Sacco and Vanzetti

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Sacco and Vanzetti

A Film by Peter Miller

film still SACCO AND VANZETTI tells the story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrant anarchists who were accused of murder during a payroll robbery in 1920, and after a notoriously prejudiced trial were executed in Boston in 1927. Their ordeal came to symbolize the bigotry and intolerance directed at immigrants and dissenters in America, and millions of people in the U.S. and around the world protested on their behalf.

SACCO AND VANZETTI brings vividly to life the personal, political, and legal aspects of this legendary story through a wealth of archival footage, period art work, music, poetry, excerpts from the 1971 feature film, plus interviews with historians, authors, artists, political activists, a firearms expert, relatives of the protagonists, and readings of Sacco and Vanzetti's powerful prison writings by actors John Turturro and Tony Shalhoub.

The many personalities and organizations involved in these historic events—including the defendants, the presiding judge, the attorneys, the Italian anarchist movement, and the Communist Party—are examined in the political context of the era, especially the notorious 'Red Scare' of the 1920's, which led to the arrest and deportation of thousands of immigrants for their political views.

Although the case of Sacco and Vanzetti remains highly controversial today, the documentary marshals persuasive evidence for the innocence of the defendants and the blatant bias and injustice of the government's prosecution. In addition to its historical importance, SACCO AND VANZETTI reveals disturbing parallels to America's post-9/11 political atmosphere, in which civil liberties and the rights of immigrants are again under attack.

"Wonderful! As timeless as the struggle for human justice, as relevant as today's headlines."—Ken Burns

"A visually enticing and intellectually stimulating documentary! What better time than the present—with its concerns about foreigners and terrorists—to return to the Sacco and Vanzetti case and to ponder again the long-term consequences of de-valuing civil liberties and protections in moments of crisis?"—Donna R. Gabaccia, Director, Immigration History Research Center

"Exacting and fresh. Sacco and Vanzetti need to be resurrected time and again. Their tragic story has important truths to teach us."—Rudy J. Vecoli, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota

"Finally we have a superb and thorough documentary that gives light to the facts and feelings about this most important example of the miscarriage of old-fashioned American justice. Miller's documentary creatively uses period photos, clips from dramatic films and old newsreels to ground the words of top scholars and artists who have studied and used the stories of Sacco and Vanzetti to remind us all that historical events that become myths have many perspectives to consider. Bravo Peter Miller for doing it right. This documentary needs to be viewed by all students of American culture, and is especially relevant in the terror-driven atmosphere that surrounds all of us today."—Fred Gardaphe, Director, American Studies Program, Stony Brook University

"Vividly illuminates one of the most famous court cases, and miscarriages of justice, in American history, and effectively places it in the context of its times. It is a timely reminder of the fragility of our liberties in times of crisis."—Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor of History, Columbia University

"Brilliant!"—Paul Buhle, Senior Lecturer, Brown University

** 2006 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

81 minutes / c/b&w / 2006
Closed Captioned
Sale/video-dvd: $440
Rental/video: $125

Subject areas: American Studies, Civil Rights, Closed Captioned, Criminal Justice, Historiography, History (U.S.), Human Rights, Italian Studies, Labor Studies, Legal Studies, Politics

Last updated 09/22/2006