Salt of the Earth (1954)

What it’s about

At New Mexico's Empire Zinc mine, Mexican-American workers protest the unsafe work conditions and unequal wages compared to their Anglo counterparts. Ramon Quintero helps organize the strike, but he is shown to be a hypocrite by treating his pregnant wife, Esperanza, with a similar unfairness. When an injunction stops the men from protesting, however, the gender roles are reversed, and women find themselves on the picket lines while the men stay at home.

Cast

• 

  Rosaura Revueltas

  Esperanza Quintero

• 

  Juan Chacón

  Ramon Quintero

• 

  Will Geer

  Sheriff

• 

  David Bauer

  Barton

• M

  Mervin Williams

  Hartwell

• D

  David Sarvis

  Alexander

• C

  Clinton Jencks

  Frank Barnes

• V

  Virginia Jencks

  Ruth Barnes

• H

  Henrietta Williams

  Teresa Vidal

• E

  Ernesto Velázquez

  Charley Vidal

• Á

  Ángela Sánchez

  Consuelo Ruiz

• J

  Joe T. Morales

  Sal Ruiz