Herbert J. Biberman

Director

About

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Also Known As

Herbert Biberman

Birth Place

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Born

March 04, 1900

Died

June 30, 1971

Cause of Death

Bone Cancer

Biography

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Stage actor and director who joined Columbia in 1935 and directed three films before being victimized as one of the "Hollywood Ten" in 1947. After serving a six-month jail term for contempt of Congress, Biberman made "Salt of the Earth" (1954), a potent socialist drama about striking New Mexico mineworkers. The film earned critical acclaim in Europe but, due to continued blacklisting, di...

Filmography

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Salt of the Earth (1954)

The Master Race (1944)

Eight Bells (1935)

Dialogue Director

New Orleans (1947)

Photos & Videos

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New Orleans (1947) — (Movie Clip) — (Do You Know What It Means To Miss) New Orleans

Salt Of The Earth (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Open, Before The Anglos Ever Came

Family & Companions

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Gale Sondergaard

Wife

Actor. Married in 1930.

Biography

Stage actor and director who joined Columbia in 1935 and directed three films before being victimized as one of the "Hollywood Ten" in 1947. After serving a six-month jail term for contempt of Congress, Biberman made "Salt of the Earth" (1954), a potent socialist drama about striking New Mexico mineworkers. The film earned critical acclaim in Europe but, due to continued blacklisting, did not enjoy general US release until 1965. Biberman was married to actress Gale Sondergaard from 1930.

Filmography

Director (Feature Film)

Salt of the Earth (1954)

The Master Race (1944)

Eight Bells (1935)

Dialogue Director

Writer (Feature Film)

New Orleans (1947)

The Master Race (1944)

The Master Race (1944)

Producer (Feature Film)

New Orleans (1947)

Associate Producer

Abilene Town (1946)

Associate Producer

Life Events

1935

Signed with Columbia; film directing debut, "One Way Ticket"

1939

First screenwriting credit (story only), "King of Chinatown"

1950

Sentenced to 6-month jail term by HUAC

1954

Sole film directed during blacklist, the independently made "Salt of the Earth"

1969

Co-wrote and directed last film, "Slaves"

1997

Status as one of the founders and members of the Screen Directors' Guild, the precusor of the Directors Guild of America, was posthumously restored

Videos

New Orleans (1947) — (Movie Clip) — (Do You Know What It Means To Miss) New Orleans Not a little bit mind-bending, Billie Holiday is well composed as an actress, playing the maid Endie, with Dorothy Patrick the enthused daughter of her employer, before her first song in her only movie, a standard by Louis Alter and Eddie DeLange, with Louis Armstrong her boyfriend in the band, in the independent jazz showcase from producers Herbert Biberman and Jules Levey, New Orleans, 1947.

Salt Of The Earth (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Open, Before The Anglos Ever Came Opening title sequence and the beginning of Esperanza (Rosaura Revueltas) narrating the story from Salt of the Earth, 1954, shot on location Grant County, New Mexico, where the real strike on which the film is based took place.

Salt Of The Earth (1954) -- (Movie Clip) No Dogs No Women Esperanza (Rosaura Revueltas) narrates as the wives try to intervene on the miners' strike meeting where Charlie (Ernest Velasquez) and Ruiz (Joe T. Morales) preside, with strong feminist currents in Michael Wilson's original script, in the independent feature Salt of the Earth, 1954.

Salt Of The Earth (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Some Pretty Tough Hombres Finally an appearance by Will Geer, perhaps the best known actor in the picture, as the sheriff, with boss Alexander (David Sarvis) and bigger boss Hartwell (Mervin Williams), taking a stab at buying off de facto leader Ramon (actual miner and striker Juan Chacon), in the independent feature Salt Of The Earth, 1954.

Salt Of The Earth (1954) -- (Movie Clip) A Picket Line Of Ladies? As Esperanza (Rosaura Revueltas) continues her narration, wives of other Hispanic union miners ask her to join them in demanding better sanitation and housing, in Salt of the Earth, 1954.

Salt Of The Earth (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Up To You, Brothers An accident at the mine becomes the catalyst for a strike, as Alexander (Mervin Williams) orders the Hispanics back to work, and union men Barnes (Clinton Jencks) and Ruiz (Joe T. Morales) refuse, in Salt of the Earth, 1954.

New Orleans (1947) -- (Movie Clip) West End Blues Louis Armstrong's famous fanfare to West End Blues first in the background, then in person, playing a character using his own name, conversing with protagonist Nick (Arturo de Cordova), opening New Orleans, 1947.

Master Race, The - (Original Trailer) Even with the Nazis losing the war, could they regroup later to revive the sick dream of The Master Race (1944)?

Family

Mrs John Campos

Daughter

Survived him.

Companions

Gale Sondergaard

Wife

Actor. Married in 1930.

Bibliography

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