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Salt of the Earth Special Edition |  | Actors: Rosaura Revueltas, Will Geer, David Wolfe, Mervin Williams, David Sarvis
Studio: Organa
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.98
Buy New: $7.42
as of 3/13/2010 12:23 EST details
You Save: $17.56 (70%)
New (12) Used (5) from $7.42
Seller: hoy49
Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 37450
Format: Black & White, Color, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 0
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 94 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 6304863365
UPC: 013023002593
EAN: 9786304863367
ASIN: 6304863365
Theatrical Release Date: March 14, 1954
Release Date: July 27, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Based on actual events, this landmark film depicts a strike by Mexican-American mineworkers in New Mexico. It is remarkably prophetic in its portrayal of the wives of the workers and seems to anticipate the women's liberation movement that would rise over a decade later. Against a backdrop of social injustice, a riveting family drama is played out by the characters of Ramon and Esperanza, a Mexican-American miner and his wife. In the course of the strike, Ramon and Esperanza find their roles reversed: an injunction against the male strikers moves the women to take over the picket line, leaving the men to domestic duties. The women evolve from the men's subordinates into their allies and equals.
The film's very existence is the result of political struggle. In the history of Hollywood there are few films with a story behind its making as dramatically riveting as this one. Made during the McCarthy era by a group of blacklisted filmmakers who were among the best and the brightest Hollywood talent of the day, Salt of the Earth is itself a powerful and emotionally charged film. For the first time, this disc tells the true story of this troubled production, while also allowing the user to meet the filmmakers, understand the historical background and view the film on the same disc. During production, the blacklisted cast and crew were subject to attacks by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
Included:
-Documentary, The Hollywood Ten
-Chronicle of the production and distribution of the only blacklisted U.S. film
-Hundreds of production stills
-Biographies of the filmmakers
-Theatrical trailer
-Shooting and editing notes
-History and photos of the strike that is the subject of the film
-History of the Hollywood blacklist
-Congressional testimony of the blacklisted filmmakers
This is the official edition of the film, produced under license from the filmmakers' families. The digitally enhanced transfer is superior to other versions.
Amazon.com
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. It was produced, written, and directed by filmmakers who were still blacklisted when the film was made in 1953, during the anticommunist witch-hunts that plagued Hollywood (and the entire country) at the height of the McCarthy era. While the filmmakers faced misguided suspicion of promoting anti-American sentiments, the film was financed in part by the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers, which strongly supported this powerful social-realist drama about a strike by Mexican American zinc miners in New Mexico. Featuring a prominent role for blacklisted actor Will Geer (later famous as Grandpa on TV's The Waltons), the story intensifies when the strikers are forced to stop picketing and their wives take up the cause. Focusing on one struggling couple to illustrate its themes of individual dignity and human rights, the film was released in only 13 theaters nationwide in 1954, receiving a majority of highly positive reviews. Still, Salt of the Earth was surrounded by controversy before, during, and after its production, and it was widely misinterpreted as a call for social revolution. It remained largely unseen in America until the 1960s, but this boldly independent film has since been duly recognized for its artistic and social importance. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
 Not much else of its kind April 28, 2000
Christopher D. Wright (Baltimore)
57 out of 65 found this review helpful
Salt of The Earth has no equal. An intelligent and well done film with sharp political content. This is most certainly a propaganda film, but propaganda in the best sense: getting a lot of ideas out to a few people. This is one of the few films that sees working people in struggle (with the company, but also with themselves on issues of gender) as capable, intelligent and something better than they were before hand.Far from being bad, this movie shows how people in struggle can rise up against the alienation and oppression of this world. Marx said Communism is the actual movement of the working class. That means that workers' everyday struggles contain the future within them, contain insurrection in daily life. This movie is a good slice of what that means.
Spririt of America portrayed March 26, 2003
M. Torrez (San Pedro, CA United States)
33 out of 36 found this review helpful
It upsets me to see people write negative things about this movie. My grandmother and grandfather were involved in the making of this movie and appear in it along with my dad who was a child. Although I hated watching it as a child (I was forced to)I have learned to see past the not so great acting and cinematography to see the true spirit of the film. I am so proud of what they did to bring equality and safety to those workers who were discriminated against because of their race and their bravery. I am very proud of this movie as are my grandparents and entire family. I have no clue how anyone could view this as communist propoganda! I thought we had all learned our lessons from the Mc Carthy era. Perhaps I have a deeply personal stake in this movie but for me it represents everything that is American about America. Free speech, civil rights, gender equality. Strength and perseverance of the American people to stand up for what is right. I can tell you from personal knowlege that this movie is an entirely accurate account of a very important event in American history and is truly a treasure.
A must-see for Labor Relations and History students! November 7, 1999
B. Jacquez (Ohio)
32 out of 35 found this review helpful
"Salt of the Earth" is a film documenting the 1951 strike of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers local 890 against their employer, the Empire Zinc Company. Discriminated against for years, the Mexican miners of local 890 decide to strike for equality and improved safety conditions in the mines. Their wives `man' the picket lines when a court injunction prohibits the miners from picketing at the mine gates. The backlash that results goes far beyond labor-management relations and results in creating equality between the men and women that did not previously exist. The film centers on one family, the Quinteros, and how the strike effected their family from within. A nice edition for a collector. The supplemental material, "The Hollywood Ten," is dramatic and gives insight concerning the 1950's extreme fear of Communism, when ten Hollywood talents were accused of Communism and imprisoned for comtempt of court.
An inspiring film December 29, 2005
Miland Joshi (Birmingham, UK)
27 out of 29 found this review helpful
This film shows how a group of mainly Hispanic miners who are discriminated against with dangerous working conditions and unsanitary housing better their lot through industrial action. But in the process the miners also have to change their attitudes towards women, so that the film acts against several social injustices at once. The film remains powerful even though it was made 50 years ago. It reminded me of the story of a successful hunger strike by ANC prisoners on Robben Island in the days of apartheid South Africa, told in Indres Naidoo's book Island in Chains.
Highly recommended.
A very important piece of history October 2, 2002
Dr. L. Kevin Mcnelis (Las Cruces, New Mexico USA)
29 out of 32 found this review helpful
Isn't it ironic that one of the least American things that ever happened in the U.S. was the "House Committee on Unamerican Activities"? This factual movie is a triumph, exploring two different themes of workers vs. management and men vs. women. Will Geer (blacklisted) did a very good job as Sheriff. Most of the other acting was sub-par, but most of the actors were real residents of the Silver City, NM area. Professional actors wouldn't (couldn't) make this movie. A very important movie, it should be shown in high schools and colleges. It's enjoyable, to boot!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
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