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Native Land

Play trailer Poster for Native Land 1942 1h 20m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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A U.S. Senate investigation is the unlikely source material for this docudrama, which weaves together news coverage and lengthy reenactments of attacks on labor organizing during the Great Depression. The stories include that of a stool pigeon (Howard da Silva) spying on a union, a black sharecropper (Louis Grant) and a white sharecropper (Houseley Stevenson) murdered after seeking a raise and a farmer (Fred Johnson) assaulted for speaking up at a public meeting. Paul Robeson narrates and sings.

Critics Reviews

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Bosley Crowther New York Times Manifestly, this is one of the most powerful and disturbing documentary films ever made, and certainly it will provoke much thought and controversy. Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader If you subscribe, as I do, to the notion that the most "dated" films are often the ones that have the most to teach us about their respective periods, you shouldn't miss this singular work. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review TV Guide Based on US Senate Civil Liberties Commission records and other public documents, this is American propaganda at its finest. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 19, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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walter m "Native Land" is a rousing call to action, featuring dramatized vignettes of true stories of those who risked everything to fight for their right to freedom of speech in organizing labor against big business during the Great Depression. Of special interest is the fact that the movie does not stop there, as it is also for an integrated brotherhood, open to all, while also warning about the dangers of the terrorist Ku Klux Klan. As you can see, "Native Land" is a movie that is well ahead of its time that goes beyond the accomplished way it is filmed with more than its fair share of suspenseful scenes. And as much as things have changed for the better in the decades since this movie was made, it is still relevant today as unions can still be important in this day and age where most of the workers are unorganized and issues like a working wage and health care remain paramount. Plus, Paul Robeson narrates and sings. How cool is that! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Historically important, dated, but with a theme that is still pertinent today. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member interesting semi-documentary. its on the far left end, politically, especially for the time. some beautiful photography. but its very skewed in one direction, even if they do it the the service of good ideas (civil rights and such). Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member A total piece of "FEAR THE AUTHORITIES" propaganda. The totally disjointed composition keeps you from getting attached to any of the bit-part characters, and it has a crummy downer ending that's totally uninspiring. You're not missing much if you skip this. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Native Land

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Cast & Crew

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Leo Hurwitz

Director

Paul Strand

Director

Art Smith

Harry Carlyle

James Hanney

Mack

Fred Johnson

Fred Hill

Mary George

Hill's Wife
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Native Land

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Movie Info

Synopsis A U.S. Senate investigation is the unlikely source material for this docudrama, which weaves together news coverage and lengthy reenactments of attacks on labor organizing during the Great Depression. The stories include that of a stool pigeon (Howard da Silva) spying on a union, a black sharecropper (Louis Grant) and a white sharecropper (Houseley Stevenson) murdered after seeking a raise and a farmer (Fred Johnson) assaulted for speaking up at a public meeting. Paul Robeson narrates and sings.
Director
Leo Hurwitz, Paul Strand
Screenwriter
Leo Hurwitz, Ben Maddow, Paul Strand
Production Co
Frontier Pictures
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 20m