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Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)
Mon Sep 3, 2012, 09:28 PM Sep 2012

For Labor Day: Best Union-Themed Movies

Why do we always get a day of war movies on Memorial Day, but nothing like it for Labor Day?

Movies below are in no particular order.

Note: I left documentaries off the list. I know, I know. Many great films there.


4 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
Matewan
1 (25%)
Norma Rae
1 (25%)
Silkwood
1 (25%)
The Grapes of Wrath
0 (0%)
9 to 5
0 (0%)
Hoffa
0 (0%)
North Country
1 (25%)
Salt of the Earth
0 (0%)
How Green Was My Valley
0 (0%)
Other
0 (0%)
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Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll
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For Labor Day: Best Union-Themed Movies (Original Post) Jeff In Milwaukee Sep 2012 OP
Not necessarily pro-union, but certainly good 'food for thought' today ... Myrina Sep 2012 #1
I honestly haven't seen any of those... ellisonz Sep 2012 #2
I voted for Norma Rae, mykpart Sep 2012 #3
Take this Job and Shove it taterguy Sep 2012 #4
Great Flic Go Vols Sep 2012 #5
Attended grad school in West Virginia Jeff In Milwaukee Sep 2012 #6
Of these, I have only seen North Country Nikia Sep 2012 #7
You clearly have a lot of movie-watching to do... Jeff In Milwaukee Sep 2012 #8
Norma Rae was my choice, but Bertha Venation Sep 2012 #9

Myrina

(12,296 posts)
1. Not necessarily pro-union, but certainly good 'food for thought' today ...
Mon Sep 3, 2012, 10:23 PM
Sep 2012

Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" from 1935. Based on a stories he heard from folks working Ford's auto-lines in Detroit who were (mentally) chewed up, dehumanized and spit out by the corporate machine. With a large dose of humor, of course.

Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)
6. Attended grad school in West Virginia
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 11:44 AM
Sep 2012

I'd never heard about Matewan (not the movie, which came out after I left, but the historic events themselves). The violence directed against labor organizers -- often with the active assistance of state and federal governments -- is a subject we really don't hear about today.

Nikia

(11,411 posts)
7. Of these, I have only seen North Country
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 02:10 PM
Sep 2012

As a woman, I cried through probably the entire second half.
It is probably a little different than the other movies you mentioned though.

Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)
8. You clearly have a lot of movie-watching to do...
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 02:47 PM
Sep 2012

My Advice: Quit your job and watch more television.

Bertha Venation

(21,484 posts)
9. Norma Rae was my choice, but
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 06:50 PM
Sep 2012

"Matewan" was also excellent, and starred one of my favorites, Mary McDonnell.

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