Joe Hill (1971)

Paramount
Directed by Bo Widerberg
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

True story of turn-of-the-century Swedish immigrant Joe Hill who becomes an ardent labor activist. After leaving his menial job in New York City, he travels across the country by rails eventually ending up in California. He lives for a time with a simple farming girl but realizing they have no future together break up. A hobo again, he travels to Utah where he gets arrested and charged with the murder of prominent grocers. In the long trial that follows, he takes up his own defense but realizes his union activities and immigrant status prejudice him with the judge and jury. He accepts his sentence of execution by firing squad with dignity and becomes a union martyr. The soundtrack features many of Hill's own songs which were adopted by the 60s folk movement. There is a memorable scene in which immigrants are forced to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.