The Migrant (review)

Yankee Doodle Dandy (M. G.M. 1942) b&w 126 min. The film as a social document . . . can be used as "collateral reading" for American history survey courses. Such is the case in the above film, a lively biography of the only American music composer who received the Congressional Medal of Honor, George M. Cohan. The film has several levels of meaning for the viewer: 1. a story of a self-conscious minority, the IrishAmericans ; 2. the success story of George M.Cohan; 3. a history of the American music hall and theatre from 1880 to the 1930 's; 4. the story of a man who was in love with America, thus American nationalism; 5. the use of the film for encouraging loyalty to the U.S.A. because this film was produced at the beginning of W. W. II and features an actor representing President Franklin D.Roosevelt planning his offensive against the Fascist nations. This film may also appeal to those Americans who are trying to recover the past when the U.S.A. was still in its age of innocence, and thus contribute to the current interest in nostalgia. Some viewers may agree with the three Academy Awards given the picture, particularly to James Cagney for Best Actor, and the New York Film Critic's Award for Best Male Performance in 1942. The length of the film would not permit it to be used in a 50 minute class, but in a film festival for the college I have used it with discussions following during the regular class period. (Course, American History survey) Vernon 0. Stumpf, Cambell College, North Carolina The Migrant (NBC News 1970) color 50 min. In 1960 CBS Reports presented a program entitled "Harvest of Shame" that dealt with the problems of the migrants in the United States. This presentation concluded that there is no positive program for migrants and that something must be done. Ten years later NBC News re-examined the plight of the migrant and concluded that the situation pictured in I960 had not changed substantially. In the film "The Migrant" NBC examines the living conditions, wages, working environment and problems of migratory labor. There are in-depth interviews with workers and employers that are revealling. Most owners of migrant camps would not allow camera crews to film conditions inside the houses , but the conditions around the camps speak for themselves. It is very difficult for a film of this nature to be objective and one often finds himself siding with the migrant against the employers. But the film concludes, as did the one in 1960, by proposing national legislation to help the migratory workers of America. This film has a variety of uses, from urban history courses to ethnic or U.S. survey classes. It is well done and gives a generally balanced view of one of the many problems confronting American society. (Course, U.S.History-1865 to present) Gerald R. Baydo Grossmont CollegfcEl Cajon, Calif. ...