Gerald Hirschfeld "With These Hands". Audio-Visual, 1950-1950
Collection Number: 6036/083 AV
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Gerald Hirschfeld "With These Hands". Audio-Visual, 1950-1950
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6036/083 AV
Abstract:
The collection consists of an original black and white 16 mm print of the documentary
"With These Hands," as well as a digitized version on DVD.
Creator:
ILGWU
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Hirschfeld, Gerald
Screen Savers
Quanitities:
0.22 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
Founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing about 2,000 members in cities
in the northeastern United States, the ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership
size, political influence to become one of the most powerful forces in American organized
labor by mid-century. Representing workers in the women's garment industry, the ILGWU
worked to improve working and living conditions of its members through collective
bargaining agreements, training programs, health care facilities, cooperative housing,
educational opportunities, and other efforts. In 1995, the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated
Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial
and Textile Employees (UNITE).
Gerald Hirschfeld was the director of photography for the film "With These Hands."
Hirschfeld was born on April 25, 1921 and became interested in photography at an early
age. He began to work in films in the late 1940s as a cinematographer but soon moved
to commercials. Hirschfeld returned to movies when he was hired by Sidney Lumet for
the 1964 movie "Fail-Safe." He would continue to work as a director of photography
on such films as "Diary of a Mad Housewife," "Young Frankenstein," and "My Favorite
Year," as well as television movies.
"Academy Award Nominated!" "Internationally Acclaimed!" "Beloved by Audiences!"
The headlines and reviews enthusiastically lauded the International Ladies' Garment
Workers' Union (ILGWU) 1950 film "With These Hand" with praises not normally associated
with a motion picture produced by a labor union. Through its history, the ILGWU knew
the importance and benefits of utilizing entertainment and media to spread their message.
The union owned FM radio stations, produced radio programs, sponsored paid television
broadcasts, and ran advertisements in newspapers. Surprisingly, the union even had
success in the field of Broadway with the popular 1937 show "Pins & Needles,"
which featured a cast of garment workers and became a hit with critics and audiences.
Hollywood and a foray into motion pictures soon beckoned the union. Previous attempts
by other labor unions to create institutional films tended to be amateurish and propaganda
that would not draw large crowds outside the intended audience of union members. The
ILGWU and President David Dubinsky wanted to change the perception of labor films
and try the impossibleto create a movie that celebrated the first fifty years of the
union while providing genuine entertainment and appealing to the general public. To
ensure a professional production, the union secured veterans in the entertainment
industry, and Jack Arnold and Lee Goodman were hired to direct and produce a story
written by Morton Wishengrad. Arnold would later go on to become a famous science
fiction director of such movies as "It Came from Outer Space" and "Creature From the
Black Lagoon," as well as television episodes of "Gilligan's Island," "The Brady Bunch,"
and "The Love Boat." Well known stage and Broadway actors were also hired to perform
the lead roles in the film. Sam Levene plays the main character Alexander Brody. Levene
started in Hollywood in the 1930s, starring alongside William Powell and Myrna Loy
in the "Thin Man" movies, and he had a successful career on Broadway as well, originating
the role of Nathan Detroit in "Guys and Dolls." Other members of the cast include
stage and screen actress Arlene Francis who may be best remembered as a panelist on
the long running television game show "What's My Line," and Joseph Wiseman, who found
fame as James Bond's first villain, the iconic Dr. No. The pedigree of the individuals
associated with the movie helped to establish "With These Hands" as anything but a
traditional labor film.
"With These Hands" premiered on June 15, 1950 at the Gotham Theatre in New York City
and played for a full month. The film performed even better outside of New York where
attendance had only been average. The Education Department of the ILGWU maintained
prints that were rented out, and locals, departments, and other unions and organizations
purchased copies for viewing. It continued to draw audiences across the country and
was very much in demand playing for union members in local theaters and for students
at colleges and universities. At a one hour running time, the ILGWU particularly promoted
the film to educators and history teachers, as well as trade union members at meetings
and conventions. Following the film, discussions often arose around such topics as
industrial relations, economics, history, and labor issues. By 1951, the movie was
playing internationally in the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway,
Austria, Germany, England, France, Greece, and Canada, through cooperation with the
U.S. State Department and Embassies and the United States Information Service and
Economic Cooperation Administration. It was well received and supported by trade unions
in the other countries. The movie later found an additional audience when it was shown
on local television affiliates across the country. "With These Hands" received the
ultimate compliment from the entertainment industry with a nomination in 1951 for
an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Feature), though it lost to "The Titan: Story
of Michelangelo." Despite its popularity, "With These Hands" did receive some criticism.
