Controversial Cold War-Era Film to Be Shown at University of Richmond

November 1, 2006

“Salt of the Earth,” a Cold War-era film that tells the true story of striking Chicano zinc miners and their wives, will be shown at University of Richmond Nov. 15 as part of the 2006-07 WILL/WGSS/Quest speaker series. The film will be shown at 4 p.m. in Jepson Hall, room 118, followed by a discussion. It is open to the public at no charge.

The film was produced by artists who formed their own production company after being “blacklisted” in 1947 for being suspected of having ties to Communism. Further controversy surrounded the film because the miners were viewed by the general public as Communists or Communist-influenced.

The movie tells the miners’ story of fighting against a giant company. It was filmed on site, and the miners played themselves. Only two professional actors appear in the film, Will Geer and Rosuara Revueltas.

The film is the fourth of six events in the series, sponsored by Richmond’s Women Involved in Living and Learning (WILL), Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) and Richmond Quest. The series’ theme is “Environmental Justice.”

For more information, contact WILL at (804) 289-8578 or will@richmond.edu.