With these hands
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | With these hands |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1950 |
| length | 52 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Jack Arnold |
| script | Morton Wishengrad |
| production | Jack Arnold, Lee Goodman |
| music | Morris Mamorsky |
| camera | Gerald Hirschfeld |
| cut | Charles R. Mustard |
| occupation | |
| |
With These Hands is an American documentary film from 1950 .
action
The 65-year-old Alexander Brody, an employee in a clothing factory, wants to retire. While he waits for his retirement decision, he looks back over his working life.
In 1910, the workers in the factories had to follow every order exactly. Alexander can't stand the circumstances and quits, which worries his wife Jenny. He attends a trade union meeting, and a short time later 55,000 workers go on strike. The strike lasts 58 days and the families sell their valuables in order to be able to provide for themselves. After the strike, Alexander's former foreman encourages union members to become politically active. Alexander witnesses a rigged election and calls for a new count of the votes. He is beaten up. Some workers fear that the unions are accumulating too much power.
The operators of the Triangle Waist Company want to prevent their employees, mostly underage girls, from talking to trade unionists. On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out in the factory , killing 146 women workers. After the disaster, the union gained new members. When Alexander's friend and colleague DeLeo fell ill with tuberculosis, the union doctor took him to a sanatorium.
Alexander served in France during the First World War. After the war, working conditions in the factories improved steadily. A general strike in 1926 initiated by the communist party ruins the union. The 1929 stock market crash left many people unemployed. The new President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the National Recovery Act 1933. DeLeo, meanwhile healthy again, is reorganizing the union. After a short time, 250,000 workers are already members of the union, which enters into negotiations with the employers.
When the union numbered 400,000, a family and recreation facility was set up in the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania . The union also looks after the health system, sets up a pension and death fund. It only takes Alexander a few minutes to sign his papers and start enjoying his retirement.
Reviews
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times described the film as a documentary praising the union's accomplishments. While these accomplishments are impressive and touchingly portrayed, they are not the stuff of successful cinema entertainment.
Awards
In 1951 the film was nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Documentary .
background
The film was co-financed by the Ladies Garment Workers Union . The premiere took place on June 15, 1950, on the 50th anniversary of the union's formation.
Alexander Scourby made his screen debut with this film.
Web links
- With These Hands in the Internet Movie Database (English)