There were complaints regarding the depiction of Jews in the film, mainly the portrayal
of the bosses in the factories even though the workers were also Jewish. The majority
of the requests for censorship originated internationally in the foreign markets and
the main objections were the references to Communism in the film. "With These Hands"
was banned in India after being shown for five years to much popularity, Yugoslavia
refused to show the movie, and there were mixed reviews from both the Communists and
anti-Communists in Italy. Ultimately, the film was well received from many different
and diverse communities.
"With These Hands" opens with the main character, Alexander Brody, turning 65 and
applying for retirement benefits under the Union Pension Fund. Brody begins to reflect
on his life in the garment industry and union, taking the audience back to 1910 when
he was a cloak operator in a small sweatshop and joining the ILGWU. The early days
of the garment industry are visually documented by the crowded tenements, the horrible
working conditions of 14 hour days in the cramped sweatshops, and the employees toiling
under abusive bosses without any job security. Brody questions the policies in the
shop when his boss unjustly fines another worker and he is quickly dismissed from
his job, packing up his sewing machine and leaving the factory. He attends meetings
of the ILGWU and participates in the Cloakmaker's Strike of 1910. The general strike
began on July 7, 1910 and workers stopped, left their jobs and began filling the streets.
At its height, some 40,000 men and 10,000 women were involved to protest the low wages,
long hours, and late nights and weekends sewing bundles at home. To help finance the
strike, the film shows the union members and their families giving up jewelry, watches
and valuables, as well as the hard times the unemployed workers like Brody experienced
on the picket lines and the sacrifices their families made at home. After 58 days
on strike, the union won recognition and Brody and his fellow garment workers were
back in the shops under better working conditions. "With These Hands" continues to
illustrate historical events, providing a dramatization of the March 25, 1911 Triangle
Factory Fire tragedy in which the women workers found themselves locked in the shop
when a fire broke out resulting in the deaths of 146 young girls. The fire prompted
new safety laws and legislation. The film continues to take the viewer through the
first fifty years of the union and the changes in the industry visually illustrating
the strike of 1926, the rise of Communism within the ranks and the union's reaction,
the effect of the Great Depression and the emergence of the Blue Eagle label of the
National Recovery Administration (NRA) codes. As the events unfold, Brody works his
way through the ranks of the union. Organizing efforts spread to small towns across
the country and the membership increases. As the union continues to thrive and flourish,
Brody's working and living conditions also continue to improve as well, as he moves
from a tiny tenement in the beginning of the movie to a well-appointed apartment in
the end. The film details the gains made by the union through contract negotiations
showing how piece rates are settled and disputes resolved through arbitration under
the collective bargaining agreement. Brody's involvement in various union activities
illustrates the wide range of benefits that the union offered; the Education Department's
art and music classes and the ILGWU Officer Qualification courses, vacations with
pay and the union's summer resort Unity House, and medical care provided at the Union
Health Center. Throughout the film, Brody marvels at the journey of the ILGWU and
its members and how far his hands have taken him since he started in 1910.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Gerald Hirschfeld "With These Hands". Audio-Visual #6036/083 AV. Kheel Center for
Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5780: ILGWU records 5780 F: ILGWU. Motion Picture Films 5780 AV: ILGWU. Audio-Visual (AV)
Names:
Hirschfeld, Gerald.
Arnold, Jack.
Levene, Sam.
Francis, Arlene.
Wiseman, Joseph.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
"With These Hands" DVD
|
1950 |
Box 2 | Folder 1 |
"With These Hands" 16 mm film
|
1950 |