Norma Rae (1979)

90% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(6,570 ratings)

Norma Rae finds Sally Field cast in the title role, a minimum-wage worker in a cotton mill. The factory has taken too much of a toll on the health of Norma Rae's family for her to ignore her Dickensian working conditions. After hearing a speech by New York union organizer Reuben (Ron Leibman), Norma… More Norma Rae finds Sally Field cast in the title role, a minimum-wage worker in a cotton mill. The factory has taken too much of a toll on the health of Norma Rae's family for her to ignore her Dickensian working conditions. After hearing a speech by New York union organizer Reuben (Ron Leibman), Norma Rae decides to join the effort to unionize her shop. This causes dissension at home when Norma Rae's husband, Sonny (Beau Bridges), assumes that her activism is a result of a romance between herself and Reuben. Despite the pressure brought to bear by management, Norma Rae successfully orchestrates a shutdown of the mill, resulting in victory for the union and capitulation to its demands. Based on a true story, Norma Rae is the film for which Sally Field won her first Oscar; an additional Oscar went to David Shire and Norman Gimbel for the film's theme song, "It Goes Like It Goes." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr.
Directed By: Martin Ritt
Written By: Irving Ravetch, Frank Harriet,
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

In Theaters: Mar 2, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Apr 17, 2001
Studio: 20th Century Fox Film Corporat

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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.
Variety Staff, Variety
Norma Rae is that rare entity, an intelligent film with heart.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Norma Rae is a seriously concerned contemporary drama, illuminated by some very good performances and one, Miss Field's, that is spectacular.
Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media
Inspiring pro-union story is good watch-together fare.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Sally Field won her first Oscar playing union activist Norma Rae.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Sally Field won her first Oscar for her performance in the title role, a complex portrayal of an working-class southern woman.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A beautifully made, splendidly acted film that more than achieves its aims.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The closure is consistent and satisfying, standing in opposition to conventional Hollywood happy endings: Norma Rae and Jewish labor leader part as equals, with a respectful handshake rather than embrace or kiss; both have benefited from the friendship
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Does it get any better than Sally Field?
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Nicely performed by a strong cast, especially Field and Leibman, it's often mawkishly soft, but surprisingly touching.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Harrowing union vs corporation film has Oscar winning Field.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A fantastic social drama, and still relevant today too! Field is perfect, and she even won an award for this performance, so if you're a fan don't miss this one. It's a really good movie.
Dean M

Sally Field makes her outstanding performance (she won her first Best Actress Oscar) as a southern textile work attempting to unionise the mill with the aid of organiser Ron Leibman. Film is based on a true story and has good eyes and ears for authenticity. Entire case is first rate.
Mason W

Sally Field is such a very good actress and shines in: Norma Rae. Field plays Norma Rae whom lives in a very small town. Her livelihood depends on her job at the local and very established factory until one day things start to change for the worse. Norma then decides to take a… More
Sally Field is such a very good actress and shines in: Norma Rae. Field plays Norma Rae whom lives in a very small town. Her livelihood depends on her job at the local and very established factory until one day things start to change for the worse. Norma then decides to take a stance and fight for a Union to get better compensation that is rightfully there's. This is an insiring film and Sally Field does a very good job with this role...very believable from start to finish....worth spending your time to see this 80's classic.
Lafe F

Norma Rae is an uplifting story of a woman starting the first union at a factory. I really got into it.
jay n

sally's the whole show
cody f

Entertaing and original drama about the development of a Union in a Alabama textile factory. What makes this film great is the relationship between Sally Field and Ron Leibman.Everyone in the film is good,but these two make the film.He is a New York Union organizer and she is a worker… More
Entertaing and original drama about the development of a Union in a Alabama textile factory. What makes this film great is the relationship between Sally Field and Ron Leibman.Everyone in the film is good,but these two make the film.He is a New York Union organizer and she is a worker in the factory and the both establish a bond right away.They become very close and have a almost romantic relationship without any romantic liaisons,which was very original. The Union story is also very interesting and the film takes its time to develop characters and story.Great direction by Martin Ritt and beautifully photographed by John Alonzo.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Sally Field as Norma Rae

            Beau Bridges as Sonny

            Ron Leibman as Reuben

            Pat Hingle as Vernon

            Barbara Baxley as Leona

            Gail Strickland as Bonnie Mae

            Lonny Chapman as Gardner

            Morgan Paull as Wayne Billings

            Charlie Briggs as Warren Lotting

            Robert Broyles as Sam Bolen

            John Calvin as Ellis Harper

            Booth Colman as Dr. Watson

            Lee de Broux as Lujan

            Joe Dorsey as Woodrow Thompson

            J. Don Ferguson as Peter Galiot

            Bert Freed as Sam Dakin

            Gilbert Green as Al London

            Bob Hannah as Jed Buffum

            Edith Ivey as Louise Pickens

            Clayton Landey as Teddy Bob Keeler

            James Luisi as George Benson

            Frank McRae as James Brown

            Mary Munday as Mrs. Johnson

            George R. Robertson as Farmer

            Henry Slate as Policeman

            Roy Tatum as Woodrow Bowser

            Gregory Walcott as Lamar Miller

            Noble Willingham as Leroy Mason

            Grace Zabriskie as Linette Odum

            Bob Minor as Lucius White

            Jack Stryker as J.J. Davis

            Vernon Weddle as Rev. Hubbard

            Fred Covington as Alston
See full cast