Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Will Geer | ... | Sheriff | |
David Bauer | ... | Barton (as David Wolfe) | |
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David Sarvis | ... | Alexander |
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Mervin Williams | ... | Hartwell |
Rosaura Revueltas | ... | Esperanza Quintero | |
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E.A. Rockwell | ... | Vance |
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William Rockwell | ... | Kimbrough |
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Juan Chacón | ... | Ramon Quintero (as Juan Chacon) |
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Henrietta Williams | ... | Teresa Vidal |
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Ángela Sánchez | ... | Consuelo Ruiz (as Angela Sanchez) |
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Clorinda Alderette | ... | Luz Morales |
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Virginia Jencks | ... | Ruth Barnes |
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Clinton Jencks | ... | Frank Barnes |
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Joe T. Morales | ... | Sal Ruiz |
Ernest Velasquez | ... | Charley Vidal (as Ernest Velasquez) |
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. Written by Bob Shields <rshields@igc.apc.org>
This film has a rare and beautiful honest quality seldom seen to this magnitude in pictures. Made during the height of McCarthyism in the 1950s it was produced completely by a blacklisted crew and professional cast. The film itself was banned in the U.S.A. by congress until the late 1960s. The picture is based on a true story of Mexican-American mine workers on strike in New Mexico. It deals with the wives of the miners having to to step up and work the picket lines in place of their husbands who were legally banned from picketing. Many of the cast members were actual participants in the original strike and the leading lady was deported before the film was even finished. The story of the struggle to make this film would actually make a good film. Ironically the film is very patriotic and shows what truly makes America great; it's people. A strong man and woman's picture with a genuinely beautiful fighting human spirit. It's one of a kind.