Salt of the Earth (The Film Detective Restored Version) [Blu-ray]

As yesterday afternoon I had some free time and as there was nothing worthwhile on TV (yes, it is true that it was the presidential debate but I’m not a masochist) I saw again “Salt of the Earth” that I had received from Amazon a few days ago.Filmed in Silver City, New Mexico, "Salt of the Earth" (1954) is, from my point of view, one of the best labor movies of all time. It is the story of the struggle of a union of miners, mainly Mexicans and Chicanos, who go on strike mainly due to unsafe conditions in the mine, as well as many other grievances. The mining company rejects the demands of the miners and since they remain firm in their struggle, the bosses attempt to use strikebreakers to halt the strike. The use of scabs fails and then the employer decides to use local police forces and the judge to repress and arrest the striking miners. When a restraining order under the Taft-Hartley Act is issued to break the picket line at the entrance to the mine, strikers face the dilemma of end their picket-line thus allowing the entrance of scabs or to continue their picket of the mine and risk to be arrested and taken to jail. Either decision will cause the end of the strike. Then the women take the initiative to replace the strikers to avoid defeat despite opposition from their husbands. Thus women, with their children and the support of other families from other places, and despite the pressures by the employers and the repression of local authorities, manage to maintain the strike and although the film don't show it, at the end their action serves to defeat the mining company.This film was banned during the dark days of McCarthyism, the filmmakers, actors and film crew were accused of being communists and a "threat to democracy", and lead actress Rosaura Revueltas was deported to Mexico. The extraordinary about this film is that most of the actors were actually true miners, trade unionists and common people from the mining region.The strength of "Salt of the Earth" is that every time you see it you can appreciate both the moral and conviction of the rebel workers and the sacrifice of their families, as well as the prejudices and natural imperfections of workers' struggles. In these times when the labor movement in general is going through a serious ethical crisis and the losing of most battles against capital, this film help to reminds us of what is the true meaning of the labor organization and how to defend the integrity of the workers’ struggle and more important, how to preserve the dignity of the working class.The photo that appears with this review (below) is from the scene where Ramón Quintero (Juan Chacón) picks up his baby and is daughter from the jail where his wife Esperanza (Rosaura Revueltas), is imprisoned along with a large group of women accused for being the main instigators of the women’s movement in support of the strike. Although Ramón is opposed to the involvement of his wife in the strike, this time he has to pick up his girls to care for them while his wife remains in jail.

I saw this movie when I was 15 years of age, at an SDS convention in Chicago - actually, the last SDS convention ever held. Right after the convention ended (it was held in December/January...in Chicago!! BRRRR!....) the Weathermen split off. I guess Dylan was correct..."you don't need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows."The women save the day & their men, miners. Perhaps the President should watch this movie, since it is basically about unsafe mines. (Or "minds" in his case)

The Film Detectives are to be commended for finally bringing the controversial film "Salt of the Earth" to blu-ray. "Salt of the Earth" centers of a true story about a miners' strike that took place in New Mexico in 1951, and the film itself was made in the same geographic location in 1953 utilizing many persons who actually participated in the strike.Some themes examined in this film are civil rights issues, workers' rights and collective bargaining, the rise of feminism, poverty in relation to families trying to make a living wage, and many more "hot button" topics that are still being discussed today.After years of being condemned by many individuals and organized groups, "Salt of the Earth" is finally being recognized as one of the most important films ever made in the United States. In fact, "Salt of the Earth was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1992 as a landmark film.The amazing Hispanic actress Rosaura Revueltas was recruited from her home country of Mexico to play the ever-suffering wife of a local mine worker. Her husband doesn't seem to understand her desire for clean water, proper housing, and her love of the radio that they got on the "easy payment plan." Rosaura sees the radio as their only link to the outside world, while her husband sees the radio as just another financial burden.A number of mining accidents finally brings tensions to a head forcing the miners to go on strike. The strike drags on, and the wives eventually take over the picket lines for their husbands. This leads to a confrontation between the local sheriff, his henchmen, and the miners' wives who are arrested and jailed (along with their children). I won't spoil the rest of the film by telling too much, but I will say that "Salt of the Earth" comes to a conclusion that some may find both rewarding and troubling.I own three versions of "Salt of the Earth" on DVD. The first is the Aplha Video version which has okay picture and sound, but is still quite watchable. The second version is from Pioneer Video and is stated as being a "digitally enhanced transfer." The picture and sound with this version are much better than the Alpha version. Also, the Pioneer version of the DVD contains an ample and interesting amount of "special features."This brings us to The Film Detective blu-ray edition. From viewing this edition with a critical eye, I'm pleased to report that the picture is clear and very watchable. The sound is mostly very good, with a slight bit of static sound in some of the voice-over parts done by Rosaura Revueltas at the beginning of the movie. However, this is very minor and does not take away from the overall enjoyment of the movie.Decent source materials for this film are hard to find. Therefore, assembling watchable scenes from various prints and other source materials can be a monumental undertaking, and The Film Detectives have done an admirable job of it.For further reading about "Salt of the Earth," see these excellent books: 1. "Salt of the Earth, The Story of a Film" by Herbert Biberman (1965); 2."Salt of the Earth, Screenplay by Michael Wilson, Commentary by Deborah Silverton Rosenfelt (1978); 3. "The Suppression of Salt of the Earth, How Hollywood, Big Labor, and Politicians Blacklisted a Movie in Cold War America" by James J. Lorence (1999).

I bought this film because my husband's father is in the film. So really it's a family thing.

I had no idea that Herbert Bieberman had written a book about the making of the film but recently found a hardback copy at a used book sale. After reading it, I have loaned it to several people who are well acquainted with the film and the making of the film, not to mention the difficulties of making such an extraordinary film. I live in Silver City where the film is highly honored by some and ridiculed by others. It is one of the truly important films made in the 20th century.

I watched Salt of the Earth in my La Chicana course at the University of Minnesota. I remembered the impact the movie demonstrated. I enjoyed reading more about the movie.

A bitter taste of reality that is still meaningful today. Over look the stiff acting and let the message carry you along and you will be devastated that it applies to today as well as then .

was 24yr old and lived where this film was made. It is very realistic and realy shows the way things were there and then.