The Molly Maguires
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Movie Reviews of The Molly Maguires
Movie Review: Roonie
Summary: 5 Stars
We live in Bangor, Pa. and love to go to Jim Thorpe, Pa. We have toured the jailwhere the Molly Maquires were hung. We are also Irish and found this movie phenominal.Movie Review: The Molly Maguires
Summary: 5 Stars
A riveting and accurate portrayal of the early labor fight in the coal mines of Pennsylvania during the late 1870s. Sean Connery at his finest!Movie Review: Pleased
Summary: 5 Stars
Good movie. I bought it after stopping at the mining town where it was filmed in PA.Movie Review: Tales Of The Irish Diaspora
Summary: 4 Stars
In a post in this space "In The Time of The "Robber Barons" And The Early American Union Movement- The Molly Maguires", dated February 21, 2007, reviewing a book about these early labor militants, The Molly Maguires, Wayne Broehl, Jr., Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Ma, 1964, I hit the high points that I want to make about the Molly Maguires and that are reinforced by this commercial film effort starring Sean Connery as a leader of the Irish coalminers in the Pennsylvania coal fields of the 1870's, the age of the American "robber baron" capitalists, their "Gilded Age". This film is also directed by 1950s "blacklisted' director Martin Ritt (director of the Woody Allen film on the blacklist, "The Front) so he has a feel for telling labor's story (and providing some very naturalistic cinematography, as well) I will make additional points about the film below the repost:
"The tale of the famous "Molly Maguires" of the Pennsylvania coal fields in the period immediately after the American Civil War is another in the seemingly endless stories of the Irish diaspora triggered by the ruthless policy of the bloody English imperialists, who come what may, refused to part with their colony until forced to by the Irish national liberation fighters of the early 20th century. One can read the Molly Maguire story as one of the first attempts in the post-Civil War period to organize an industry-wide labor union in the coal industry, including its sectionalism, political immaturity and oath-bound secrecy. One can also read it as a story of atomized labor confronted by the consolidation of capitalism in the extractive industries linked up to the carrying trade of the railroads and financed by stockholders here in America and in Britain. Finally one can read the story as a police procedural, highlighting the role of the infamous Pinkerton Detective Agency and its founder Alan Pinkerton in bringing some of the alleged leaders of the "Mollies" to trial and execution on behalf of the railroad and coal bosses. That is the route the author of the book under review has taken..."
"Another point to make is how the mainly English capitalists of the area aggravated the already existing antagonisms between ethnic groups, like the Irish, Welsh and Germans (and later the various Slavic groups) to their benefit in a classic example of capitalist "divide and rule" policy. Finally, the story points out the key role that privately-employed detective agencies, private police and ultimately state and federal troops played in bringing about the early defeats in the American labor movement (and continue to do so today as about one billion dollars a year is spent on keeping unions out or keeping them docile in the United States, one need only think of Wal-Mart)....."
Sean Connery as a no-nonsense, level-headed, driven, militant labor leader of the benighted Irish Pennsylvania coalminers works here. (Of course, he also "worked" as British super-spy James Bond, but we will let that pass.) Jack (Connery's role) tasks are not easy ones as he has to keep the younger hotheads in line, deal with the "peelers" (police), deal with planning some kind of strategy that will get labor out from under the thumb of the greedy, very greedy, coal and rail bosses who will stop at noting to break the union efforts. But most of all, and what forms the dramatic tension of the film, Jack has to deal with one James McFarland (played by Richard Harris), a willing, no, a more than willing, labor "fink" who is sent in by the bosses to round up the local labor leaders, and in the end settle scores in the only way that the "robber barons" really liked- execute the leaders. (Remember also "robber baron" Jim Fisk's old saying-"I will hire one half of the working class to kill the other half."). Well, in the end they got old Jack, but you know he fought them tooth and nail. We could use a few more Jacks and a few less labor skates these days as we fight the one-sided and uphill class struggle.
Movie Review: Good period piece with great performances from Harris, Connery
Summary: 4 Stars
The Molly Maguires was an expensive flop upon its initial release in 1970, but now over thirty years later audiences can experience what people missed in 1970. In 1876 Pennsylvania, a group of Irish emigrants working as coalminers are part of a secret organization called the Molly Maguires. After a failed strike attempt, the Mollies resort to murder and sabotage. A detective, James McParlan, is sent in undercover to expose the Mollies and their leaders, but he soon begins to side with the men he is supposed to take down. As tension escalates between the Mollies and police, McParlan must decide which side to take. I'd never heard of this movie before seeing the dvd, but I really enjoyed it. It is an excellent period piece that feels very realistic. The cinematography is beautiful throughout, from the depths of the coal mines to the green Pennsylvania mountains, and the musical score is pretty good as well. However, the movie does drag a bit with some scenes lasting a little too long, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the movie. If you're like me, you'd never heard of The Molly Maguires, but don't let that scare you away, it's a very good movie.
The movie's two stars, Richard Harris and Sean Connery, carry the movie. Harris plays James McParland, the detective working undercover to take down the Mollies. He must battle his desire to move up in the world with his feelings of respect and understanding that he feels for the Mollies and what they're doing. Matching Harris is Connery as Jack Kehoe, the local leader of the Mollies who will continue to fight for the coalminers' rights no matter what it takes. He is initially suspicious of McParlan but comes to trust him as their relationship develops. Samantha Eggar is very good as Mary Raines, the young woman who provides McParlan with room and board and a possible love interest. The rest of the Molly Maguires the movie focuses on includes Anthony Zerbe, Art Lund, and Anthony Costello, all who provide good support for Connery's Kehoe. Frank Finlay also gives a chilling performance as Davies, the police chief who wants to bring the Molly Maguires to justice, or what he believes is justice. The DVD is pretty bare-bones, but it's pretty cheap so it's a good buy. No trailers or documentaries here, just the movie in letterbox. The movie looks cleaned up, and widescreen is how this movie needs to be seen. So for a movie that has flied under the radar all these years with great performances from Richard Harris and Sean Connery, check out The Molly Maguires!