The Molly Maguires
by Martin Ritt
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DVD Cover Information
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
Movie Reviews of The Molly Maguires
Movie Review: CAUTION: Not to be treated as History
Summary: 5 Stars
The spirit of the industrial boom times is captured, but not in a factual way. With some exageration, and with few facts in order, scenes from the past brought alive in an excellent manner. Totally worth owning if you like action/suspense! Sean Connery does an excellent job, as usual, as does the late Richard Harris. Rumor, with good source, has it that during the making of this film, Harris went to a Hazleton, PA bar and 'hit' on somebody's wife, and was punched out on the spot. Hazleton, PA, is also the childhood home of Hollywood great, Jack Palance.......But don't treat this movie as the gospel truth - it's not even close.
Viewed with prior knowledge of the period is the best way to go. Once again, Hollywood misfires its facts. Amid the Industrial Revolution, Irish Catholic, in addition to several other ethnic groups (the Irish certainly not the only ones in the mines at the time), worked in horrid conditions when having a job anywhere in the world was an accomplishment, wages were slim, and rarely was there enough to save. If you can justify the shootings and murders of people in order to exonerate a secret society, masked by an organization (the Ancient Order of Hibernians) that was supposed to be humanitarian - for other Irish Catholics.
This movie is not an accurate portrayal of events, but certainly is entertaining, with a very good glimpse of what coal mining was like for many ethnic groups, including: English, Scots, Welsh, Polish, Italian, German, Bulgarian, and Hungarian individuals, not just Irish Catholics. Granted, Irish were mistreated, giving Molly Maguires, who definitely existed, a Saintly Status (which is what some people want to do), is truly ridiculous. They were hanged, caught by another very similar to their own background, in a court system somewhat flawed, red-handed, at a time when few had any tolerance for outlaws and the violence they forced on honest, hardworking communities from many diverse backgrounds. Glorify the Mollies if you must, but don't confuse them with heroes in an objective light and expect to be treated seriously. Read up on it, even the local Catholic Priests condemned them by name, "Molly Maguires," making themselves targets and getting brutally beat up for it. Irish Catholics themselves considered Molly Maguire violence outrageous acts.
Summary 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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