Salt of the Earth, the controversial 1954 labor drama directed by Herbert J. Biberman, is a film that occupies a unique and essential place in the history of American cinema. Produced independently by a group of blacklisted Hollywood professionals and Mexican-American miners, the film faced enormous obstacles and opposition during its production and initial release, but has since been recognized as a groundbreaking work of social realism and a powerful portrait of the struggle for workers’ rights and racial equality.

Now, thanks to a stunning new Blu-ray release from Film Masters, this once-suppressed masterpiece can finally be seen and appreciated by a new generation of film lovers, in a transfer that captures all the grit, passion, and raw emotional power of its unforgettable story and performances.

Salt of the Earth was controversial

The film, which was written by Michael Wilson and produced by Paul Jarrico, tells the story of a long and difficult strike by Mexican-American zinc miners in New Mexico, who are fighting for better working conditions, higher wages, and an end to the racist discrimination they face from their Anglo bosses. The story centers on Ramon Quintero (Juan Chacón), a miner and family man who becomes a leader in the strike, and his wife Esperanza (Rosaura Revueltas), who becomes increasingly involved in the struggle as the conflict drags on.

As the strike intensifies and the miners face increasing violence and intimidation from the bosses and their hired thugs, Ramon and Esperanza’s relationship is tested, as they grapple with issues of gender roles, family responsibilities, and the competing demands of the union and their personal lives. At the same time, Salt of the Earth also explores the wider social and political context of the strike, from the miners’ alliance with Anglo union organizers to the role of the women in the community, who become increasingly active in the struggle as the men are jailed or driven from their homes.

Quite an early entry in Mexican American cinema

Shot on location in New Mexico with a cast that included both professional actors and real-life miners and their families, Salt of the Earth is a film of rare authenticity and power, a work of art that blurs the line between fiction and documentary in its depiction of the struggles and triumphs of working-class people.

From its opening scenes, which depict the brutal conditions in the mines and the casual racism of the bosses, to its unforgettable climax, in which the women of the community take over the picket line and face down the armed guards, Salt of the Earth is a masterclass in social realism, a work that manages to be both politically urgent and emotionally resonant at the same time.

Central to the Salt of the Earth’s power are the performances of its cast, many of whom were non-professional actors drawn from the ranks of the miners and their families.

Juan Chacón, who plays Ramon, was a real-life union leader and miner who brings a sense of lived experience and authenticity to his role, imbuing Ramon with a quiet dignity and strength that is truly inspiring. Rosaura Revueltas, meanwhile, is a revelation as Esperanza, a woman who undergoes a profound transformation over the course of the film, from a shy and submissive housewife to a fierce and determined activist who becomes the heart and soul of the struggle.

The rest of the cast is equally impressive, with standout performances from Will Geer as the sympathetic Anglo union organizer, David Wolfe as the cruel and racist sheriff, and Mervin Williams as the conflicted mine owner who becomes increasingly isolated and paranoid as the strike drags on. Together, they create a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a community in crisis, a group of people who are pushed to the brink by the injustices they face but who ultimately find the strength and solidarity to fight back and demand their rights.

The movie is really one of a kind

But Salt of the Earth is more than just a powerful story and a showcase for its talented cast. It is also a film of rare visual beauty and artistic integrity, a work that combines the gritty realism of documentaries like The Plow That Broke the Plains with the poetic lyricism of the best of the Italian neorealist movement. The film’s cinematography, by Leonard Stark and Stanley Meredith, is a marvel, capturing the harsh beauty of the New Mexico landscape and the claustrophobic interiors of the mines and the workers’ homes with equal skill and sensitivity.

The film’s editing, by Joan Laird and Herbert J. Biberman, is equally impressive, using a variety of techniques, from montage to cross-cutting to dramatic close-ups, to create a sense of urgency and emotional intensity that never lets up. And Salt of the Earth’s score, by Sol Kaplan, is a masterpiece of its kind, using a mix of traditional Mexican folk music and original compositions to create a haunting and evocative soundscape that perfectly captures the mood and tone of the story.

Talking about the Blu-ray

All of these elements come together in Film Masters’ new Blu-ray release, which presents the film in a stunning restoration that captures much of the detail and nuance of its visual and aural design. The transfer is quite strong, with solid contrast, good detail, and a pleasing grayscale that does justice to the film’s naturalistic cinematography. The audio, presented in an uncompressed monaural track, is also very good, with clear, well-balanced dialogue and music that never feels overly compressed or artificial.

