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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Play trailer Poster for Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? PG 1975 1h 46m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
The Great Depression, in both its bleak lows and its artistic highs, is presented in this documentary. Featuring the grim reality that many Americans faced during the era, largely in the form of newsreel clips, the film also depicts how Hollywood dealt with this period of widespread poverty and unemployment. Much of the movie footage showcases glamour and extravagance, providing lively moments of escapism that contrast starkly with day-to-day life during the 1930s.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times There are songs and production numbers from the great 1930s musicals and newsreel footage of the rioting strikers at Ford, and animated sequences, and Will Rogers kidding FDR and Rudy Vallee singing the title song. But to what purpose? Rated: 2/4 Jul 10, 2018 Full Review Jacoba Atlas Los Angeles Free Press Only succeeds in being a mishmash of muddled thinking and mediocre editing talents. Nov 26, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A novel idea for a film using as it does Film,Newsreel and radio clips to chronicle the great depression which paralysed America during the late 20s and 30S. The film clips contrats Busby Berkelys high rolling music numbers with the dirt poor of Americas midwest and hows thousands were uprooted and forced to move when things became too tough. Many of the periods stars and other names appear from James Cagney to Humprey Bogart to Huey Long to the hero of the piece Franklin D Roosevelt who would lead America from slump to boom to Second World war. The film features the greta songs of the period such as Woody Guthries Vigilante man to that timeless classic Were in the Money. Sometimes the film does feel a bit dry but then thats to be expected when dealing with such a serious subject,but on the whole if you want a snapshot of a countyr during a vital period of time then this film does a hell of a lot. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member combination of film and newsreel clips along with boxing match and rematch and other cultural musical performances truly illustrates the essense of the US in that most desperate of hard times Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Though I think this movie was a lofty experiment, I found it kind of boring. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member this compilation of clips from movies and documentary footage from that time didn`t do much for me. in the end I found it tedious. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Well done documentary incorportaing actual movies and newsreels and all fits seamlessly Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member great mix of newsreels and movies showing all from 1929's crash to Ike being sworn in Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

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Movie Info

Synopsis The Great Depression, in both its bleak lows and its artistic highs, is presented in this documentary. Featuring the grim reality that many Americans faced during the era, largely in the form of newsreel clips, the film also depicts how Hollywood dealt with this period of widespread poverty and unemployment. Much of the movie footage showcases glamour and extravagance, providing lively moments of escapism that contrast starkly with day-to-day life during the 1930s.
Director
Philippe Mora
Rating
PG
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 46m