Salt of the Earth
Independent Productions | Release Date: March 14, 1954 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
6
Mixed:
1
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
The film rises above the level of agitprop by avoiding sloganeering and using the real words of real people to tell its story. Its feminism, too, is real and unforced, with women simply being shown struggling alongside--and when necessary defying--their male counterparts. Read full review
80
The GuardianSukhdev Sandhu
Salt of the Earth has humour, genuine feeling and great sincerity: it's a film about hope. Read full review
80
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
The film's targets multiply - workers' rights, racism, feminism - and for 1953 this is pretty amazing. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Leftist propaganda of a very high order, powerful and intelligent even when the film registers in spots as naive or dated. Read full review
70
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
Salt of the Earth is a good, highly dramatic and emotion-charged piece of work that tells its story straight. It is, however, a propaganda picture which belongs in union halls rather than theatres. Read full review
70
The New YorkerPauline Kael
A pedagogical tone, reminiscent of the 30s, is maintained throughout much of the movie: these strikers are always teaching each other little constructive lessons, and their dialogue is blown up to the rank of folk wisdom.
60
The New York TimesBosley Crowther
The hard-focus, realistic quality of the picture's photography and style completes its characterization as a calculated social document. Read full review
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