"A gut-punch...The hopes and tragedies of America's working people, then and now, are alive in this film." Elliot Gorn, Chair, American Urban History, Loyola Univ Chicago

We were never supposed to know her name. She was a poor Irish immigrant who survived famine and war, fire and plague. Unable to save her husband or their four small children, she dedicated her life to saving working families everywhere. The robber barons called her "the most dangerous woman in America," but workers called her "Mother Jones."

Upton Sinclair said of her, "She had force, she had wit, she had the fire of indignation; she was the walking wrath of god." Mother Jones said of herself "I'm not a humanitarian, I'm a hellraiser." Most famously, she told her followers to, "pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living." She educated, agitated, and organized the dispossessed and showed America what it could be.

With the gap between the rich and poor growing wider by the day, the just and democratic society Mother Jones fought for is under attack. Her hour has come again.

Drawn from her autobiography, letters, speeches, and interviews, this one-shot film was adapted from Obie Award-winning actress Kaiulani Lee's one-woman play "Can't Scare Me," and produced by the same team as A Sense of Wonder with Kaiulani Lee as Rachel Carson and directed by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Ian Cheney



Grade Level: 10 - 12, Colleges, Adults
US Release Date: 2023     Copyright Date: 2022
DVD ISBN: 1-948745-99-2

Reviews "Fight Like Hell will motivate the unorganized to organize and the organized to do more!" Chris Smalls, President/Founder, Amazon Labor Union "Fight Like Hell is the untold American history of a nation built by immigrants and a working class that suffered incredible atrocities by the corporate class and had no option but to fight for the nation history books claimed we had already won. As with any story about real people, there are triumphant moments of joy and laughter mixed with gut wrenching tragedy and heroic strength in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds against those in desperate conditions. The authenticity of this film, captured in one seamless shot, is captivating and life changing. This is our untold history and it brings clarity to the existential threats we face today." Sara Nelson, President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO "Fight Like Hell is nothing short of awe-inspiring. This film reminds us that history indeed repeats itself, telling the tale of the struggles and battles of American workers. From her first line, to her last, 'Buckle on your armor. Don't be afraid. We will stand together. It's a fighting age,' Kaiulani Lee is Mother Jones." Cecil E. Roberts, International President, United Mine Workers of America "A moving tribute, worthy of the legacy of Mother Jones." Liz Schuler, President, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) "I am a long-time fan of Kaiulani Lee's portrayal of Mother Jones and this film takes her portrayal to new heights as only film can do! Fight Like Hell is a must-see for every generation who knows we must 'Mourn for the dead and fight like hell for the living!'" Elise Bryant, Executive Director, Labor Heritage Foundation