Norma Rae

A corner of history well told.

One of Sally Fields' dynamic performances sets the tone for the story of how labor unions changed the face of America and the manufacturing landscape for hundreds of thousands of people. Living in a depressed area of the rural south and having to take on dead end jobs that left one with physical maladies, a person had few choices and little recourse when taking a job in one of the only factories in the area that offered steady employment. Being overworked and underpaid is only the tip of the iceberg as Reuben, a "City Slicker/ Union Man" who happens to be Jewish comes to town to try and get workers organized and into a union that will ensure their working environment and their futures. It's a hard sell with townsfolk being suspicious of city folk, anyone who is not of their faith as well as anyone they don't know until Norma Rae chances to meet and get to know Reuben, who is played to the New York hilt by Ron Leibman. The casting is absolutely expert in this film and Beau Bridges as well as Pat Hingle and Barbara Baxley bring up the rear in this well directed film by Marvin Ritt. It's a keeper!

Two of my very favorites on one DVD.

I first saw this movie when it was originally released, some 40 years ago. It has certainly withstood the passage of time. Sally Field gives a riveting performance as Norma Ray, a woman who has experienced many losses and hardships who comes into her own power. And Ron Lieberman does an outstanding job as her mentor Ruben, the union organizer. Excellent supporting actors, and a wonderful portrayal of a sleepy little deep southern town that is slow to accept the exotic outsider, an educated NYC Jewish man. In retrospect I realize that the unionization of the textile mill proceeded relatively smoothly, but that does not detract from the courage displayed by Norma Ray and the other factory workers in daring to challenge authority, and in crossing racial and cultural lines in recognition of the fact that the white and black workers have common grievances and need to pull together. But I did find the ending very unsatisfactory. There is no resolution regarding Norma Ray's arrest; the union should have represented her in court, and gotten her job back and/or compensation.

I have always loved this movie. Sally Fields did a great job as well as her male costar. They worked great together. I really wished that the movie really got into more of the real injustices though in factory work. Some of it is still going on. There are many places you can't get a union no matter how hard you want one. People are too afraid.

Great story line .Love Sally Field any way , knew she picks great characters to play . The movie gives great examples of human behavior and how things unfold . It is a history lesson of human development at a certain time , how people interacted with each other . It shows how 1 person can indeed change things , a great lesson for us today .

Norma Rae is a factor worker just as her father and mother and most of the town. They work hard for the little money they get and there are no rules to protect them. A union representative arrives in the town and wants to help the gain rights. Norma Rae helps with the movement, ignoring some responsibilities to her husband and her children. There is a situation at work, and Rae stands up for her rights by standing on a bench and holding up the "Union" sign. Eventually the other workers stop their machine. Rae worked hard to convince her co-workers to vote for the union and the time to vote arrived. Rae's work was not in vain. She was followed and the union went into affect. This is a must see movie.

This is the breakout movie for Sally Fields from Gidget and Flying Nun to show her serious acting abilities. Best Actress Academy Award! and yet I could find it only by buying this BluRay.

Great film, period.

One of Martin Ritt's classic films of the 1970s, perhaps his last truly great pictiureStill as goos today

Magnífica pelicula sobre el papel de los sindicatos, su necesidad y el valor de la figura de los sindicalistas. La Unión hace fuertes a los grupos humanos.

Martin RITT nous fait rentrer de plein pied dans la réalité sociale des ouvrières et des ouvriers de l'industrie du textile dans une petite ville du Sud des Etats Unis. Au delà de la lutte de Norma Rae pour faire se syndicaliser ses compagnes et compagnons de l'usine où elle travaille où les "petits blancs" côtoient et sont traités de la même façon que "les petits noirs" anciens esclaves des champs de coton il nous décrit l'état d'esprit qui règne encore dans les petites villes du Sud des Etats Unis. Rien n'a véritablement changé dans les mentalités et le racisme, l'anti sémitisme et la place réservée aux femmes tant par les pouvoirs publics que par le pouvoir religieux depuis plus d'un siècle.Non seulement Norma Rae veut ne plus être considérée comme une esclave blanche des temps modernes mais elle veut également être reconnue comme une femme moderne et libre.Dans le rôle titre Sally FIELD est remarquable de justesse et d'engagement. Militante courageuse certes mais également femme jusqu'au bout des ongles. Son prix d'interprétation à Cannes et son Oscar elle les a amplement mérités.A ses côtés Ron LEIBMAN et Beau BRIDGES interprètent avec talent les deux hommes qui vont permettre à Norma Rae de s'accomplir dans les deux facettes de son personnage militant et féministe.Un grand film.

Schnell eine Gegendarstellung, damit der einsame Stern von meinem Vorredner nicht alles verzerrt.Oder muss man über 40 sein, um zu wissen, dass soziale Leistungen nicht bereitwillig zur Verfügung gestellt wurden und erkämpft werden mussten?Auf jeden Fall wird hier eindrucksvoll erzählt, wie jemand auf Ideen stösst und langsam ein politisches Bewusstsein entwickelt. Ein Klassiker!