Salt of the Earth
Seen it?1954 | 94 min | Drama, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved Gandhi, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 34 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1954: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 40K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Herbert J. Biberman
- Rosaura RevueltasEsperanza Quintero
- Juan ChacónRamon Quintero
- Will GeerSheriff
- David BauerBarton
- Mervin WilliamsHartwell
- David SarvisAlexander
- Clinton JencksFrank Barnes
- Virginia JencksRuth Barnes
- Henrietta WilliamsTeresa Vidal
- Ernesto VelázquezCharley Vidal