While not as packed as a film of such historical importance should be, you do get a hefty amount of special features. There’s a commentary featuring C. Courtney Joyner, Mark Legan and Pheof Sutton. Plus, you get some liner notes. All and all, it’s better than having nothing.

It just makes me wonder if it would make sense to bundle Salt of the Earth with other underseen films of historical importance. But, maybe I ask too much.

It still holds up

Indeed, watching Salt of the Earth today, it’s impossible not to be struck by how timely and urgent its story and themes remain. In an era of rising inequality, declining union membership, and renewed attacks on workers’ rights and civil liberties, the film’s portrait of a community coming together to demand justice and dignity feels more relevant than ever.

And in a time when issues of race, gender, and class continue to divide and polarize our society, Salt of the Earth’s vision of solidarity and collective action offers a powerful and inspiring example of what is possible when people come together to fight for a common cause.

Of course, it’s important to acknowledge that Salt of the Earth is not a perfect film, and that some of its politics and attitudes may feel dated or simplistic to modern viewers. The film’s portrayal of gender roles, in particular, can feel a bit essentialist at times, with the women of the community often relegated to supporting roles or depicted as symbols of nurturing and domesticity. And the film’s treatment of race, while groundbreaking for its time, may not always hold up to the more nuanced and intersectional analyses of contemporary social justice movements.

Final thoughts

But these limitations do not diminish the film’s power or importance, nor do they detract from its enduring legacy as a work of art and activism. Salt of the Earth remains a vital and essential document of a pivotal moment in American history, a time when the forces of labor and civil rights were coming together to challenge the entrenched power structures of capitalism and white supremacy.

And it remains a powerful and inspiring example of what can happen when artists and activists come together to tell stories that matter, stories that speak truth to power and give voice to the struggles and dreams of ordinary people.

In the end, that is perhaps the greatest legacy of Salt of the Earth, and the reason why it continues to resonate with audiences more than six decades after its initial release. It is a film that reminds us of the power of art to change hearts and minds, to inspire us to action and to imagine a better world. And it is a film that challenges us to continue the fight for justice and equality, to stand up for the rights of workers and the oppressed, and to never give up on the dream of a society that values the dignity and humanity of all its members.

For that reason, Salt of the Earth is more than just a great film, more than just a groundbreaking work of social realism and political activism. It is a call to action, a demand for change, and a reminder of the enduring power of solidarity and collective struggle. And thanks to Film Masters’ admirable new Blu-ray release, it is a film that will continue to inspire and challenge viewers for generations to come.

Salt of the Earth is now available on Blu-ray at Movie Zyng and other outlets

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The Blood Ship, a 1927 silent adventure film directed by George B. Seitz, is a rousing tale of mutiny, romance, and redemption on the high seas. Long unavailable in a high-quality home video format, this thrilling classic has been given new life thanks to a stunning new Blu-ray release from SONY. It’s stunning to see a major studio dive back into their early outings.

Let’s talk silent cinema

Based on the 1922 novel of the same name by Norman Springer, The Blood Ship tells the story of Jim “Shanghai” Shreve (Richard Arlen), a tough but kindhearted sailor who signs on as first mate of the Mary Archer, a merchant ship captained by the sadistic and tyrannical Captain Swope (George Bancroft). Determined to put an end to Swope’s reign of terror, Jim enlists the help of the ship’s crew, including the beautiful and mysterious Ruby (Jacqueline Logan), to stage a mutiny and take control of the vessel.

But their troubles are far from over, as they soon find themselves pursued by a rival ship helmed by the ruthless Captain Pete “The Knifer” Crance (Fred Kohler), who will stop at nothing to claim the Mary Archer and its cargo for himself. As tensions mount and loyalties are tested, Jim and his crew must fight for their lives in a thrilling climax that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

People love boats even The Blood Ship

From its opening scenes, The Blood Ship establishes itself as a top-notch adventure yarn, with Seitz’s confident direction and the cast’s strong performances lending the film an air of gritty realism and immediacy. Arlen, who would go on to become a major star in the early sound era, is particularly impressive as Jim, imbuing the character with a sense of rugged charm and quiet authority that makes him instantly likable and relatable.

