Salt of the Earth (1954)

Mexican workers at a Zinc mine call a general strike. It is only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers and daughters, that they eventually triumph.

Director:

Herbert J. Biberman

Writer:

Michael Wilson (by)

Stars:

Juan Chacón, Rosaura Revueltas, Will Geer

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Geer	...	Sheriff
David Bauer	...	Barton (as David Wolfe)
David Sarvis	...	Alexander
Mervin Williams	...	Hartwell
Rosaura Revueltas	...	Esperanza Quintero
E.A. Rockwell	...	Vance
William Rockwell	...	Kimbrough
Juan Chacón	...	Ramon Quintero (as Juan Chacon)
Henrietta Williams	...	Teresa Vidal
Ángela Sánchez	...	Consuelo Ruiz (as Angela Sanchez)
Clorinda Alderette	...	Luz Morales
Virginia Jencks	...	Ruth Barnes
Clinton Jencks	...	Frank Barnes
Joe T. Morales	...	Sal Ruiz
Ernest Velasquez	...	Charley Vidal (as Ernest Velasquez)

Storyline

Based on an actual strike against the Empire Zinc Mine in New Mexico, the film deals with the prejudice against the Mexican-American workers, who struck to attain wage parity with Anglo workers in other mines and to be treated with dignity by the bosses. In the end, the greatest victory for the workers and their families is the realization that prejudice and poor treatment are conditions that are not always imposed by outside forces.

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Plot Keywords:

strike | labor relations | union movement | national film registry | zinc mine | 

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Taglines:

The Only Blacklisted American Film

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening credits: The characters depicted in this photoplay are fictional.

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Goofs

CC on the TCM broadcast misidentifies a music snippet as "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," but it is actually "John Brown's Body" [aka "Battle Hymn of the Republic"].

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Quotes

Esperanza Quintero: Whose neck shall I stand on to make me feel superior, and what will I have out of it? I don't want anything lower than I am. I am low enough already. I want to rise and to push everything up with me as I go.

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Crazy Credits

The final credits are divided into "the professional cast" and "the non-professional cast."

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Connections

Referenced in Brush with Life: The Art of Being Edward Biberman (2007)

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Soundtracks

We Shall Not be Moved
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the women on the picket line

User Reviews

Solidarity Forever!

"The only film in US history to be blacklisted."

That alone is praise!

SALT OF THE EARTH, a powerful film shot on a threadbare budget, mostly with local non-actors, was branded as "communist propaganda" during the infamous McCarthy "Red Scare" and was hardly shown in the USA when first released. However, the film was widely exhibited in Europe, where it was lauded with acclaim. It wasn't until the 1960's and 1970's that anyone in the USA had a decent chance to see this powerful work, and then only in film festivals, union meetings, or college campuses.

It is not propaganda. It is about the struggle for dignity and recognition. The making of this film it testament to that alone! For fear of destruction by "anti-communist" technicians, the film stock had to be smuggled into development labs and worked on in secret! Director Herbert J. Bieberman was arrested during filming, and had to give scene directions by letter and telephone while in prison.

The film the U.S. Government didn't want you see...now part of the National Film Registry. Consider watching this as driving a stake through Joe McCarthy's heart.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

14 March 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jordens salt

Filming Locations:

Bayard, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Productions, The International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1