The Return of Joe Hill (1990)

The Return of Joe Hill is a musical documentary about the famed Swedish labor songwriter / IWW organizer whose 1915 execution by the state of Utah for a crime he probably did not commit transformed him into a martyr for the labor movement and an international folk hero. 75 years after his execution, a packet of his ashes turned up at the National Archives. Is this mysterious 'return' a sign of a rebirth of the labor movement? Historians, artists and activists discuss the contributions of Joe Hill and performances of some of his best known songs are featured. Featuring IWW singer Utah Phillips, Joe Hill biographer Gibbs Smith, and Wobby artist Carlos Cortez. The 2012 version is restored and reedited.