Bancroft, meanwhile, is a revelation as the sadistic Captain Swope, his piercing eyes and cruel sneer conveying a sense of barely contained menace that threatens to boil over at any moment. The scenes between Arlen and Bancroft are among the film’s most electric, with the two actors playing off each other with a sense of coiled intensity that ratchets up the tension to almost unbearable levels.

It just looks amazing

But it’s not just the performances that make The Blood Ship such a thrilling ride. The film’s stunning cinematography, by John Stumar and Silvano Balboni, is a marvel of the silent era, with the camera capturing the rough-hewn beauty of the ship and the open sea in a way that feels both poetic and immersive. The film’s action scenes, too, are remarkably well-staged, with Seitz employing a variety of innovative camera angles and editing techniques to create a sense of excitement and danger that still feels fresh and visceral nearly a century later.

Of course, none of this would matter much if the film’s story and characters weren’t up to snuff, but thankfully, The Blood Ship delivers on that front as well. While the basic plot is a fairly standard mutiny narrative, the film’s script (adapted by Douglas Z. Doty and Fred Stanley from Springer’s novel) adds enough twists and turns to keep things interesting, with a number of surprising revelations and character beats that help to keep the audience engaged and invested.

They had women back in the 1920s. Pretty cool, huh?

One of the film’s most intriguing aspects is its portrayal of Ruby, played with a mix of toughness and vulnerability by Jacqueline Logan. While Ruby initially seems like little more than a love interest for Jim, the film gradually reveals her to be a complex and multifaceted character with her own agenda and motivations. Logan’s performance is a standout, imbuing Ruby with a sense of mystery and allure that keeps the audience guessing until the very end.

The Blood Ship also benefits from a strong supporting cast, with Fred Kohler making a memorable impression as the vicious Captain Crance and Matthew Betz adding a touch of comic relief as the ship’s bumbling but well-meaning cook. The film’s portrayal of life on the high seas is also remarkably authentic, with Seitz and his crew going to great lengths to capture the rough-and-tumble world of merchant sailing in all its gritty, unglamorous detail.

Quick talk about the Blu-ray

All of this is beautifully captured in SONY’s new Blu-ray release, which presents the film in a stunning 4K restoration that looks as if it could have been shot yesterday. The level of detail and clarity on display is truly remarkable, with every line and crease on the actors’ faces and every plank and rope on the ship rendered in stunning high definition. The film’s tinting and toning, used to convey different moods and times of day, has also been lovingly restored, giving the film a rich, almost painterly quality that feels true to its silent-era roots.

The disc’s audio presentation is equally impressive, with a new score by composer Stephen Horne that perfectly captures the film’s rousing, adventurous spirit. Horne’s music, performed on a variety of traditional instruments including piano, accordion, and flute, is a delight from start to finish, highlighting the film’s emotional beats and action scenes with a deft touch that never feels intrusive or overpowering.

SONY’s Blu-ray doesn’t include any special features. But, it’s quite the release for a seemingly forgotten film.

Enjoy the silence

Ultimately, The Blood Ship is a thrilling and beautifully crafted adventure that deserves to be seen by a wider audience. Thanks to SONY’s impeccable Blu-ray release, this long-overlooked classic can finally take its rightful place alongside the great silent films of its era, with a level of visual and aural clarity that makes it feel as fresh and immediate as if it were made yesterday.

For fans of silent cinema, The Blood Ship is an essential addition to any collection, a rousing and emotionally resonant tale of adventure and redemption that showcases the medium at its finest. But even for those who may be new to the world of silent film, The Blood Ship is a revelation, a timeless story of courage and camaraderie that speaks to the human spirit in a way that transcends language and era.

In a world where so many classic films are in danger of being lost or forgotten, releases like this one are a vital reminder of the enduring power and importance of cinema as an art form. By bringing films like The Blood Ship back to life in such stunning detail and clarity, Flicker Alley and other boutique distributors are not only preserving our cultural heritage, but also introducing new generations to the wonders of the silent era and beyond.

So whether you’re a die-hard silent film aficionado or simply a lover of great storytelling and filmmaking craft, The Blood Ship is a must-see, a thrilling and emotionally resonant adventure that showcases the very best of what the medium has to offer. With its stunning visuals, powerful performances, and timeless themes of loyalty, courage, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship, The Blood Ship is a classic in every sense of the word, and one that will continue to captivate and inspire audiences for generations to come.

The Blood Ship is now available on Blu-ray at MovieZyng and other outlets

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