Oct 06, 2015 watch classic movie salt of the earth is a 1954 american drama film written by michael wilson, directed by herbert j. Salt of the earth not rated 1h 34min drama, history 14 march 1954 usa mexican workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. The drama film salt of the earth 1954 is a classic movie about the efforts to organize labor in the mining industry of the south west and the struggles against racism and for genderequality connected with it. Jul 26, 2014 salt of the earth, 1954 by deborah rosenfelt this year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the film salt of the earth.
Social realist film from blacklisted artists, michael wilson, paul jarrico, and herbert biberman november 26, 2006 by emanuellevy one of the most daring social problem films, salt of the earth is based on a reallife labor strike, using the miners as actors. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title salt of the earth. For years salt of the earth was reduced to an organizing tool at labor rallies in southwestern mining camps. According to linda gross the film was called subversive and blacklisted because it was sponsored by the international union of mine, mill and. The drama film is one of the first pictures to advance the feminist social and political point. Hats off to fellow hoosier will geer life long activist for union and gay rights. It was produced, written, and directed by filmmakers who were still blacklisted when the film was made in 1953, during the anticommunist witchhunts that plagued hollywood and the entire.
Salt of the earth adalah sebuah film drama amerika 1954 yang ditulis oleh michael wilson, yang digarap oleh herbert j. Salt of the earth is a 1954 american drama film written by michael wilson, directed by herbert. It reminds us, if we needed it, how much we owe to the unions who fought hard to get the benefits and working conditions that so many of us now take for granted. 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. Even so salt of the earth, is actually one of the best known films in the world. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. That is, until the 1970s, when it surfaced as a focus for interest in mexicanamerican history, womens studies, film courses, cold war hysteria, and labor studies. With a story based on an actual strike in southwestern new mexico, the film represents the struggles of working class miners and their families for decent wages and working and living conditions. Banned at the time of its initial release and made by blacklisted filmmakers, this bold, radical film tells the story of. Its plot centers on a long and difficult strike, based on the 1951 strike against the empire zinc company in grant county, new mexico. Biberman, with will geer, david wolfe, david sarvis, at turner classic movies. It certainly helps your enjoyment of the film if you share its beliefs, especially since the. Top row, left to right those with speaking roles in the film in bold.
This premise leads us into our next filmic spotlight, the 1954 drama salt of the earth, one of the most controversial films in american cinematic. Media in category salt of the earth film the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. This film was produced by paul jarrico, directed by herbert biberman, and written by michael wilson with music by sol kaplan, all of whom were blacklisted. Bieberman, written by michael wilson, and produced by paul jarrico. Mar 04, 2003 salt of the earth was so thoroughly suppressed on its release in 1954 that some film historians call it the only blacklisted american movie. With the exception of five actors including future waltons. This of course doesnt take into account certain foreign films like battleship potemkin, that also were essentially blacklisted in the same way. Without wishing to condone the political attitudes of the time, it is to a degree understandable why this was the case as the film is one of the most impressive pieces of agitprop drama imaginable. Gianvito contrasts the film with another film from 1954 on the. Bieberman, written by michael wilson, and produced by paul jarrico it is a dramatization of a real miners strike in new mexico. Salt of the earth 1954 is an american drama film written by michael wilson, directed by herbert j. Made at the height of hollywoods anticommunist hysteria, salt of the earth was the most unabashedly leftist american film of the 1950s. Mar 10, 2014 in later years, producer jarrico would tell interviewers that salt of the earth was the only american film to get an official release in china between 1950 and 1979.
All had been blacklisted by the hollywood establishment due to their alleged involvement in communist politics. Based on collaboration between the zinc miners whose experiences inspired the film and blacklisted hollywood talent, it serves as both a rallying call for racial. As a result, salt of the earth seems even fresher and more pertinent now than it did when given its extremely limited first release in 1954. Biberman with juan chacon, will geer, rosaura revueltas, mervin williams, year. In later years, producer jarrico would tell interviewers that salt of the earth was the only american film to get an official release in china between 1950 and 1979. Sep 25, 2009 salt of the earth 1954 is somewhat of a rarity in american cinema. Presented by the international union of mine, mill and smelter workers and the. Ana elizabeth rosas, university of california, irvine, considers the intergenerational and gendered underpinnings of midtwentiethcentury latinx labor activism in u. With juan chacon, rosaura revueltas, will geer, david wolfe. Salt of the earth 1954 cast and crew at new mexicos empire zinc mine, mexicanamerican workers protest the unsafe work conditions and unequal wages compared to their anglo counterparts. Freed of the strictures of hollywood pussyfooting and censorship, the films auteurs are able to explore several subjects previously considered taboo. Esperanza and ramon quintero are a married couple living in the company town of zinc mine. Salt of the earth, 1954 by deborah rosenfelt this year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the film salt of the earth.
