Fresh
Salt of the Earth is a good, highly dramatic and emotion-charged piece of work that tells its story straight. It is, however, a propaganda picture which belongs in union halls rather than theatres.
Variety Staff, Variety
Salt of the Earth
At last, an honest movie about American working people
1954 · 1h 34m · Not Rated
Drama, History
Directed by
Herbert J. Biberman
Overview
At New Mexico's Empire Zinc mine, Mexican-American workers protest the unsafe work conditions and unequal wages compared to their Anglo counterparts. Ramon Quintero helps organize the strike, but he is shown to be a hypocrite by treating his pregnant wife, Esperanza, with a similar unfairness. When an injunction stops the men from protesting, however, the gender roles are reversed, and women find themselves on the picket lines while the men stay at home.
Director and cast
- Herbert J. Biberman Director
- Rosaura Revueltas as Esperanza Quintero
- David Wolfe as Barton
- Juan Chacón as Ramon Quintero
- Will Geer as Sheriff
- David Bauer as Barton
- Mervin Williams as Hartwell
- David Sarvis as Alexander
- Clinton Jencks as Frank Barnes
- Virginia Jencks as Ruth Barnes
- Henrietta Williams as Teresa Vidal
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
100%
Tomatometer
Fresh
The hard-focus, realistic quality of the picture's photography and style completes its characterization as a calculated social document.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Fresh
This is pretty amazing.
Time Out
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