The Molly Maguires (1970)

In the Pennsylvanian coal mines of 1876, a group of Irish immigrant workers begin to retaliate against the cruelty of their work environment.

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Arthur H. Lewis (suggested by a book by), Walter Bernstein

Stars:

Sean Connery, Richard Harris, Samantha Eggar

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sean Connery	...	Jack Kehoe
Richard Harris	...	Detective James McParlan
Samantha Eggar	...	Miss Mary Raines
Frank Finlay	...	Davies
Anthony Zerbe	...	Dougherty
Bethel Leslie	...	Mrs. Kehoe
Art Lund	...	Frazier
Philip Bourneuf	...	Father O'Connor
Anthony Costello	...	Frank McAndrew
Brendan Dillon	...	Mr. Raines
Frances Heflin	...	Mrs. Frazier
John Alderson	...	Jenkins
Malachy McCourt	...	Bartender
Susan Goodman	...	Mrs. McAndrew

Storyline

Life is rough in the coal mines of 1876 Pennsylvania. A secret group of Irish immigrant miners, known as the Molly Maguires, fights against the cruelty of the mining company with sabotage and murder. A detective, also an Irish emigrant, is hired to infiltrate the group and report on its members. But on which side do his sympathies lie?

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Plot Keywords:

pennsylvania | sabotage | repression | workers | 19th century | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

Odio en las entrañas

Filming Locations:

Llewellyn, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures,Tamm Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When this turned out to be one of the biggest box office bombs of Sean Connery's career (on an investment of $11 million, Paramount recouped only $2.2 million) it convinced Connery to return again to the lucrative James Bond franchise for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever.

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Goofs

The steam locomotive has a steel riveted cab, clearly of 1890's or later vintage, rather than an 1870's design.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Detective James McParlan: Lager

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Connections

Featured in Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Politics (2009)

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Soundtracks

Eileen Aroon
Traditional Irish Song
Performed by Samantha Eggar (uncredited) and Richard Harris (uncredited)

User Reviews

A Wonderfully Provocative Film.

Having been born and raised in the area this picture was filmed in,naturally I feel a bond to it. Add to that the fact that Richard Harris,one of my favorite actors stars in the film,and its a must see for me. Looking past that the film is riviting. Harris and Connery carry the film as the Cat and Mouse in this Coal town saga each playing to their professional strengths while adding a bit of their own to the roles. The supporting cast is just as strong,particularly the lovely and talented Samantha Eggar and the underused shakespearean actor Frank Finley.

On a personal note,two of my early mentors in theatre,J. Gerald Godwin and Jane Tomassetti have small roles in the film as the Paymaster and Miliner respectivley.

To sum it up..Molly McGuires is a film that you can sink your teeth into..and no matter which side of the conflict you find yourself on you can see what it was that drove men to do what they did.This film will not fail to keep you on the edge of your seat and make you think in the process.