That this movie was banned in America says much about America in the fifties. That this movie is still novel and misunderstood speaks volumes concerning America today. For example, most who watch this movie will never ask themselves why is law enforcement monitoring the strikers. Law enforcement almost always takes a position in favor of management over the workers. I'm not talking about the unlawful action of the two cops in the back of the car but of the original stance of the police from the beginning at the picket line. That it just seems natural that they acted the way they did is a fault in you and me. Further, many will look at the movie in disgust as it shows the big mean corporation as the villain. But the movie accurately portrays the actions of management in this incident. Like it or not this is how management is and ever more will be. Management today is more sophisticated with its use of public relations but essentially the same now as then.
Finally to readers of a more conservative view, I ask. If the strikers are guilty of disrespect of the property rights of the owners by picketing, would you not feel that the company was criminally culpable of injuring the miner who was carried out of the mine?
I have not seen a more realistic portrayal of the subject matter in any film made at any time. Still many people cannot see this movie as their prejudice blinds them to the subject. That only makes the movie greater in my opinion.
Finally, the actress who so skillfully portrayed Esperanza was deported back to Mexico and never played another role in a film in the US. At a time when Nixon was over in the USSR showing how much better the American way was than the communist way we were acting no more open to ideas than than they were behind the iron curtain. How much more proof is required to show that this movie was needed in America at the time of its banning. We need it just as much now.
Finally to readers of a more conservative view, I ask. If the strikers are guilty of disrespect of the property rights of the owners by picketing, would you not feel that the company was criminally culpable of injuring the miner who was carried out of the mine?
I have not seen a more realistic portrayal of the subject matter in any film made at any time. Still many people cannot see this movie as their prejudice blinds them to the subject. That only makes the movie greater in my opinion.
Finally, the actress who so skillfully portrayed Esperanza was deported back to Mexico and never played another role in a film in the US. At a time when Nixon was over in the USSR showing how much better the American way was than the communist way we were acting no more open to ideas than than they were behind the iron curtain. How much more proof is required to show that this movie was needed in America at the time of its banning. We need it just as much now.