Themes: Switching Sides, Fighting the System, Going Undercover
Main Cast: Sean Connery, Richard Harris, Samantha Eggar, Frank Finlay, Anthony Zerbe
Release Year: 1970
Country: US
Run Time: 123 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This grim historical drama from director Martin Ritt was loosely based on real-life events. Richard Harris stars as James McParlan, an operative for the Pinkerton Detective Agency in 1876. The Pinkertons have been hired by a major coal company to infiltrate and expose an underground terrorist organization, the "Molly Maguires," operating within the impoverished mining communities of Pennsylvania. As most of the miners are Irish, the recently emigrated McParlan is selected to pose as a new worker just arrived in the area. He quickly wins the trust and loyalty of the local terrorist leader, Jack Kehoe (Sean Connery), as well as the affection of his landlord's beautiful daughter, Mary Raines (Samantha Eggar). As it becomes clear that the group he's supposed to betray is protesting truly wretched working conditions, the lawman's loyalties become divided between the law and his fellow countrymen. The Molly Maguires (1970) was Oscar nominated for Best Art and Set Direction. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
The Molly Maguires is a 1970 film based on a novel by Arthur H. Lewis that was directed by Martin Ritt.
Set in late 19th-century Northeastern Pennsylvania, this social drama tells the story of an undercover detective sent to a coal mining community to expose a secret society of Irish-American miners battling exploitation at the hand of the owners.
Based on a true story, the film portrays the rebellious leader of the Molly Maguires and his will to achieve social justice.
The opening sequence of The Molly Maguires runs for 14 minutes and 51 seconds before the first word of dialogue is spoken. The movie was filmed in Eckley, Pennsylvania in 1969. The town was so unchanged from its 1870s appearance that the only major alteration needed for filming was to remove television antennas and install underground electric wiring.
The wooden "coal breaker" featured heavily in the film was built as a prop. It received little or no maintenance over the years and, even though it has been called a tinderbox, it still stands today — 40 years later.
The filming of the movie resulted in the town's being saved from demolition, and it was afterward turned into a mining museum under the control of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Portions of the film were also shot in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The courtroom where the trial scene was filmed is in the Carbon County Courthouse, and is still used for trials today.
A big budget movie for its time, with stars Connery (still filming as James Bond) and Harris at career peaks, it was considered a major box-office failure. Social issue director Martin Ritt would score later with Norma Rae (1979).
