X
- 1979
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 54 m
- 1979
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 54 m
Summary A young single mother and textile worker (Sally Field) agrees to help unionize her mill despite the problems and dangers involved.
Directed By: Martin Ritt
Written By: Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank Jr.
- 1979
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 54 m
- 1979
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 54 m
Norma Rae
61
7.5
Where to Watch
Summary A young single mother and textile worker (Sally Field) agrees to help unionize her mill despite the problems and dangers involved.
Directed By: Martin Ritt
Written By: Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank Jr.
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
61
60% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
30% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
61
60% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
30% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
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. Reuben tells
Norma Rae that when he wants a smart, loud, profane, sloppy, hardworking
woman he'll call on her. From now on, when directors want legerdemain
that becomes art, they're going to call on Sally Field.[10 Mar 1979]
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.
Nicely performed by a strong cast, especially Field and Leibman, it's often mawkishly soft, but surprisingly touching.
Norma Rae is not a bad film, just one that made me angry for what it might have been. Imagine another, more skillful actor, say Dustin Hoffman or Al Pacino, in Leibman's part; then strip away some of the more broadly drawn scenes, and Norma Rae could have been yet another fine film by director Martin Ritt ("Hud," "Sounder," and "Conrack"). [2 March 1979, p.4-12]
It's a dear and corny story, played with lovable grubbiness by Sally Field and Ron Leibman.
Photographed in murky yellows and browns by John Alonzo, this 1979 film is sluggish and vague, trivializing its subject in a wash of unearned sentimentality.
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 and Bridges is saddled with an underwritten, utterly inexplicable character. What Norma Rae really tells us is that Hollywood is still capable of making condescending paeans to the "little people" with all the phoniness of yesteryear. [5 March 1979, p.105]
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 User Ratings
7.5
85% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
15% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 User Ratings
7.5
85% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
15% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Production Company
Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date Mar 2, 1979
Duration 1 h 54 m
Rating PG
Genres
Tagline The story of a woman with the courage to risk everything for what she believes is right.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Cannes Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
