MovieChat Forums > The Molly Maguires (1970) Discussion > IRA influence on The Molly Maguires

IRA influence on The Molly Maguires

posted 20 years ago by movielover35
8 replies | jump to latest

Although not addressed in the film, I couldn't help but think the reason why The Molly Maguires resorted to terrorism during their labor disputes was because of their Irish heritage and the history of IRA violence.
I felt the most sympathy for their plight when Richard Harris is at the paymaster to receive his first weeks wages. He has extracted 33, 1-ton loads of coal at 30 cents a ton for a total of $9.90. After deductions for his lantern, pick, drill bits and gunpowder used in the extraction he has 24 cents left. Marvelously acted, the look on his face goes from utter joy to defiant disbelief. The veteran miner behind him fares a little better delivering $19 worth of coal and taking home $9 after mining and company store expenses.
That business practice is still common today, and I don't really think its patently unfair, unless the uniform or equipment must be bought from a company store and is overpriced, which is exactly what the mining company was doing in the movie.
I find it hard to believe this film had a budget of $11 million when Patton, released the same year, and having a much greater scope cost just $12 million to make.

[–] DalcassianKnight 18 years ago

..."I couldn't help but think the reason why The Molly Maguires resorted to terrorism during their labor disputes was because of their Irish heritage..."

Irish Heritage? Am I to assume from this statement that ALL Irish people or people of Irish Heritage are terrorists? That is probably the most ridiculous and offensive thing I have ever heard. I was born and raised in Ireland and I don't believe I have ever held a gun or any explosive device in my hand.

The reason they resorted to violence is because all throughout Irish history, the Irish have been oppressed and spit on for centuries. They have had to resort to extreme measures to achieve any sort of acceptance. The Irish miners in Pennsylvania was just another example of how the Irish people were beaten down and discriminated against. The only people that the Irish could turn to was each other. They banded together to form the first "workers union" is US history and campaigned for better conditions in the mines. They were declared outlaws and terrorists by the rich "Captains of Industry" and subsequently by society.

Read a History book sometime. Don't accept movies as absolute accurate history.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tcc0 16 years ago

The OP is full of holes. but the main one is that the IRA wasent founded until after the movie took place. yes it's very true that through out the history of ireland, it's people have fought to be independant and free, but i do agree, this does not mean that all irish have terrorists tendancies.

[–] TrevorAclea 16 years ago

It's also worth noting that many historians believe that claims of secret societies sabotaging the mines were actually largely the inventions of a sensationalist press and mine owners wanting more draconian labor laws. Exaggerating what happened was a good way of boosting both their profits.

During the British miners' strike in the 1980s there were similar rumors of mines being sabotaged by strikers in the tabloids. In reality, without being in constant use and without constant maintainance the equipment was just breaking down naturally through neglect and rust.

"Life flash before your eyes? Cup of tea, cup of tea, almost got a shag, cup of tea."

[–] lovecraftfan 15 years ago

The "stealing" of wages by the company wasnt just reserved for these poor unfortunates. The Wellingtonian army had their wages taxed for things that you might expect would be provided. The rich staying rich and the poor staying poor same thing across the globe through out history. Fat cat bosses these days over paid exec's, underpaid staff over taxed populous.

The box, you opened it we came.

[–] kairingler 11 years ago

I definitely think that the IRA had some influence on the Molly Maguires.. as far as what you were saying about paying for stuff at work,, a place I used to work at for 5 years,, you had to pay for you're hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, what a racket,, you gotta pay for you're own safety equipment,, so me being the "cheap jew" I would pick up gloves off of the floor and reuse them,, I must have had 80 pairs of gloves in my locker,, never paid a dime for mine.

are you going to bark all day little doggie,, or are you going to bite

[–] Barbecue 11 years ago

So the IRA had a time machine?

[–] rtlh1982 10 years ago

This kind of debt bondage was also found in the textile mills well into the 20th century. Rick Bragg wrote a very good 2009 book about it: The Most They Ever Had.

I once had my entire first pay check as a part-time security guard taken up by deductions for the state license fee, the usual taxes, and a pair of uniform shoes from the company store, but of course that didn't continue week after week.