I saw "The Molly Maguires" when it first came out. A terrific film. But like most dramas based on union struggles, its critical and commercial success didn't stop it from being soon forgotten. Only Sally Field's Oscar-winning performance in "Norma Rae" saved that one from oblivion.

Did you ever see "Blue Collar", with Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto and Richard Pryor (in a terrific dramatic performance)? Another masterpiece. I saw that in Knoxville soon after it came out, with a mostly black audience. As you would expect, they were there to see Pryor, and were as raucous and enthusiastic as you might expect.

But about half way through the film the plot gradually went from funny to very, very serious. When it was all over, the audience slowly walked out, very quietly, with the words of the Yaphet Kotto character echoing in their heads. You could have heard a pin drop.

Smokey James: They pit the lifers against the new boy and the young against the old. The black against the white. Everything they do is to keep us in our place.