The LaborFilms Guide
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LaborFilms is an unmoderated, uncensored e-mail discussion group for the
discussion of labor films and the production of this Network Guide to
Labor Films. This Guide collects information presented to the LaborFilms
discussion group, and is available as a file for network access. This
information can be useful to those organizing a showing of a labor film
for a local union, labor film club or other setting.
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NO SMALL CHANGE (somewhat inaccurate and premature portrayal of role of women
activists in the Eaton's strike in the Toronto area, 1984-5; interprets strike
as victory for women (which it was in terms of political awakening for the
activists) but does not deal with the reasons why a majority of women did not
support the strike nor with the defeat of the Retail, Wholesale, and
Department Store Union, since merged with the UFCW in the US and USWA in
Canada).
WIVES' TALE (excellent in-depth look at wives committee organizing in support
of the USWA Inco strike in Sudbury, Ontario, circa 1978)
Carl Cuneo - Cuneo@MCMAIL.CIS.MCMASTER.CA
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PULLMAN: The following three films, made in the mid 1980's, are discussed in
a superb article by Janice Reiff and Susan Hirsch, "Pullman and Its Public:
Image and Aim in Making and Interpreting History" which appeared in The Public
Historian, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Fall 1989) page 99-112.
MILES OF SMILES: YEARS OF STRUGGLE, by Jack Santino, 59 min, color, 1982,
Benchmark Films, 145 Scarborough Rd., Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510. See book
of same title by same author.
PALACE CARS AND PARADISE: THE PULLMAN MODEL TOWN," 28 min., color, 1983.
Available from the Illinois Labor History Society, 28 E. Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago Ill, 60604.
THE LAST PULLMAN CAR, 53 min., color, 1984, available from New Day Films,
22 Riverview Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470. See also "The Last Pullman Car:
A Study Guide" (Chicago: Dartemquin Films, Ltd., 1985).
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WORKING FOR YOUR LIFE covers working women and their problems and struggles to
correct workplace hazards. Filmed in over 40 workplaces, the film interviews
injured workers, including a women who lost her finger in an industrial
accident and another who has asbestos-related disease. Sterilization of women
workers is discussed. Unlike many health and safety films, this one points out
that organization is one of the best ways to protect one's health. 55 minutes
color, directed by Andrea Hricko and Ken Light.
MARIA is a Canadian film similar to NORMA RAE and is about labor organizing.
MAN OF IRON is Wajda's award-winning film on the Polish Union Solidarity.
PROUD VALLEY with Paul Robson takes place in a Welsh coal mining town.
Robson and fellow workers are trapped in the mine due to a cave-in. 1939.
REBELLION IN PATAGONIA is an Argentine film about the Argentine military's
suppression of the 1920's strike in Patagonia. Directed by Hector Olivera.
1974, 107 min, color. Spanish with English subtitles.
THE WILLMAR 8 is about a 3 year struggle by 8 women workers at a Minnesota
bank who filed wage and sex discrimination charges, formed a union, and
finally went on strike. 1980, 55 min, color. For background see J. Amato
et al, "Year of the Line: Women's Strike Against the Citizen's National Bank
of Willmar, Minnesota" PROGRESSIVE, Vol. 43 (Feb. 1979), page 41.
MATEWAN centers around the Matewan, West Virginia boarding house run by
hard working widow lady Elma Radnor and her 13 year old son, the film's
narrator. Former Wobby Joe Kenehan, now an organizer for the UMW,
unobstrusively rides into town on a passenger train. Along the way he
encounters black coal miner Few Clothes, played by James Earl Jones.
Tension builds, as the Mingo County Coal Wars of 1920 develops. SMILIN'
SID, a UMW short filmed at the time, and named for participant Sid
Hatfield of the Hatfield-McCoy feud is not now available since the coal
companies stole the last remaining print. Writer and director John
Sayles, in his book "Thinking of Picture: The Making of the Movie
Matewan" (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987) includes the shooting
script and provides a wealth of information and photographs for
publicity. Also useful is Pat Aufderheide, "Coal Wars: On Location with
John Sayles" Mother Jones, Aug/Sept 1987, page 25-29 and 44-45. For
historical background see local journalist Lon Savage's, "Thunder in the
Mountains: The West Virginia Mine War of 1920-21" (Pittsburgh: University
of Pittsburgh Press, 1990). The movie was made in 1987, 132 minutes, color.
