"Salt of the Earth" is a film about Zinc Town, New Mexico, based on the true story of the Mexican-American and Anglo inters strike that took place in opposition to Empire Zinc. The film was sponsored by the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, which had been denounced by other unions because it was dominated by communists.
The film tells the story of miner's seeking higher wages, safer working conditions, and eventually good living conditions, like running water and heat. It begins with the men desiring better wages, and putting this desire above their wives wishes for basic indoor plumbing. When it is the women, however, who continue the strike while their husbands must stay home and play the domestic figure, the men realize that they need to hold their wives desires as highly as their own.
The film was made by blacklisted members of Hollywood, including Director Herbert J. Biberman, who spend 6 months in jail after being an "unfriendly witness" at the McCarthy hearings, writer Michael Wilson, and Producer Paul Jarrico. The blacklisted filmmakers faced many obstacles while filming "Salt of the Earth", including the deportation of their lead actress, Rosaura Revueltas, who never worked again. There were gunshots fired at the set by anti-communist citizens, and a loud plane flew over head from time to time. The editing was difficult because places were told not to process the film, and it had to be stored in a shack in Los Angles for safe keeping. Unionized projectionists, ironically enough, were told not to show the film, resulting in only thirteen theaters screening the finished product.
Since it's release, "Salt of the Earth" has become a cult classic. It appeals to union workers, as well as feminists and leftist. At the time of its release the film gained a lot of respect in Europe, and continues to hold the same respect. It was also shown in Czechoslovakia as an anti-American propaganda tool, aimed at showing the citizens that America was cruel. Instead, the Czechoslovakians were intrigued by the fact that the mine workers had their own cars to drive to the strike, and that the American government did not use force to silence the miners on strike.
I found a few things interesting about the story of "Salt of the Earth". The fact that most of the press accepted the governments denouncement of the film and hoped on the McCarthy bandwagon astounds me. In todays society the media is always pointing out the mistakes of the government, and the fact that during this era the government had so much power that it was able to sway the media's opinion, proves how strong the fear against the communism became under the propaganda of Senator McCarthy. Even more interesting, I think, is that some new organizations, like the New York Times, were brave enough to give the film good reviews in in spite of the fear the government had instilled.
Bernard Levin raises an interesting question in "Taken with a large does of salt/ Focus on the political film 'The Salt of the Earth'", when he asked, "who is to blame, the liars or the lied to?" I feel like this is an interesting thought because in the end, it's hard to blame one group. Liars should have more compassion for their fellow man than to lie to him for any reason, especially one that seeks power. The lied too, however, should respect themselves enough to ask questions and seek the truth.
In that same article, Levin points out a theme in the film, "the worst that can happen to us is for us to get what we asked for". Again, this is an interesting idea. It blatantly implies that while we may know what we desire, we may not understand what we should ask for in order to get it. It balances the need that people have to be governed, because while some people are great leaders and policy makers, others are great workers and family men. One cannot act as the other and still expect great results.
Something else that stood out to me was the fact that the writer, director, and producer of the film made no money from it. All in all, the final cost of making the film was $250,000 and sales have only brought in $100,000. These filmmakers made the film because they wanted to make it, they loved their art and believed in the story so much that they made the entire film with passion instead of the promise of a paycheck, and that is something not seen very often today. Hollywood often loses sight of the fact that a film should be made with love, not greed.
Rob Waring in "Not for Ourselves Alone and Salt of the Earth: The Interplay of Race and Gender" highlights an obvious lesson from the film, observing that "different groups working for social justice may achieve their goals more rapidly by working together instead of competing". This is important for us to remember throughout the Cinema and Social Change class this semester, because it is not one group of people that changes the world. The abolition of slavery was not done by slaves alone, and the miner's strike was not done by men alone, just like filmmakers cannot end global warming without the help of scientist and willing citizens. In order for something to change, everyone involved must accept the change, and while film is a good medium to motivate people, it is not enough by itself to change the world.
Ultimately I think that "Salt of the Earth" has an interesting history, and I like the fact that it was a project of passion. The filmmakers needed to tell their story, and they did it in spite of all the obstacles. They filmed secretly in Mexico after their lead actress was deported, and edited the film slowly in secret places to avoid being attacked. The most amazing thing, however, is that the story was so universal. It appealed to people in Europe as well as people in America. It spoke to the post World War generation as well as the technology driven generation of today, and it did so because that the heart of the film is a simple story that many can understand with experiences from their daily lives. The film may not have been easy to make, but it demonstrates the power of film. It scared the government into action against it, and brought out visceral responses, which is not something that happens from a mediocre piece.
****New Terminology****
"Fisticuffs"
Bosley Crowther in "The Screen in Review; 'Salt of the Earth' Opens at the Grande -- Filming Marked by Violence" wrote : Rosaura Revueltas, the Mexican actress who plays one of the leading roles, was seized as an illegal alien while the production was underway, and FISTICUFFS and threats of vigilante action occurred in Silver city while the company was there.
According to dictionary.com, this means that fist fights broke out during the filming, which one can deduct was the result of strong anti-communist emotions stirred up in citizens by the sensationalist known as Senator McCarthy.
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