This is one of several shorts and full-length films included on the DVD set entitled "American Film Archives: Volume 3"--a set of films dedicated to social causes. While the set would probably not be of much interest to the casual viewer, it is a great historical archive of American life and concerns that otherwise would have been forgotten.
This review is just for episode 12 "Toil and Tyranny", as it was the only episode included with the DVD set. Whether or not other episodes still exist, I have not idea, nor do I know where you can find them if they do.
In this film, the rich are either "spoiled" or have "calloused hearts" and consort with evil lawyers and have servants dressed almost like they should be at Versailles. They overwork and underpay the workers and are just bad. In contrast, the working class folks are good and loving. Too bad, as the film's "black & white" view of the classes help to undo the impact of the film (at least now in 2009).
In one scene, a worker takes a short break because his job at the lumber yard is so tiring. However, his nasty foreman kicks and slaps him--at which time the employee fights back. Eventually, the foreman hits him over the head with a piece of wood--severely injuring the man so that he cannot work. However, because his family needs the money, the man returns back to work prematurely. The boss, however, won't take the man back on the job. At the same time, the scene keeps cutting back again and again to the daughter of the mill owner--who is eating out with friends and acting vacuous.
Later, the employees are all told that they must work unpaid overtime--even working, unpaid, on Sundays! At this, the workers get so angry they toss the foreman into the river! So, the workers are forced to organize to prevent such exploitation and disregard--a strike is imminent. This is juxtaposed with a similar setup where the mill owner's daughter is throwing a lavish party. The scenes look very similar in structure and composition--a very clever idea.
When the men go on strike, the employees and their families are thrown out of their homes--whose mortgage the mill owner holds. Additionally, the wife of the poor fired man wastes away and dies. In a surprising twist, the once-spoiled mill owner's daughter sees what is happening and her heart is touched. So, she talks to her father about this but he'll have none of it--the workers, in his mind, are unimportant and are simply there for his use. The widower, in his grief, obtains a gun and goes off to make the boss pay!! While this all must seem very preachy today, in light of how conditions at some companies were at the time, the drama has a lot of truth to it and is a reasonable indictment of the evils of power(s) unchecked. It manages to make its point well for 1915---melodrama and all.
By the way, in a not so subtle move, the mill owner's name was "Mr. Powers".
This review is just for episode 12 "Toil and Tyranny", as it was the only episode included with the DVD set. Whether or not other episodes still exist, I have not idea, nor do I know where you can find them if they do.
In this film, the rich are either "spoiled" or have "calloused hearts" and consort with evil lawyers and have servants dressed almost like they should be at Versailles. They overwork and underpay the workers and are just bad. In contrast, the working class folks are good and loving. Too bad, as the film's "black & white" view of the classes help to undo the impact of the film (at least now in 2009).
In one scene, a worker takes a short break because his job at the lumber yard is so tiring. However, his nasty foreman kicks and slaps him--at which time the employee fights back. Eventually, the foreman hits him over the head with a piece of wood--severely injuring the man so that he cannot work. However, because his family needs the money, the man returns back to work prematurely. The boss, however, won't take the man back on the job. At the same time, the scene keeps cutting back again and again to the daughter of the mill owner--who is eating out with friends and acting vacuous.
Later, the employees are all told that they must work unpaid overtime--even working, unpaid, on Sundays! At this, the workers get so angry they toss the foreman into the river! So, the workers are forced to organize to prevent such exploitation and disregard--a strike is imminent. This is juxtaposed with a similar setup where the mill owner's daughter is throwing a lavish party. The scenes look very similar in structure and composition--a very clever idea.
When the men go on strike, the employees and their families are thrown out of their homes--whose mortgage the mill owner holds. Additionally, the wife of the poor fired man wastes away and dies. In a surprising twist, the once-spoiled mill owner's daughter sees what is happening and her heart is touched. So, she talks to her father about this but he'll have none of it--the workers, in his mind, are unimportant and are simply there for his use. The widower, in his grief, obtains a gun and goes off to make the boss pay!! While this all must seem very preachy today, in light of how conditions at some companies were at the time, the drama has a lot of truth to it and is a reasonable indictment of the evils of power(s) unchecked. It manages to make its point well for 1915---melodrama and all.
By the way, in a not so subtle move, the mill owner's name was "Mr. Powers".