Ted Werntz - werntz@eisner.decus.org
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Suggested labor films that need write-ups include:
Norma Rae
9 to 5
Killing Floor
Salt of the Earth
also
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Rosie the Riveter,
With Babies and Banners,
I Am Somebody,
Call Me Sister Call Me Brother,
The Inheritance,
The Grand Army of Starvation,
The Road to Haymarket,
Strength Through Struggle,
Engines of Change,
Bullet Bargaining at Ludlow,
Matewan, to name a few.
You should also ask the AFL-CIO in D.C. for a catalogue and
contact some of the International unions as well. The UAW has
a number of good films for instance
Joan Hac - JAHAC00@UKCC.UKY.EDU
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Working for Your Life, about workplace health hazards
Union Maids about 3 women organizing in the thirties
Signed, Sealed and Delivered about the 1978 postal strike
Maria, a Canadian film about organizing
Black Fury with Paul Muni about 1928 Pennsylvania coal miners
The Organizer with Marcello Mastroianni
Hospital Strike was the first film from 1199
How Green Was Our Valley, made from the book
Proud Valley with Paul Robeson
Modern Times with Charlie Chaplin
Burn by Gillo Pontecorvo, about life in a Caribbean sugar colony
Rebellion in Patagonia, about a 1920's strike in Argentina
Man of Iron about the Polish Solidarity movement
And Women Must Weep, an anti-union film
Anatomy of a Lie, a response to the above by the IAM
My favorite film, other than Matewan, is Adalaid 31,
about the start of the 1931 Swedish General Strike.
This movie is in Swedish, with English sub-titles,
but much of the movie, especially the dramatic parts,
doesn't use dialog, so there is no need for sub-titles
during these scenes.
Ted Werntz - werntz@eisner.decus.org
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Other films from the Labor and Social History Project associated with
Who Built America, including their new one that just won an award,
"Heaven Can Help the Working Girl" (this might not be quite the title),
Wilmar 7 for office workers,
film on Hormel Strike by Barbara Koppel (American Dream?),
Roger and Me,
Women on the Global Assembly Line,
"American Experience" on PBS has a catalogue of films: one was
on Chicano miners, one on Geromino.
Lynn Goldfarb has a film on nurses organization and she also
did a documentary on child labor for Turner broadcasting; you
can reach her in LA (I may have her home address if you contact
me).
Eileen Boris - Eileen.Boris@Helsinki.Fi
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Film and Video Distributors
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THE LABOR VIDEO PROJECT: a non-profit project for labor education &
communication has an electronic catalog of its labor videos. It can
be reached at P.O.BOX 425584; San Francisco, CA 94142
(415)255-8689 FAX (415)695-1369 EMAIL lvpsf@igc.apc.org
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LaborFilms Access
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Access to LaborFilms is available either by subscribing via e-mail
over the Internet or by calling The Colorado Cougar BBS in Thornton,
Colorado. On the BBS, it is in the "Solidarity" section where callers
may access it through a message base like an echo or newsgroup.
E-mail Access
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Mail to: LaborFilms-Info@cougar.com to receive this file.
Mail to: LaborFilms-Request@cougar.com with "SUBSCRIBE" in the
message text to join or "UNSUBSCRIBE" to drop out.
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Mail to: LaborFilms-Subs@cougar.com to get a list of subscribers.
Mail to: LaborFilms-Guide@cougar.com to receive the Labor Films Guide.
BBS Access
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To access the BBS, call one of the numbers listed below (Denver area)
and leave a message to the sysop requesting access to the union area
of the board.
The Colorado Cougar BBS phones: 303-288-6009, 4432, 3359, 5275
FidoNet - 1:104/249 all lines 300 baud to 14.4 kilo-baud
Internet - cougar.com
Sysop - Len Wilson, IAM Local Lodge 1886
LaborFilms List Postmaster: Len Wilson Len.Wilson@cougar.com
LaborFilms List Facilitator: Ted Werntz Werntz@eisner.decus.org
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