Richard Harris), a willing, no, a more than willing, labor "fink" who is sent in by the bosses to round up the local labor leaders, and in the end settle scores in the only way that the "robber barons" really liked- execute the leaders. (Remember also "robber baron" Jim Fisk's old saying-"I will hire one half of the working class to kill the other half."). Well, in the end they got old Jack, but you know he fought them tooth and nail. We could use a few more Jacks and a few less labor skates these days as we fight the one-sided and uphill class struggle.
Description of The Molly Maguires
Based on a true story of the Irish-American secret society of militant coal miners in Pennsylvania who battle their exploitation with violence and even murder.Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 27-APR-2004
Media Type: DVD
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