The united states house of representatives denounced it, the fbi investigated the films finances, the american legion called for its boycott and only 12 cinemas in the whole of america dared to screen it. One of the most daring social problem films, salt of the earth is based on a reallife labor strike, using the miners as actors. With all the human right protest in the middle east i am apalled that 57 years after the this film, america is regressing backwards. It is only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly the indomitable resolve of their wives. Mexican workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the movie is that it was made at all. I have just modified 3 external links on salt of the earth 1954 film. The united states house of representatives denounced it, the fbi investigated the film s finances, the american legion called for its boycott and only 12 cinemas in the whole of america dared to screen it.
In 1954, the film was only exhibited in about a dozen theatres nationwide. Gianvito contrasts the film with another film from 1954. The film salt of the earth 1954 chronicled a 195052 strike by hanover, new mexico zinc miners, members of local 890 of the international union of mine, mill, and smelter workers. Based on an actual strike against the empire zinc mine in new mexico, the film deals with the prejudice against mexicanamerican workers. Salt of the earth 1954 is somewhat of a rarity in american cinema. Salt of the earth centers on a long, difficult workers strike against a mining company in new mexico.
Salt of the earth 1954 film pop culture wiki fandom. Salt of the earth is a 1954 american drama film written by michael wilson, directed by herbert j. It is often described as the only film bannedblacklisted in the united states. Cameron university to examine 1954 film salt of the earth. One of the most daring social problem films, salt of the earth is based on a real life labor strike, using the miners as actors. Though it cannot help but lapse into dogma and didactics at times, salt of the earth is a powerful, persuasive labormanagement drama. All had been blacklisted by the hollywood establishment due. Salt of the earth premiered in new york city in march 1954, and was met warmly by critics. Salt of the earth is a 1954 independent film directed by herbert j. Salt of the earth is a movie about new mexico zinc miners and their struggle to improve working conditions.
After much persuasion he agreed to host the films opening. On march 14, 1954, the film salt of the earth premiered at the 86th street grande theatre, the only theater in new york city that would show the film. All had been blacklisted by the hollywood establishment due to their involvement in socialist politics. Salt of the earth is being shown at the ica, london sw1 on 12 march at 6.
Based on the true events of the empire zinc strike of 195152 in new mexico, salt of the earth tells the story of striking miners, mostly mexican americans, in their fight for not only economic but also racial and gender justice. Watch classic movie salt of the earth is a 1954 american drama film written by michael wilson, directed by herbert j. It is only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers and daughters, that they eventually triumph. Nov 27, 2011 salt of the earth was the film that suffered most at the hands of the mccarthyist witch hunts that were doing the rounds in early fifties america. It is a dramatization of a real miners strike in new mexico. A union of mostly mexicanamerican mine workers goes on strike and gets help from the women. Semuanya dimasukkan daftar hitam oleh hollywood karena tuduhan keterlibatan mereka dalam politik komunis. To be fair, salt of the earth faced a similar hard right meltdown upon its release in 1954 when it was effectively blacklisted. Salt of the earth is a strong film, but its clear why its not one of the icons of the 50s. Watch salt of the earth 1954 full movie free online.
Jan 20, 2014 shot on a shoestring budget in black and white, with many of the nonprofessional actors miners themselves, salt of the earth is one of the most important films of the early 1950s. Using local people to reenact their experiences, biberman once more found. Salt of the earth was so thoroughly suppressed on its release in 1954 that some film historians call it the only blacklisted american movie. Salt of the earth 1954 i recently watched this powerful film that i heard about on a podcast on latino usa. Biberman is on full display here, and his decision to use local. Set in a new mexico mining town, the film concerns the measures taken by the largely hispanic union to improve working and especially living. Freed of the strictures of hollywood pussyfooting and censorship, the film s auteurs are able to explore several subjects previously considered taboo. Palestinian christians in the northern west bank, a 2004 documentary short series the salt of the earth 2014 film, a documentary music edit. In new york city the production found a theater owner whose projectionists belonged to a different union. The ending of the film is upbeat and everybody ive suggested to have a look has found film a delightful surprise. Salt of the earth the 1954 film salt of the earth explores a wide variety of social issues that would come to the forefront of social conscience in the coming decades. The drama film is one of the first pictures to advance the feminist social and political point of view. The film also brings to the fore the major but often. The cameron university department of communication, english and foreign languages will present guest speaker scott baugh, who will examine the rarely seen film in a lecture titled salt of the earths indivisibility of equality.
If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple faq for additional information. Salt of the earth film 1954 wikipedia bahasa indonesia. Included in the prestigious national film registry of the library of congress, salt of the earth represents a milestone in the history of american movies. Salt of the earth the blacklisted 1954 film will serve as a springboard for a conference at the college of santa fe that explores issues pertinent to today. Read the full synopsis of salt of the earth, 1954, directed by herbert j. Salt of the earth was the film that suffered most at the hands of the mccarthyist witch hunts that were doing the rounds in early fifties america. Demonised and hounded off screen on its release, salt of the earth, released. The script was written by michael wilson, and the film was directed by. Shot on a shoestring budget in black and white, with many of the nonprofessional actors miners themselves, salt of the earth is one of the most important films. Here, local 890 activists gather at a national convention in 1953. Not many people remember the 1954 film salt of the earth, a lowbudget account of a mining strike in new mexico.
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