Salt of the Earth
“At last, an honest movie about American working people”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Salt of the Earth - Pseudo Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-07-28
Top Cast
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Rosaura Revueltas
Esperanza Quintero
Juan Chacón
Ramon Quintero
Will Geer
Sheriff
David Bauer
Barton
Mervin Williams
Hartwell
David Sarvis
Alexander
Clinton Jencks
Frank Barnes
Virginia Jencks
Ruth Barnes
Henrietta Williams
Teresa Vidal
Ernesto Velázquez
Charley Vidal
Ángela Sánchez
Consuelo Ruiz
Joe T. Morales
Sal Ruiz
Clorinda Alderette
Luz Morales
Charles Coleman
Antonio Morales
Víctor Torres
Sebasatian Prieto
E.A. Rockwell
Vance
William Rockwell
Kimbrough
Floyd Bostick
Jenkins
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 14, 1954
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Herbert J. Biberman
- Screenplay & Story
- Michael Wilson
- Original Score
- Sol Kaplan
- Original Title
- Salt of the Earth
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Studios
- Independent Production Company (IPC)
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Herbert J. Biberman
Michael Wilson
Sol Kaplan
Stanley Meredith, Leonard Stark
Joan Laird, Ed Spiegel
Paul Jarrico, Herbert J. Biberman, Simon Lazarus
Department Leadership Roster
Herbert J. Biberman
Director
Paul Jarrico
Producer
Joan Laird
Editor
Stanley Meredith
Director of Photography
Leonard Stark
Director of Photography
Ed Spiegel
Editor
Herbert J. Biberman
Producer
Michael Wilson
Writer
Simon Lazarus
Producer
Sol Kaplan
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Salt of the Earth.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Salt of the Earth.
North American Cinema
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1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Salt of the Earth
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Salt of the Earth 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.
Who directed Salt of the Earth?
Salt of the Earth was directed by Herbert J. Biberman.
Who stars in Salt of the Earth?
The principal cast of Salt of the Earth includes Rosaura Revueltas, Juan Chacón, Will Geer, David Bauer, Mervin Williams.
When was Salt of the Earth released and how long is it?
Salt of the Earth was released in 1954 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
Who composed the musical score for Salt of the Earth?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Salt of the Earth was composed by Sol Kaplan.