It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Seeing how the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book has been really reliable with film choices, this was another one I was looking forward to trying. Based on the true events, this is about the strike against the Empire Zinc Company mine in New Mexico in 1953, dealing with prejudice against the Mexican-American workers and safety issues. Begun by Ramon Quintero (Juan Chacón, it started first with miners themselves demanding the changes, but with them being treated like second class, the wives get involved too. Roman's wife Esperanza (Rosaura Revueltas, also narrating) who, three months pregnant, was part of the large amount of women, the miners wives, playing a vital part in the strike, against their husbands wishes. In the end, they may not have won the strike, and the wives convince them to drop it, but they realise that prejudice and poor treatment aren't always imposed by outside forces. Also starring Will Geer as Sheriff, David Wolfe as Barton, Mervin Williams as Hartwell, David Sarvis as Alexander, Henrietta Williams as Teresa Vidal and William Rockwell as Kimbrough. This film I read made a big impact in the political and journalistic establishments, and developed a cult following, I can see why that would be, it is a good drama. Very good!

This propaganda film - and that is what it is, and that is not meant as a slight, it is what it is - takes an amazingly even-handed approach to the events surrounding a long strike in New Mexico during the 1950s. The politics remain relevant today for union workers and so forth, but for the larger audience, it also is a superb study in real human dynamics. There are mildly annoying aspects put in for dramatic effect - the strikers' wives are portrayed as a bit too noble and confrontational at times, the company men a bit too evil, the miners themselves as a bit too helpless and uncaring - but this still is one of the best studies of real human reactions to a difficult situation.It is inevitable that things break down into an us-versus-them battle, and that is the film's greatest weakness. Once the striking miners are prohibited by court order from picketing, the women all too willingly take their places. This causes all sorts of power shifts within families, portrayed well by the Quintero family played by Ramon Chacon and Rosaura Revueltas. So we get some healthy servings of "this is my life, see how you like it" from the women, causing the idle workers to re-examine their attitudes toward women and their jobs and their lives. Of course, there is the larger power imbalance between the striking workers and the mining company, summarized by Chacon's repeated observation that it is necessary to look at the "larger picture." The human dynamics spiral out of control to the point where it is unclear how Ramon Quintero really feels about developments, as he turns to drink and observes that the women "Won't listen to a man any more." But, of course, everything turns out fine in the end for the workers, as we all knew from the beginning it had to, after everyone has learned some hard lessons.The feminist subplot, though, is interesting but essentially a sideshow, put aside immediately once the strike is won and the workers get what they really want. The meat of the story is the confrontation between the poor locals and the authorities. That the outcome remains in doubt until the end of the film is a testament to the skill and craft of the makers of this film, including numerous non-professional actors. There are clear implications of mass power, with the sheriff's men repeatedly stymied by the sheer numbers of the workers and their families. If you want to read "Communism" into that, well, that's a perfectly reasonable implication, though certainly not the only one.The politics are clear, and there is no doubt about the motivations of those who made the film, but the message is kept as subtle as possible. There was no need to ban the film, that was sheer over-reaction. For what it is, you will probably not find a better examination of the human dynamics behind the struggle of workers for a better life.

The vast majority of fans who have commented on "Salt of the Earth" have given the film a high rating and unusually enthusiastic plaudits. I'm going to go out on a limb and offer a quite different view. The reason for my iconoclasm is easy to explain."Salt of the Earth" is, simply, a very bad movie.One cannot deny that the issues raised in the film are worthy of cinematic treatment. However, in this case the good guys and the bad guys are hopeless caricatures. I'm somewhat surprised that the evil landowners are not wearing stovepipe black hats while twisting long, waxed moustaches in their fat fingers as they mock the poor but righteous workers. Come on! This is cartoon stuff.It is not unusual in politics for each side to spread totally false and slanderous visions of their opponents. But that's just the trouble with "Salt of the Earth. ' It's political propaganda, not honest cinema. Ultimately, by portraying one side as good, fine, and noble, and the other as the essence of evil, one fails to convince. It's not a good strategy to insult the intelligence of the viewer. That, unfortunately, is just what this film does, no matter how well intentioned it may have been.The makers of this film were struggling against the foolish Hollywood Blacklist. One can understand their bitterness and anger. It's too bad, however, that they could not have fashioned a less stereotyped script, one that portrayed all characters as real people and not stock props out of the left-wing playbook. But, one must also remember that there were plenty on the left in those days who were still apologizing for the Stalinist regime. Perhaps I am expecting too much from people caught up in the bitter political battle of those days. Certainly Hollywood turned out its share of films that stereotyped the left.Finally, I find the level of acting in "Salt of the Earth" to be weak even when compared with the typical Hollywood B movie of the 1940s and early 1950s.As I said, mine appears to be a minority opinion with respect to this particular film. I will stand by that opinion nonetheless.

Certainly we want to like this movie that portrays a real struggle in New Mexico against economic and racial oppression. And certainly if you are in some way connected to that area, then it would be meaningful. However, the script is not well written and instead of bringing inspiration and originality to a subject that certainly deserved such treatment, it falls back on the usual clichés and tired slogans of a union organizing pamphlet. I don't know the history of this film, but it seems that the producers of the film tried to use non-professional actors to five the film more authenticity. However, instead of bringing a sense of reality to the film, their acting is so wooden that you end up feeling embarrassed for the actors, who are obviously well intentioned. While the Italian neo-realists were able to do wonderful things with non-professionals, the director of this film did not seem to be up to the task.The film is interesting from a historical and a cultural perspective. The fact that it was banned is also compelling. However, the artistic values of the film are so poor that it makes for difficult viewing. A pity - it is a powerful subject - but it was treated badly.