Norma Rae

Synopsis: Like a lot of her family before her, Norma Rae works at the local textile mill, where the pay is hardly commensurate with the long hours and lousy working conditions. But after hearing a rousing speech by labor activist Reuben, Norma is inspired to rally her fellow workers behind the cause of unionism. Her decision rankles her family, especially her fiancé, Sonny, and provokes no shortage of contempt from her employers.
Genre: Drama
Director(s): Martin Ritt
Production: 20th Century Fox Film Corporat
  Won 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 6 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.4
Metacritic:
61
Rotten Tomatoes:
88%
PG
Year:
1979
114 min
907 Views


Ain't no miracle bein' born

People doin' it every day

Ain't no miracle growin' up

People just grow that way

So it goes like it goes

Like the river flows

And time, it rolls right on

And maybe what's good

Gets a little bit better

And maybe what's bad gets gone

Bless the child of a workin' man

She knows too soon who she is

And bless the hands of a workin' man

He knows his soul is his

So it goes like it goes

Like the river flows

And time, it rolls right on

And maybe what's good

Gets a little bit better

And maybe what's bad gets gone

Yeah, it goes like it goes

Like the river flows

And time keeps rollin' on

And maybe what's good

Gets a little bit better

And maybe what's bad

Gets gone

That's all you're eating

for lunch? An apple?

I'm dieting.

I got to keep my strength up.

I put these preserves up myself.

Sunday, Russell and I put up

over 60 quarts of peaches.

What did you do over

the weekend, Norma?

I soaked my feet.

I saw you in town Sunday.

Your friend drives

a mighty big car.

If you'd looked on the motel

register, you'd seen my name, too.

It's none of m business.

Mama, you haven't opened

up your sack yet.

Mama, aren't you hungry?

Mama?

Mama, you feeling all right?

Mama?

Mama, can you hear me?

Mama?

Mama!

Mama, come on. Come on.

She didn't hear one word I said!

You know that happens.

Well, it doesn't happen to my mama!

It'll pass off.

It's just temporary.

That makes it OK!

She's only deaf all day!

She can get another job.

What other job in this town?

I'll give her a note.

They'll send her home.

Come on, Mama.

They don't care anything about you.

You all right out there?

I'm fine.

You're going to get all bitten up.

I'll be in. Just a minute.

Well...

I'm going to let this pot soak.

There's one soaking from breakfast.

Now it's got company.

Hey, you kids.

10 more minutes of this junk,

then do your homework.

I did it.

Unsatisfactory in

lettering and reading,

and your numbers aren't too good.

You haven't done much homework.

- Shh!

- Shush! I'll shush you.

What are you getting fixed up for?

I'm going into town.

What do you need in town?

Things.

OK. I'll drive you in.

You got Bonanza on next.

I'll miss that. It's

the same every week.

I'm going to J.C. Penney's,

buy myself some panties and a white

cotton brassiere, size 32-B.

If you want to sit outside

the dressing room

and have the ladies look

at you, then come on.

No, ma'am.

You coming straight back?

No.

I'm going to the drugstore,

buy myself some Kotex pads

and a Cosmopolitan magazine.

Mm-hmm. Then you coming home?

Yeah. I'll be so tired

from all the excitement,

I'll be coming home.

Hi.

Mr. Witchard?

That's right. Vernon Witchard.

Who are you?

My name is Reuben Warshovsky.

Warshovsky. What kind

of name is that?

The kind you have to spell for

telephone operators and headwaiters.

What do you want?

I'd like a room with a mill family.

What for? We got a hotel,

a motel with 36 rooms.

I want to get to know

some mill hands.

Why is that?

I'll tell you.

I just got into town

about an hour ago.

Hi. How are you?

Right away, the police chief

was saying, "Who are you?"

So I told him I'm a

labor organizer.

I've come to put a union in

the OP. Henley Textile Mill.

He said, "The hell you are, boy!"

He was dead right.

You people are Communists,

agitators, crooks, or Jews,

or all four rolled together.

You make folks lose their jobs,

get their heads busted...

Excuse me, sir.

How much do you make an hour?

I make $1.33 a frame.

When was your last

cost-of-living raise?

I haven't had that.

With today's inflation,

that makes you a schlemiel.

You calling me some kind of name?

You're underpaid.

You're overworked.

They're shafting you right

up to your tonsils.

You need me, sir.

If you run real fast,

you'll get to your car

before my dog bites you.

We ain't even got a dog.

You don't need one.

Hey. How you doing?

Do you have any vacancies?

Yes.

Hi.

Hey.

Friendly little town you got here.

So far I've been told

to shove off, get off, and go away.

Oh, it's OK.

Make sure they spray

your room for roaches.

You got roaches down here?

I'm very familiar with roaches.

Do you have a room with a view?

You got the back alley

or the parking lot.

Which?

Back alley or parking lot?

Give him 31, Alston.

Can't hear the drunks

from in there.

I'll be back this way next

Wednesday after dinner.

I'm having dinner

with my wife's folks.

Tonight was the last time, George.

You don't say, Norma Rae.

Well, now, isn't that

a surprising turn?

No. Been coming on for some time.

You know something funny?

I didn't notice it.

Didn't you get your steak dinner

and your box of pralines?

Didn't you come three times in

a row in that bed over there?

I wasn't counting.

Ha ha ha!

Well, well, well.

Looks like I don't know what it

takes to satisfy you these days.

It just doesn't sit well

with me anymore, George.

You got your wife, your

two kids in high school.

There's a lot of gossip.

I got my two kids.

I don't know.

It just doesn't make me feel good.

You're here to make me feel good.

I'm not trotting down here anymore.

Why, you hick.

You got dirt under

your fingernails.

You pick your teeth

with a matchbook.

What the hell are you

good for, anyway?

You come outta that factory,

you wash under your armpits,

you come on down here and

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Irving Ravetch

Irving Dover Ravetch (November 14, 1920 – September 19, 2010) was an American screenwriter and film producer who frequently collaborated with his wife Harriet Frank Jr. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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