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Author Archives: iwwggrandson

American Madness (1932)

75m; U.S.

Director: Frank Capra

Cast: Walter Huston

Synopsis: For twenty-five years, Tom Dickson, the President of Union National Bank, has had the bank, its employees and its clients in his best interest. In turn, his employees and the bank’s clients are fiercely loyal to Tom and the bank. The bank’s Board of Directors have a different view. They accuse Tom of being reckless, especially in being overly liberal in approving what they consider questionable loans. Tom defends his loan policy, stating that money in circulation is what is needed to help the country get out of the depression. The Board will do whatever it needs to to remove Tom from his position. When the bank is robbed of $200,000, one of Tom’s most loyal employees, Matt Brown, the newly appointed assistant head cashier, is implicated as the thief, although Tom believes Matt is innocent

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2012 in Drama, Finance, Working Class

 

American Romance (1944)

122m; U.S.

Director: King Vidor

Synopsis: Immigrant iron worker winds up owning his own company.

 

America’s Ruling Class (2005)

100m; U.S.

Director: John Kirby

Synopsis: Harper’s Magazine editor Lewis Lapham investigates whether America has a ruling class or not

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2012 in Documentary, Finance

 

American Standoff (2002)

95m; U.S.

Director: Mira Nair and Kristi Jacobson

Synopsis: The Teamster’s Union goes on strike against Overnite Transportation, a nationwide freight company that has resisted unionization. The union, however, faces its own internecine battles as factions inside the organization, one led by James P. Hoffa vie for power.  Produced by Barbara Kopple.

 

Americans at Work (1959)

15m; U.S.

Synopsis: A series of AFL-CIO promotional pieces on union workers behind the scenes in various industries (Issue 28: Communication; Issue 36: Telephone Linemen; Issue 40: ICBM; Issue 42: Seebees; Issue 43: Aircraft; Issue 45: Shipbuilder; Issue 46: Structural Iron; Issue 50: Television Workers).

 

An Everlasting Piece (2000)

103m; Ireland

Director: Barry Levinson

Colin (Barry McEvoy) is a Catholic and George (Brian O’Byrne) is a poetry-loving Protestant. In Belfast in the 1980s, they could have been enemies, but instead they became business partners. Labor FilmFest Note: No real work angle here — and not recommended for a labor filmfest — other than the fact that the guys are barbers, but that’s hardly touched on as the focus is their attempts to run a small business amid the factions in Belfast during the Troubles. Definitely lesser Levinson, as well.

 

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2012 in Drama

 

An Injury to One (2008)

18m; Switzerland

Director: Paul Williams, Kristyne Peter & Anita Gardner

Synopsis: The Mexican miners’ struggle for union independence.

Contact: Kristyne Peter, International Metalworkers’ Federation, kpeter@imfmetal.org http://www.imfmetal.org

 

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2012 in Documentary, Organizing

 

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An Injury to One (2002)

53m; U.S.

Director: Travis Wilkerson

Synopsis: History of copper miner organizing in Butte, Montana.

Contact: http://frif.com/new2003/inj.html

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2012 in Documentary

 

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Anatomy of a Lie (1962)

19m; U.S.

Director: IAM

Synopsis: Refutes details shown in the film And Women Must Weep, produced by the National Right to Work Committee.

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2012 in Documentary

 

And Women Must Weep (1962)

26m; U.S.

Director: National Right to Work Committee

Synopsis: Anti-union film dramatizing a wildcat strike staged by the IAM in Princeton, Indiana in 1956-57.