Norma Rae

By the time he came to direct Norma Rae, Martin Ritt had established his credentials as one of Hollywood’s most high profile liberal directors. His Oscar-nominated film follows Sally Field’s titular character as she attempts to bring the union to the factory where she works. The film raises questions regarding the ability of Hollywood to really get to grips with women’s activism and was criticised by the inspiration for the film Crystal Lee Sutton, a North Carolina textile worker and organiser, whose fight to unionise her factory was the inspiration for the film. Much of its success lies in the dazzling performance from Fields who was rewarded with an Oscar for her work on the film.