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Norma Rae

6.7

1,247

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Original title

Norma Rae

Year

1979

Running time

109 min.

Country

United States

Director

Martin Ritt

Screenwriter

Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank Jr.

Cast

Music

David Shire

Cinematography

John A. Alonzo

Producer

20th Century Fox

Genre

Drama | Politics. Job/Employment. Based on a true story

Synopsis

Veteran director Martin Ritt directed this earnest and very popular tale of a naive textile worker, widow, and mother in the U.S. South who becomes empowered by standing up for her rights in the workplace. Sally Field stars in the Oscar-winning title role as a woman who has been content to go along with the status quo until she realizes that she is entitled to more and can succeed if she stands up for herself. Her fight to improve deplorable working conditions at the textile plant causes a rift between her and the people closest to her, but her determination brings a new awareness to her and to all the women with whom she works. Ritt's typical, socially conscious story uses the politics of Norma Rae's struggle and also its emotions to build the film to a rousing climax.

Awards: 1979: 2 Academy Awards: Best Actress (Sally Field), Song. 4 Nomination

1979: Golden Globes: Best Actress - Drama (Sally Field). 3 Nominations

1979: Cannes Film Festival: Best Actress (Sally Field) & Technical Grand Prize

1979: New York Film Critics Circle: Best Actress (Sally Field)

1979: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Actress (Sally Field)

1979: Writers Guild of America (WGA): Nominated for Best Adapted Drama Screenplay

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Critics' reviews

"An intelligent film with heart."

Variety Staff: Variety
"This is Sally Field's movie. Her performance - hyperbole completely aside - is peerless, one of the major achievements by an actress in the movies of any place and of any time."

Jay Scott: The Globe and Mail
"Norma Rae is a seriously concerned contemporary drama, illuminated by some very good performances and one, Miss Field's, that is spectacular"

Vincent Canby: The New York Times
"It's a dear and corny story, played with lovable grubbiness by Sally Field and Ron Leibman."

Judith Martin: The Washington Post
"Nicely performed by a strong cast, especially Field and Leibman, it's often mawkishly soft, but surprisingly touching"

Time Out
"Field comes off best under the circumstances - she has real spirit - but Leibman, too eager to be liked, hits all the stereotypes on the head"

David Ansen: Newsweek
"The simple story is enlivened by an intelligent, compassionate screenplay, whose sole deficiency is that it makes no attempt to represent the management point of view. Field's performance is flawless."

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User history

Norma Rae

1979

Martin Ritt

6.7

(1,247)