Reel American HistoryHistory on trial Main Page

AboutFilmsFor StudentsFor TeachersBibliographyResources

Films >> Molly Maguires, The (1970) >>

Hoffa (1992)
An inside look at the union organizer Jimmy Hoffa. This is a case of violence as much outside of the labor organization as within. This film is linked to the Mollies through labor unions, although the bureaucracy was never around in their time.
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
Heart-wrenching saga about Welsh mining family enduring countless tragedies. Humanist film, though dated, it is a sentimental story about family relationships, having its relations to the Molly Maguires through its dramatization of social issues.
Matewan (1987)
Historical drama retracing 1920s labor troubles in the West Virginia coal mining town resting on the Kentucky border. It was a critical hit, sharing with the Mollies strong character development and violent labor strife.
McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)
An ambitious gambler opens a bordello in Western mining town. It is an offbeat drama painting a realistic portrait of frontier life. Mining is the thread of connection here.
Norma Rae (1979)
With the same director as the Molly Maguires, this popular, acclaimed, mainstream drama about a female textile worker who begins to protest factory conditions is a trademark Ritt film. Featuring a strong, central female character, this film is linked with the Mollies in more ways than just the director. It has a definitive focus on labor issues.
Salt of the Earth (1954)
Mexican-American mineworkers go on strike, risking their lives and livelihoods. With its stark examination of race, gender, and labor, this blacklist-era classic has obvious connections to the Molly Maguires.

See Also

Reds (1981)

Silkwood (1983)