Salt of the Earth

This film is important both historically and artistically. It's very creation was an act of defiance and heroism. Upon its release it was officially banned by an act of congress in the United States - because of it working class sympathies and "communist" overtones. The film is a sensitive portrayal of a strike among Chicano workers in the Southwest and features a beautifully modulated performance by the great Mexican actress, Rosaura Revueltes. The gender politics of the film are remarkable for a work from 1954 as is the very direct socialist ideology. This film is a landmark in political filmmaking effortlessly tying together working class, feminist, environmental and Latino concerns into a brilliant call for radical social change.

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.

I had never worked a day of construction until the Summer of 2001. I applied, got hired, and immediately recieved rank of apprentice under the dumbest white guy I'd ever met. While I'm trying to learn maps and numbers, all the minorities were grouped together for the grunt work. I didn't know it, but it seems that there is a war between the whites and the Mexicans on most construction sites, and apparently the port-a-johns are used as the venue for slanderous discussion. Salt of the Earth is almost fifty years old. It illustrates inequality between whites & Chicanos, male & female, and rich & poor. Is it possible that fifty years later nothing has changed? We've achieved nothing as a human race. Sadly, this lack of achievement is what allows this film to have great meaning to modern-day viewers like myself. I've got a tag line for this movie: "Don't fight 'til the end. Fight to win."

Salt Of The Earth is best known as a blacklisted film made by many of the artists whose lives were destroyed by HUAC and the complicity of the film industry. While the film's very exsistance is a tribute to the determination of the artists to do the right thing and not be silenced, it is much more than that. It is also a moving film tribute to the underclass of America who suffer greatly due to injustice and inequality. The film portrays the strike of Chicano mine workers in New Mexico. Their demands, which the company took 15 months to meet, included such outrages as safety, equality, and indoor plumbing. The most interesting aspect of the film is the way in which the women of the community are forced to take a leading role. By linking the oppression of the workers to the workers' oppression of their wives, the film becomes not only a pro-union film but also a feminist one. The story is stirring, and the scenes where the women are attacked for standing by their men are unforgetable. Salt of the Earth probably has more to do with everyday American lives than 99 percent of Hollywood films. Its humane portrayal of regular people fighting for their rights cannot help but awaken the common elements in us all.

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source: Salt of the Earth

In following the story of the Hollywood Ten, I came across this excellent film from 1954, The Salt of the Earth, that was directed by another member of the group, Herbert Biberman. This is not a film that would get people rushing to Blockbuster, but, as the only film in America that was blacklisted itself, it is important for that reason, and for the story it tells. It is not an impressive film for the directing or the acting (Will Geer, who many remember as Granpa Walton, is a major star.), but for the story it tells of the greed and corruption of American business and, more importantly, it is a major statement of feminist power. This was 1954, long before bra burning and the feminist movement, but the role of the women in this film and the eventual triumph of the miners (the film was based on an actual strike in New Mexico) with their help is one that stirs the heart. As prejudice against Mexican-Americans is played out again today, it is worth it to remember that this is nothing new. It is also worth it to remember that there were many women who fought for equality long before it became popular to do so. And, while Kentucky is passing mine safety regulations in the face of recent deaths, this again is not a new issue, and many miners have died in the face of an uncaring government. I wish all would take the time to see this film. It is only 94 minutes and is available for free on Internet Archive. If you want a quality copy, you can go to Ironweed Films for a copy. In fact, you may want to join Ironweed Films so you can get your own copies of important works that are hard to find or unavailable elsewhere.

This film is a real eye-opener for many reasons. Such as... *The majority of the actors in the film aren't actors--it's their first time in front of a camera, yet they all do a wonderful job! *The film was made on a shoe-string budget with a Blacklisted director, producer, actors and writers. *The film not only addresses the real worker's struggle against a Zinc mine owner, it also deals with racism against Mexican-Americans and sexism. All of this in 1954! "Salt of the Earth" is top-notch. Both on a political as well as technical level. My rating: 10

Hey that alone says it all except for one thing. If there was anything as justice in this world, Rosaura Revueltas would get an Academy Award! Juan Chacon also was superb, and it surprised me that he was among the non-professional actors (all of whom were very good).

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.