Joe F
John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940) is a cinematic adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, capturing the essence of survival amidst the brutal realities of the Great Depression. Ford’s direction brings Steinbeck’s social commentary to life through powerful performances and striking visual storytelling, making it a standout in the era of American cinema.
The film follows Tom Joad (Henry Fonda), recently released from prison, who returns home to find his family displaced due to drought and the economic devastation gripping the country. Together, the Joad family sets off on a grueling journey to California, hoping to find work and better opportunities. However, their hopes are quickly crushed as they encounter the harsh conditions faced by thousands of migrant workers struggling for survival.
One of the film’s production highlights is its cinematography by Gregg Toland, whose use of light and shadow echoes the documentary style, providing stark visuals that emphasize the bleakness of the Joads' situation. The oppressive heat and barren landscapes become characters themselves, visually reinforcing the family’s suffering. In contrast, the quiet strength of the Joads, particularly Ma Joad (Jane Darwell), shines through the dust and hardship. Darwell’s performance earned her an Academy Award, and for good reason—her portrayal of a mother determined to keep her family together is heart-wrenching and inspirational.
The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to experience the slow grind of desperation the Joad family endures. While some may find the pacing sluggish, it mirrors the reality of their struggle, giving weight to every mile traveled and every hardship endured. Henry Fonda's portrayal of Tom Joad is iconic, especially in his climactic speech, which encapsulates the film's central theme of resilience in the face of injustice.
My overall recommendation is that The Grapes of Wrath remains a must-see classic. Ford’s adaptation may not capture every nuance of Steinbeck’s novel, but it conveys the heart of the story—one of human dignity, suffering, and the will to persevere. Its message is timeless, resonating with viewers even today, as it tackles themes of poverty, displacement, and social injustice.
In conclusion, The Grapes of Wrath is a haunting and poignant portrayal of the American experience during one of the darkest periods in its history. John Ford's masterful direction, combined with stellar performances and stunning cinematography, makes this film a significant piece of cinematic and cultural history. It leaves the audience with a sense of empathy for those struggling in the margins and a reminder of the power of collective human spirit.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
09/25/24
Full Review
r r
A Dramatic Tale of Resilience :
After a recent watch of the 84-year-old film “Grapes of Wrath”, directed by John Ford and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, I can only concur with the major opinion that it is an American classic. This 1940 film, starring Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, and John Carradine, gives the viewer a true look into the horrors of the great depression and the suffering it brought. Although it is a heavy film facing harsh realities, it doubles as an example of the human will to face adversity. Not only is the deliverance of the dialogue created by Nunnally Johnson able to captivate the heart of the audience, but the cinematographic additions from Gregg Toland take us on a journey with different environments to immerse ourselves in.
Beginning in Oklahoma during the great depression, a man named Tom Joad returns from prison only to find his hometown for the better part, abandoned. The era of drought hindered the efficiency of all farming productions causing humans to be replaced by machines. This drama depicts Tom and the rest of his family traveling to California in search of a new and more profitable life.
As said previously, this film serves to enlighten those not aware of the harsh circumstances that the great depression brought. What truly gave way for this movie to become a classic for me was the acting and use of cinematography. Nunnally Johnson’s writing of the film coupled with the line delivery created a stressful and heart wrenching watch for the audience. There were several moments throughout the film where I felt genuine sadness and empathy for the characters. The acting of a struggling family who must endure what is thrown at them feels superbly authentic. They portray the pain, yet also the indifference to it that many people developed. Because of their experiences and situation, characters sometimes had underwhelming reactions to sad events only further deepening my empathy.
Additionally, the expert use of cinematography throughout the film added to the tone, deepening feelings brought about while watching. Across the film, there are many instances of impactful cinematography like the long open shots of the baron and dry fields of Oklahoma. These shots increase the feeling of emptiness and despair that the characters and the audience feel. Another example is the dark and messy environments with piles of trash highlighting the mass poverty at that time. These uses of cinematography help double down on the desperate state of the family and the country.
One piece of the movie I did not favor was the pacing. I feel the movie could have been an hour and a half compared to 2 hours. I am not familiar with other films from this period, so I have nothing to compare it to. When taking newer movies of today into account, this one did feel a bit slow, however, I do not think it is fair to compare a movie from 1940 to 2024. Sometimes newer movies are too fast and tend to skip important build up, so in that sense, I appreciate the thoroughness of this film. I still personally believe it could have been slightly shorter though.
I have never seen or heard anything prior to this movie, and while old and colorless movies are not my go-to, it was a refreshing change of pace. Not only is this film emotional and captivating, but it serves to teach us about the tragedies of the past. Although it can feel slower than dramas of the 21st century, the emotion and message you receive from watching are worthwhile. If you have not seen this movie, I strongly recommend that you try it.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
09/18/24
Full Review
Tyler C
Grapes of Wrath proves itself worthy of the title of the American classic that it has become known for. The story is based on the novel of the same name by the author John Steinbeck. This adaptation directed by John Ford tells the story of the Joad family who must set out west to California in search of work and a new life after the devastating dust bowl disaster strikes the midwest region that they call home. The family finds out how devastating their journey and life will be as they navigate this tumultuous time in American history.
