Norma Rae is a 1979 American drama film directed by Martin Ritt from a screenplay written by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr. The film is based on the true story of Crystal Lee Sutton— which was told in the 1975 book Crystal Lee, a Woman of Inheritance by reporter Henry P. Leifermann of The New York Times— and stars Sally Field in the titular role. Beau Bridges, Ron Leibman, Pat Hingle, Barbara Baxley, and Gail Strickland are featured in supporting roles. The film follows Norma Rae Webster, a factory worker with little formal education in North Carolina who becomes involved in trade union activities at the textile factory where she works after her and her co-workers' health is compromised due to poor working conditions.
Norma Rae premiered at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival where it competed for the Palme d'Or, while Field won the Best Actress Prize. It was theatrically released on March 2, 1979, by 20th Century Fox to critical and commercial success. Reviewers praised the film's direction, screenplay, message and especially Field's performance, while the film grossed $22 million on a production budget of $4.5 million. The film received four nominations at the 52nd Academy Awards including for the Best Picture, and won two; Best Actress (for Field) and Best Original Song for its theme song "It Goes Like It Goes". The film is considered "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant by the U.S. Library of Congress and was selected to be preserved in the National Film Registry in 2011.
Cast[]
- Sally Field as Norma Rae Webster
- Beau Bridges as Sonny Webster
- Ron Leibman as Reuben Warshowsky
- Pat Hingle as Vernon
- Barbara Baxley as Leona
- Gail Strickland as Bonnie Mae
- Morgan Paull as Wayne Billings
- Robert Broyles as Sam Bolen
- Jack Calvin as Ellis Harper
- Booth Colman as Dr. Watson
- Lee de Broux as Lujan
- James Luisi as George Benson
- Vernon Weddle as Rev. Hubbard
- Bob Minor as Lucius White
- Gregory Walcott as Sheriff Lamar Miller
- Noble Willingham as Leroy Mason
- Lonny Chapman as Gardner
- Bert Freed as Sam Dakin
- Frank McRae as James Brown
- Grace Zabriskie as Linette Odum
- J. Don Ferguson as Peter Gallat