In 1951, women in New Mexico took over a labor strike demanding equal treatment for Hispanic workers both in pay and living conditions. Salt of the Earth is based on their struggle and is one of the first films to explore equal rights for women.
Inspired by their struggle, blacklisted screen writer Michael Wilson wrote a script, which after revisions, was directed by Herbert Biberman. The actors, mostly member of the mine union and their families, suffered threats and attacks as rumors spread that the film crew were all communists.
This gritty, realistic film depicts the fight for racial and gender equality in a mining town with scenes that still resonate strongly with a modern audience.
Directed by: Herbert J. Biberman
Produced by: Paul Jarrico
Screenplay by: Michael Wilson
Starring :
Rosaura Revueltas
Will Geer
David Wolfe
Mervin Williams
David Sarvis
Ernesto Velázquez
Juan Chacón
Henrietta Williams
Music by: Sol Kaplan
Cinematography: Stanley Meredith, Leonard Stark
Edited by: Joan Laird, Ed Spiegel
Distributed by: Independent Productions
Release date: March 14, 1954 (New York City)
Running time: 94 minutes
Language: English and Spanish
Budget $250,000
The strike was against the Empire Zinc Company near Silver City, New Mexico.
Pay based on the time spent in the mine (collar-to-collar), a paid holiday, safer working conditions, wage differentials linked to industry-wide scales, ending the “Mexican wage” and equality. In response to negotiations Empire Zinc refused to bargain in good faith and offered a 5 cent per-hour raise while increasing the work week by 8 hours.
The union voted to strike on October 17th, 1950. The strike ended January 1952.
Violence against the female strikers included being hit by cars[2], tear gas and beatings. One man was shot.
Salaries of Sheriff Leslie Goforth’s deputies were paid by the mining company.[1] Some assaults were by vigilantes.
Marvin Mosely and Bob Capshaw were charged with assault of female picketers but were acquitted.*
39 women and 17 children were arrested on June 16th, 1951 after being tear gassed by deputies.[3]
Women “held the line” by throwing rocks, pepper and chile sauce.[4] There was at least 1 car "demolished" by protestors.
Representative Donald L. Jackson, a member of the Committee on Un-American Activities sought legal ways to prevent the movie from being made including asking government agencies how to prevent the film from being exported, and asking people in Hollywood, including Howards Hughes, how to prevent the film from being finish.
As a result of Jackson’s efforts film labs would not process the film and most theaters would not show the movie out of fear of reprisals by the big Hollywood studios.
[1]Santa Fe New Mexican August 15, 1951, pg. 3.
[2] Hobbs Daily News Sun August 23, 1951, pg. 21.
[3] Clovis News Journal June 18, 1951, pg. 1.
[4] Santa Fe New Mexican July 12, 1951, pg. 3.