Few people outside America and Sweden had heard of Joe Hill before Joan Baez performed the Hayes /Robinson song (1938) in the legendary Woodstock festival ,the movie of which was released in 1970; Joe Hill became famous overnight and it's no coincidence a film about his life was made the following year ;Baez 's version of the song is heard during the cast and credits, at the beginning and at the end of the movie. The very same year ,two other political prisoners ,unfairly executed ,Sacco and Vanzetti ,were the subject of Guido Montaldo's movie and then again ,Baez sang the song ,"here's to you" on a music by Ennio Morricone ,which was a big hit almost everywhere (except in both the US and the UK)
"Joe Hill" owes a big deal to its principal Thommy Berggrens ,whose performing is absolutely mind-boggling,mainly in the scene of the trial ,where he demands to defend himself ,because he knows his so called lawyers are bribed and that it's a travesty of a trial .the subject of the film,too red, too "commie" prevented him from becoming a big star .
It seems that his political awareness stems from the way religion deals with poverty : the Salvation Army's canticles provide a sharp contrast with Joe's revolutionary and foot-tapping song : he does not ask for pie in the sky but a square deal for the underprivileged , exploited by the wealthy bosses who treat them like dogs ,bully and humiliate them ( the scene when they force them to kiss the American flag is revealing). Joe was a generous hero ,-the actor's boyish look makes wonders- his final testament is deeply moving ,his spirit lives on, "where working men defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill."
