Gentleman's Agreement

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Gentleman's Agreement

Released Nov 11, 1947

1h 58m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

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84 Reviews

78%

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5,000+ Ratings

When journalist Phil Green (Gregory Peck) moves to New York City, he takes on a high-profile magazine assignment about anti-Semitism. In order to truly view things from an empathetic perspective, he pretends to be a Jew and begins to experience many forms of bigotry, both firsthand and through a Jewish friend, Dave Goldman (John Garfield). Phil soon falls in love with beautiful Kathy Lacy (Dorothy McGuire), but their relationship is complicated by his unusual endeavor.

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Critics Consensus

It occasionally fails to live up to its subject matter -- and is perhaps an 'important' film more than a 'great' one -- but the performances from Gregory Peck and Dorothy McGuire are superb.

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Helen Bower

Detroit Free Press

Tangy and crisp as tossed salad straight from the refrigerator, [Celeste Holm]'s the smart package of chlorophyll that rids the air of unpleasant tension and makes it one-world fresh.

Nov 16, 2022

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Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

The film has an urgency, a sincerity and a persuasiveness which, for this reader, the book lacked. Credit for this, it seems to us, goes primarily to Moss Hart and Elia Kazan.

Nov 16, 2022

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

A brave, courageous, fascinating film is Gentleman's Agreement... Here is a picture that must be seen by bigots as well as men of good will; by hypocrites as well as understanding Americans if its message is to be fully appreciated.

Nov 16, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It may seem tame by today’s standards, but Gentleman’s Agreement was powder keg material back in 1947.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 22, 2025

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Stefan Pape

Common Sense Media

The film can be a little heavy-handed with its messages, though given the context of when this was made, so shortly after World War II and the Holocaust, it warrants its sense of urgency, education, and importance.

Aug 27, 2024

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

The façade adds to a narrative that is both complex and intelligent, and it is a well-meaning film with a big heart even if it comes off a bit puffed up and self-congratulatory today.

Jun 27, 2023

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Madam D

Peck's acting is always good & love that he accepted only roles with moral fiber. Sad that people must be educated not to hate, but it still apples today. While the movie seems heavy handed by today's standards it still makes excellent viewing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

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Farah R

Gregory Peck delivers a solid performance in this thought-provoking drama that was way ahead of its time. Its themes are as relevant today as they were back then.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

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Rosana B

Muito bom, embora algumas cenas nos cause uma estranheza, beijos estáticos, romances apressados, diálogos objetivos, cortes secos, porém o roteiro adorável e a temática necessária são um ponto alto do filme, uma grande crítica social ao antissemitismo na década de 40 é de se tirar o chapéu, apesar de ter um objetivo claro de exaltar o sempre ativo heroísmo americano pós-guerra… ''Permanecer em silêncio é tolerar o preconceito.''

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

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adam s

Thought provoking and relevant

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Pretty rousing in what could be deemed a slightly sanctimonious manner but that would be to overlook just how rampant explicit displays of racism would have been in 1940s America. Arguably the most interesting aspect is that the film focuses on anti-semi Tien as opposed to the even more oppressive racist restrictions in black lives at the time. Too early maybe. Anyway, not much else to say about the film as the strength lay less in the plot than the strength of the convictions.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

This film is way ahead of its time and is applicable to prejudice of all forms. It also addresses the the often not discussed guilt by silence.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Elia Kazan

Director

Gregory Peck

Philip Schuyler 'Phil' Green

Dorothy McGuire

Kathy Lacey

John Garfield

Dave Goldman

Celeste Holm

Anne Dettrey

Anne Revere

Mrs. Green

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Synopsis

When journalist Phil Green (Gregory Peck) moves to New York City, he takes on a high-profile magazine assignment about anti-Semitism. In order to truly view things from an empathetic perspective, he pretends to be a Jew and begins to experience many forms of bigotry, both firsthand and through a Jewish friend, Dave Goldman (John Garfield). Phil soon falls in love with beautiful Kathy Lacy (Dorothy McGuire), but their relationship is complicated by his unusual endeavor.

Director: Elia Kazan
Producer: Darryl F Zanuck
Screenwriter: Laura Z. Hobson, Moss Hart
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 1947, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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