Woody Guthrie: This Machine Kills Fascists (2005)
From his birth in Okemah, Oklahoma on July 14, 1912 as Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, to his death on the fourth of October in 1967 from Huntington’s Disease, Stephen Gammond’s documentary on America’s legendary political folk icon is as compelling as it is informative.
Apropos to the character of the man himself, the film is straightforward from the outset, maintaining that Woody Guthrie was not a saint and presenting itself without any pomp, frills or fancy editing styles. The documentary holds significance for anyone interested in contemporary music, art or politics. It includes interviews with Pete Seeger, Dan Bern, Woody’s children – Nora and Arlo, and is narrated by Billy Bragg.
With regard to the quote that was transcribed on most of his guitars Woody explains, “Well, you see this guitar makes me feel like beatin' the Fascists, and then that makes me sing how much I hate 'em. When I sing for a bunch of folks, folks workin', for soliders, sailors, seamen, that sort of makes all of us whip it up a little. Then we all get to feelin' a little more like beatin' 'em, and 'course if a fascist then just sort of happens to get in our way, he just naturally comes out loser. That's all.”
Jennifer Dawson
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Grading
- Story NA
- Acting NA
- Visuals A-
- Originality/Innovation B+
- Enjoyability A-
- Overall A-
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