MovieChat Forums > The Molly Maguires (1970) Discussion > one thing i don't get.

one thing i don't get.

posted 15 years ago by tcc0
1 reply | jump to latest

Maybe it's cuz i have more inside knowledge about it, but i noticed something that didnt quite add up when i was watching the film last night. The first scene in the church the priest talks about the church condeming secret societies, now first i guess we're ment to assume that he mean the molly maguires, but after kehoe and his boys bring Mackenna into the AOH, Mary re-itterates the priests words about excommunication for being in secret societies, assuming that she dosent know a whole lot about the mollies, she's probably talking about the AOH. This makes no sense to me. The AOH has always supported the church, and still does to this day. In times where catholics were not welcomed into american socitey, the AOH was called in to offer protection. This is just as true today as it was in early american and ancient ireland. So why would the church issue an endict that would condem an organization that offered it protection. could it just have bee hollywood not knowing all it's facts, or just a slip up on the part of the writers for not clarifying. who knows.

Touch my limo and i'll spank you night stalker

[–] jtbrennan84 12 years ago

The claim made then (and in the film) is that the AOH was a "front" for the Molly Maguires. To a certain extent, that was true - all 10 of the men hanged for allegedly being Molly Maguires were AOH members and, for some people, "AOH" and "Molly Maguires" were interchangeable. Some of the men charged for being Mollies were guilty of nothing EXCEPT being AOH members.

Also at the time, the influence of mine owners extended to the towns where their workers lived. Mine owners were very fearful of unions and/or any secret society that could harbor union-related activity. You'll notice during the rugby game that the priest is sitting with the mine owner (Frank Gowen) and rides off in the same carriage with him after the game. It was not uncommon at the time for the clergy to be "in the pocket" so-to-speak of mine owners. So, if Frank Gowen wanted to break up a secret society, he could just as easily tell the priest, who would preach it to his congregation, many of whom held him in high regard. Condemn the AOH and tell the people they risk damnation for joining it, and some people might decide to stay away. That weakens the organization, which weakens their influence.

The AOH then is a little bit different than the AOH now. :-)