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SALT OF THE EARTH IS FILMED
The continuing significance of Salt of the Earth for our own time arises from its
attempt — rare in works of art in any medium — to integrate the struggles of women,
of an ethnic minority, and workers.
— Deborah Rosenfelt, author of a book about the film
Name the best-known early 1950s film with a union theme. Easy. That would be On the
Waterfront. But Waterfront was not the early 1950s film with a union theme that none other
than Noam Chomsky called, “one of the greatest films ever made…couldn't get it out of my
mind for weeks.” That would be the sadly neglected Salt of the Earth (1953).
Made by a group of McCarthy-era, blacklisted filmmakers, Salt of the Earth tells the story of
New Mexico zinc miners — and their families — struggling against their bosses for a better
life. The film is based on the real-life struggle of MMSW Local 890, which went on strike
against the Empire Zinc Corporation in 1950.
“Shortly after the strike had begun, an injunction prohibited men from walking the picket lines,”
writes Tony Pecinovsky in People's Weekly World. “Women soon replaced their brothers, sons,
husbands and fathers – an action of major significance, especially since corporate America had
little tolerance for people of color, especially women of color, standing up for their rights.”
Narrated by a character appropriately named Esperanza, the wife of a striking miner, Salt of the
attempt — rare in works of art in any medium — to integrate the struggles of women,
of an ethnic minority, and workers.
— Deborah Rosenfelt, author of a book about the film
Name the best-known early 1950s film with a union theme. Easy. That would be On the
Waterfront. But Waterfront was not the early 1950s film with a union theme that none other
than Noam Chomsky called, “one of the greatest films ever made…couldn't get it out of my
mind for weeks.” That would be the sadly neglected Salt of the Earth (1953).
Made by a group of McCarthy-era, blacklisted filmmakers, Salt of the Earth tells the story of
New Mexico zinc miners — and their families — struggling against their bosses for a better
life. The film is based on the real-life struggle of MMSW Local 890, which went on strike
against the Empire Zinc Corporation in 1950.
“Shortly after the strike had begun, an injunction prohibited men from walking the picket lines,”
writes Tony Pecinovsky in People's Weekly World. “Women soon replaced their brothers, sons,
husbands and fathers – an action of major significance, especially since corporate America had
little tolerance for people of color, especially women of color, standing up for their rights.”
Narrated by a character appropriately named Esperanza, the wife of a striking miner, Salt of the
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