Salt of the Earth (1954)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 34min
- Drama, History
- Oct 1954 (UK)
- Movie
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:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
- 3 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Will Geer | ... |
Sheriff
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| David Bauer | ... |
Barton
(as David Wolfe)
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David Sarvis | ... |
Alexander
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Mervin Williams | ... |
Hartwell
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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
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Ernest Velasquez | ... |
Charley Vidal
(as Ernest Velasquez)
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Charles Coleman | ... |
Antonio Morales
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Victor Torres | ... |
Sebastian Prieto
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Frank Talevera | ... |
Luis Quintero
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Mary Lou Castillo | ... |
Estella Quintero
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Floyd Bostick | ... |
Jenkins
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E.S. Conerly | ... |
Kalinsky
(as E. S. Conerly)
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Adolfo Barela | ... |
Miner
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Albert Munoz | ... |
Miner
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Elvira Molano | ... |
Mrs. Salazar (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Herbert J. Biberman | ||
Written by
| Michael Wilson | ... | (by) |
Produced by
| Herbert J. Biberman | ... | co-producer |
| Paul Jarrico | ... | co-producer |
| Simon Lazarus | ... | co-producer |
| Jules Schwerin | ... | associate producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Sol Kaplan | ||
Cinematography by
| Stanley Meredith | ... | (uncredited) |
| Leonard Stark | ... | (uncredited) |
Editing by
| Joan Laird | ... | (uncredited) |
| Ed Spiegel | ... | (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Jules Schwerin | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jules Schwerin | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Harry Smith | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Dick Stanton | ... | sound (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Adolfo Barela | ... | staff executive |
| Sonja Dahl Biberman | ... | staff executive (as Sonja Dahl) |
Production Companies
- Independent Productions (present)
- The International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (present)
Distributors
- Independent Productions (1954) (United States) (theatrical)
- Procinex (1956) (France) (theatrical)
- MPI Home Video (1987) (United States) (VHS)
- Pioneer Entertainment (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Reel Media International (2004) (World-wide) (VHS)
- Sherlock Home Video (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
- Reel Media International (2007) (World-wide)
- Progrès Film (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Cobb Films (2014) (United States) (DVD)
- Organa (2001) (World-wide) (DVD) (Special Edition)
- Penteo Films S.L. (2017) (World-wide) (restored HD)
- Platina Filmes (2011) (Brazil) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- The Voyager Company (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Other Brothers and Sisters of Mine - Mill Local 890 (cast members)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Banned! The film the US government didn't want you to see! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $250,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Because the producers feared both sabotage and destruction of the film, the exposed footage had to be developed in secret, at night, by a sympathetic lab technician, with the film delivered in unmarked canisters. See more » |
| Goofs | When Ramon is in the bar, his hands change position several times between shots. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Precious Images (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | We Shall Not Be Moved See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: our scene is NEW MEXICO LAND OF THE FREE AMERICANS WHO INSPIRED THIS FILM HOME OF THE BRAVE AMERICANS WHO PLAYED MOST OF ITS ROLES. See more » |
| 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. See more » |