Favorite Labor Film?!

[Radical Activist]

What's your favorite movie about unions? There are a lot of good ones I love. I'll state my favorite later to avoid influencing the results.

[LouisianaLiberal]

1. Matewan and Grapes of Wrath are great films

but my favorites are Our Daily Bread and Sullivan's Travels. Neither are typical of hollywood films of the times.

[Blue_Tires]

2. i personally love

"Hoffa" (it's the only one i've seen on the list)--it's just another well-crafted, well-directed film that oscar completely overlooked

[Radical Activist]

14. Its the only Jack Nicholson film

I've seen where I completely forget Jack Nicholson is playing the main character. He does such a great job of looking and portraying Hoffa. Its easily one of his best roles.

[Brigid]

3. Harlan County USA

Fascinating documentary of a coal miners' strike in Kentucky.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074605/

Oh, and who could forget "Roger and Me?"

[Tyrone Slothrop]

20. Harlan County's the best one you'll ever see

Utterly powerful.

I'm glad to see that it has FINALLY been released on DVD; just came out a couple weeks ago as part of the Criterion Collection (IIRC).

I haven't seen that film for several years, and I'm still amazed at some of the moments she captured.

[New Government]

29. Harlan County!

The best labor film made in the last forty years. What a GREAT movie.
Salt of the Earth was good in its day. Norma Rae has made more than a few think about the importance of labor unions. The lack of a strong labor movement in this country is a HUGE difference between domestic struggles of the sixties and today. These films help awaken people to the fact of greed and the importance of organized labor.

[New Government]

31. One other thing

Don't miss "American Dream" about the Austin, MN UFCW P-9 efforts. That is a study in dedication. VERY powerful. I also remembered another, "Out of Darkness: The Mine Workers’ Story" which, last I knew, could be had for only five bucks from the UMWA main office.

[Va Lefty]

4. F.I.S.T.

Loosely based on Hoffa

[Arkham House]

5. On the Waterfront

[bridgit]

6. yup, that's hard to argue with...

:thumbsup:

[brentspeak]

7. Car Wash

Just kidding ;)

"Matewan" for me.

But let's not forget the great labor drama, "Caddyshack". A devastating, powerful statement on the exploition that caddies suffer everyday. ;)

[nuxvomica]

8. You left out "The Pajama Game" and "Newsies"

Not that they would've gotten votes. I've never seen "Newsies" myself.

[Radical Activist]

15. I almost included Newsies

but I really didn't want to.

[JohnKleeb]

9. Havent seen any of these

I would love a bio epic about John L. Lewis though.

[Radical Activist]

16. Someone really needs to do that.

It would make a great movie. His role in history is vastly undervalued.

[maveric]

10. "Silkwood".

Not necessarily a labor movie but revealing as to how corporations put the mighty buck about the lives and welfare of the workers that make them money.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. Well I'VE obviously stumbled into the wrong thread!

[Radical Activist]

19. I knew someone would make that joke.

:)

[fishwax]

12. I loved Matewan

though all of the movies on your list (well, all that i've seen) are great ...

[gmoney]

13. The Cradle Will Rock

The Tim Robbins movie about government funded theatre during the depression has a pretty strong labor theme running through it. Pretty cool movie, but I gotta say The Grapes of Wrath may be one of the 10 best movies ever made, IMHO.

[Radical Activist]

18. I'll check that out.

[Radical Activist]

17. Salt of the Earth is my favorite.

Its amazing to think of a film made in the 50's that does such a good job of tackling union issues, sexism and racism, all at once. Plus, they used workers in the film that were part of the actual strike. Just an all around amazing film. Its no wonder that it was blacklisted. Its a truly dangerous movie. Matewan and Bread & Roses are close seconds.

[Rabrrrrrr]

21. Brave New World. Conan the Barbarian. Men in Black.

[Radical Activist]

26. hehe

I love the part where Conan impales the straw boss.

[Rabrrrrrr]

27. I especially loved how he yelled "Solidarnosc!" when he did it!

The correct spelling, of course, is Solidarność, but one cannot show those characters in subject lines.

[trackfan]

22. The Pajama Game

a leftist musical.

[oscar111]

23. Matewan? pls tell me of the story line

ditto, the film salt of the earth
thanks
oscar ... no relation to the gold statue.

[SaveElmer]

24. "Modern Times" - Charlie Chaplin

Suprisingly sophisticated movie commenting on Labor, Technology, the law, politics, and gender roles!

[Radical Activist]

25. I love that movie.

But it doesn't directly mention unions so I didn't think it fit in with the poll.

[kskiska]

28. Human Resources (Resources Humaines, 1999)

Director Laurent Cantet’s first feature film makes great use of his cast of non-actors to tell the story of a son, Frank, (Lespert — the only cast member with acting experience) who returns home to work in upper management at the factory at which his father toils on the plant floor. The institution of the 35-hour work week in France has brought tensions between management and labor to a fever pitch. Frank, in an idealistic effort to make things right, constructs a simple worker’s survey which is subsequently turned by upper management into an excuse for more lay-offs, including Frank’s father. Human Resources is one of the most critically acclaimed French films of the year, and also one of the most powerful.

[Wetzelbill]

30. not really about unions but "El Norte"

which is about immigrant labor.