Earnest, as 1 commentator said? Yes. Depressing, as the same commentator said? No, no, no. It's realistic, showing what was and too often is, not upbeat with false hopes for the future, except that the perseverance of the title character is upbeat. The Organizer is one of the best, perhaps the best, movie about union organizing that I can recall. As is often the case, Mastroianni's acting is different from any other role he has played. The same is true of Salvatori and Girardot. The movie itself is far superior to director Monicelli's Big Deal on Madonna Street, which doesn't really hold up today. I saw The Organizer when it first came out in the US and later on VHS. A DVD is long overdue.

I saw this in theatrical release 40 years ago, and have been longing to see it again. It has long been on my top 10, no, my top "1" list. In my opinion it is Mastroianni's best film, and the most memorable labor film I can recall seeing. MAK-4's comment that this is the movie "Matewan", "Molly Maguires" and "Germinal" tried to be, really nailed it. However, although my 40-year-old impressions are indelible, they are no longer detailed. What a tragedy that "Divorce Italian Style" is available on DVD, and "The Organizer" is not available at all.

The struggle of the working class for shorter hours and better conditions in a Torino textile factory is well portrayed in this somewhat depressing film.....depressing because in many parts of the world the confrontation between management and workers has still not been resolved. The introduction of scab labour to replace striking workers brings the film to a dramatic climax.It's a splendid cast with believable characters giving us both sides of the eternal argument. Is a 14 hour day with half hour lunch break asking too much of workers? This is a film of great atmosphere created by the factory sets and the continual thrashing noise of the looms. When the factory whistle blows at 8 PM you share the joy and relief of the workers after a hard day. This is a documentary type drama to be seen, to be believed and to be remembered for we know that these workers and others like them put their jobs on the line for conditions that we now enjoy to-day.

Mario Monicelli's wonderfully full portrait of an early workers' strike at a Turino textile factory (circa 1890) is not only a great period drama, but a warm, if ultimately tragic human comedy in the great Italian tradition. Great performances all around (Mastroianni, Giradot, and a young River Phoenix look-a-like named Franco Ciolli, whatever became of him?) help make this labor drama the movie MATEWAN, MOLLY MAGUIRES and GERMINAL all tried to be.