Since this documentary was commissioned by the AFL-CIO, it isn't surprising that it is a rousing, heart-tugging, partisan film about the triumphant resolution to one of the longest strikes in U.S. history. The strike began when workers--mostly culinary and hotel laborers--walked off their jobs at the Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1991, objecting to the way Margaret Elardi and her son Tom treated them (cutting wages, eliminating health insurance, etc.), embarking on a bitter battle that would last six years and four months, until a new owner negotiated a settlement in 1998. Through interviews with strikers and union supporters, Amie Williams' One Day Longer offers viewers an inside look at how such a prolonged job outage affects workers (after the initial euphoria, "the weight of the world is back on you," one worker explains). The strikers suffered harassment and attacks from drunken passersby, but they also tried to stop people from crossing the picket lines to enter the hotel. At a time when unions were moribund, the Frontier strike provided a much-needed rallying point for union supporters across the country, reminding them of what unions could really accomplish. Despite its one-sided presentation (there is no attempt to interview those from the other side, who appear as evil buffoons), the story is indeed inspirational, and it offers evidence that unions can provide much-needed support for oppressed workers. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Pendergrast)
One Day Longer: The Story of the Frontier Strike
(1999) 46 min. $49. Bal-Maiden Films (avail. from Transit Media). PPR. Color cover. Vol. 16, Issue 1
One Day Longer: The Story of the Frontier Strike
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: