Hollywood salutes America's working men and women on Labor Day

Besides being the traditional end of summer, Labor Day is the day to honor America's working men and women.

We won't comment on the fact that almost 10 percent of Americans are without jobs, the highest percentage in 26 years. We also won't point out that many Americans with jobs -- from the fry chef at McDonald's to the pharmacist at the corner drugstore -- will be at work on Monday.

Labor Day is still a three-day celebration often punctuated by parades (Frankfort's parade is at 1 p.m. Sunday), cookouts and, more recently, fantasy football drafts. In other words, it's a party.

Over the years, movies have featured about every kind of job out there.

Doctors and nurses have been portrayed in dozens of movies including "The Interns," "Patch Adams" and "Medicine Man."

Lawyers and judges were featured in films such as "Anatomy of a Murder," "Presumed Innocent" and "The Verdict."

Modern cowboys fall in love in "Brokeback Mountain," while Old West cowboys try to bring in the herd in "Red River."

Coal miners use violence against uncaring owners in "The Molly Maguires," while unionizing efforts are followed in "Matewan."

Fishermen face an unruly Mother Nature in "The Perfect Storm," while a milkman trades his cartons for boxing gloves in "The Kid From Brooklyn."

A young man's family sell electric appliances while he pursues a music career in "That Thing You Do."

Secretaries rebel against an uncouth and sexist boss in "Nine to Five," while a one-handed baker steals his brother's fiance away in "Moonstruck."

A woman fights for better working conditions at a Southern textile plant in "Norma Rae," while a man tries to connect with a student in "Teachers."

Here are six films available on video and DVD that are a tribute of sorts to working Americans.

"All the President's Men" (1976) -- Two Washington Post reporters (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, pictured above) work tirelessly to uncover the Watergate conspiracy that helped bring down Richard Nixon's presidency. Other stars include Jack Warden, Martin Balsam and Hal Holbrook. Also worth viewing: "The Paper" and "Call North Side 777."

"The Choirboys" (1977) -- Police officers in Los Angeles blow off steam and fight bureaucratic higher ups in this film based on Joseph Wambaugh's novel. Stars include Charles Durning, Louis Gossett Jr., Perry King, James Woods and Randy Quaid. Also wort watching: "Fort Apache: The Bronx."

"Backdraft" (1991) -- Chicago firefighting brothers (Kurt Russell and William Baldwin) battle each other as they hunt an arsonist in this Ron Howard film. Other stars include Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Scott Glenn. Also worth watching: "Ladder 49."

"Blue Collar" (1978) -- Three bored autoworkers (Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto and Richard Pryor in a straight role) get drunk one night and break into the union office and set in motion a chain of events. Also worth viewing: "Gung Ho" and "Tucker: Man and Machine."

"The River" (1984) -- A man (Mel Gibson) fights the weather, a banker and other hardships to save his family farm. Other stars include Sissy Spacek, James Tolkan and Scott Glenn. Also worth watching: "A Place in the Heart."

"Tin Men" (1987) -- Richard Dreyfuss and Danny DeVito are rival aluminum-siding salesmen in 1963 Baltimore in this Barry Levinson film. Other stars include Barbara Hershey and John Mahoney. Also worth watching: "Used Cars" and "Glengarry Glen Ross."