The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War

The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War (1984) is a thoroughly absorbing documentary look at Americans who volunteered to help the Spanish Republic defend itself against fascism during the Spanish Civil (1936-1939). Soldiers, nurses and drivers; Jewish, African American and white Gentile; integrated and progressive -- years ahead of the curve in many ways. They endured a high casualty rate before being pulled out of the war just months before Franco took over all of Spain, which was in turn only six months before Nazi Germany invaded Poland.  The Abraham Lincoln Brigade (aka Abraham Lincoln Battalion) was part of the overall force of International Brigades, upwards of 40,000 anti-fascist volunteers from around Europe, the Americas, Asia and North Africa. 

Salaria Kea (Tamiment Library, NYU, ALBA Photo #13, Box 02, folder 09)

The Good Fight, wonderfully woven together from interviews with surviving members of the Lincolns as well as "supports" (vivacious and memorable characters all), archival footage, period music and narration by Studs Terkel, was written, directed and produced by Mary Dore, Noel Buckner and Sam Sills. What a great film!

It just so happens that Mary Dore (with Nancy Kennedy) has a new film in the works that I'll be excited to see upon its completion, She's Beautiful When She's Angry, covering the women's movement from 1966 to 1972. Here's a link.

Today's Rune: Gateway.