The 1954 film "Salt of the Earth" was given the trailer: Banned! The film the U.S. government didn't want you to see!
Now this wasn't because of heavy sex or violence. It's because most of the people involved in it were labeled Communists for their pro-labor stance.
The film has almost a documentary style that may put you off at first. It is a sort of grainy black and white.
What's more, many of the actors are amateurs. The only person you may recognize is Will Greer of "Waltons" fame. He plays the sheriff of a New Mexican mining town where the Hispanic workers strike to gain parity with Caucasians.
The film may be more than a half-century old, but its themes of racial equality and equality of the sexes remains contemporary.
The movie is about the actual Empire Zinc Mine strike. Hispanic workers were concerned about cuts (sound familiar) in workers that could result in even unsafe conditions. Hispanic workers were paid less and weren't given proper safety considerations. Miners worked alone and there weren't proper lookouts to warn people about possible cave-ins.
To the men, there was a less-important consideration as well, the lack of proper sanitation, that is, hot water.
The women, subservient to the men, spent much of their days chopping wood to make a fire to heat water for washing, bathing and cooking.
But the men didn't want to add it to the negotiations because it wasn't as important as safety.
But when an accident happens, the men go on a long, struggling strike and things change.
First off, the site of all of those miners on the picket line kept scabs away. But still, the company didn't negotiate.
It had the sheriff's department and the judicial system in its pocket.
Rosaura Revueltas plays Esperanza Quintero, the wife of a miner. She stays in the background but when the company gets an injunction banning picketing by the miners, the women realize they can go on the picket line instead. She suddenly finds herself a leader in the cause.
Revueltas, by the way, was branded a Communist and deported. She was a popular actress in Mexico. This proved to be her only American film.
Her husband was played by Juan Chacon, an amateur actor who was part of the strike
The women proved tenacious in their quest. When the company plowed into their ranks with Jeeps, they remained stoic. They sang and chanted in jail until released.
Meanwhile, the macho men had to care for the children and do the washing and yes, learn that hot water is important.
The company tried evicting them from their homes, dumping their belongings outside. But thanks to the women, they were again thwarted.
The film was added to the National Film Registry in 1992. It went into the public domain in 1982 and can be watched on the Internet Movie Dataplace web site, www.imdb.com. Just do a search for the film.
The amateurs and professionals do a stellar job in this compelling story. You really feel like you are watching this take place.
If you are in a union and need to rally the troops, this would be a fine choice to handle the task.
In today's economic times, "Salt of the Earth" is a great choice to see what life could be like a half-century ago.
SALT OF THE EARTH
Directed by Herbe J. Biberman
Written by Michael Biberman and Michael Wilson
Runtime: 94 minutes
In English and Spanish
Not rated but has intense moments, rock throwing, no profanity
3.5 stars out of 4
WEEKENDER / Entertainment
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'Salt of Earth' banned, but you can see it
ROBERT LEBZELTER / VIDEO VIPER
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