The movie feels like a true viewing experience of the time period through the grittiness of emotions of how the characters react to their hardships. This hardship nature is especially felt through the camerawork, as characters are often casted in shadows with many scenes being at night as characters are illuminated by candle work. The cast’s clothing and set sells this feeling of “roughness” more from the patch work of the truck to the scuffed clothing of every character. There is no grandiose storyline, but rather a simple tale of the struggles in life but we push on still. The main protagonist, Tom Joad, is played excellently by Henry Fonda as he provides a hopeful character that we root for as he tries to keep his family together despite his criminal past. Right to the end of the movie, Tom Joad gives hope in a time of gritty bleakness and if a character like Ma can get it, the audience can too. One possible critique to note is that the movie feels cheaply comical and not in a good way of showcasing characters using humor to downplay their struggles, but for cheap humor.
Grapes of Wrath gets a recommendation from me for those looking for a classic American movie with a simple story on the surface, but gives a big lens into the history of that time period and what really has been going on in American society.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/16/24
Full Review
Evan H
The Grapes of Wrath is a film directed by John Ford that was released in 1940. It was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The screenplay was written by Nunnally Johnson and the executive producer was Darryl F. Zanuck. The film features Henry Fonda as the protagonist Tom Joad. The film, based off the book, is about the Joad family who were forced off their farm by landowners in Oklahoma due to the Great Depression and Dust Bowls of the 1930s. The Joad family sets out to California after receiving a flyer that offers paid work. The film does a fantastic job of depicting the tumultuous journey the Joad family endures in hopes of a better life. Struggle and death are common themes in The Grapes of Wrath.
The Grapes of Wrath is a classic film that I would recommend. I enjoyed the story line and cinematography. The acting is classical, not the best, and not the worst. For me, the film is more so a historical documentary showing what it was like to be a displaced family from the South during the 1930s.
The film captures the feeling of despair and suffering tremendously. The scene when the Joads pull into their first transient camp was a favorite of mine. John Ford sets it up perfectly with a previous “hopeful” scene that quickly cuts to the Joad family pulling into the camp. The camera angle from the car captures the malnourished migrants staring with exhaustion and disgust, as if to say, “welcome to hell.” The facial expressions on Joad’s family followed by Tom saying, “sure doesn’t look too prosperous” is perfect. There were several other scenes like this that did a fantastic job of setting the mood and making you understand what it was like.
I will get some grief for this, but when it comes to the acting, it isn’t that good. You can clearly tell they are acting; in some scenes you can tell they are thinking of their next line, and nothing really comes that natural. The scene where Tom meets Jim for the first time is pretty cringe. Jim is coming off as this lost, kooky, ex-preacher and the two are partaking in banter. John Carridine, who plays Jim, is over-acting the entire scene really trying to let the audience know how silly his character is. Henry Fonda is clearly thinking of his lines and none of it feels natural. Thankfully, this is not the case in the entire movie, but it is that “old-time acting” which is always kind of corny and not that fluid.
The Grapes of Wrath is a quality film that people love, and I enjoyed. It will make you feel and understand what it was like to be a 1930s Dust Bowl migrant. It is a classic film that helped pave the way for the industry. John Ford does an exceptional job in directing the film and the cinematography is exceptional for the 1940s. I recommend the film for anyone to see.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/24/24
Full Review
Shicai Z
The Grapes of Wrath: A Journey Through Despair and Hope
After watching The Grapes of Wrath, I felt like I had been on a long, dark journey. It was a journey where hope flickered like a candle about to be snuffed out—struggling, jumping, until it finally extinguished. The suffering reminded me of a famous Chinese novel To Live, which was also adapted into a film. Both stories reveal the different sufferings of humanity and how we must reconcile with adversity to survive in this world. It feels like I’m not just watching a story or a family, but rather witnessing a piece of history, an era, and the inevitable trials, suffering, death, and pain that human civilization must face on its path forward. It’s like appreciating a quiet, hidden brilliance of humanity shining through the darkest and most sordid moments.
The Joad family piles all their belongings onto a makeshift trailer, heading west towards a destination adorned with the promise of vineyards, hoping for a life free from hunger and poverty. Along this 3,000-mile journey, they encounter unimaginable challenges and lose loved ones who can no longer continue the journey with them. Yet, while seeds of anger take root in their hearts, what grows from them are vast branches of kindness and hope.
I think some of the film's flaws include the overly long first act—I was practically sleepwalking through the first 15 minutes—and the entire first act felt somewhat dragged out. The plot is serious and heavy with little dramatic conflict, the lighting is dim (with almost no top lighting), and combined with a lot of deep, philosophical dialogue, it required my full concentration as a non-native speaker. However, given the limited scripts available in the 1940s, the film's structure and the actors' performances were truly the best they could be. The director handled the pacing well, occasionally offering a small glimmer of hope amid the constant hardship, like giving the audience a brief reprieve.
The Grapes of Wrath is filled with both despair and hope. There are cold, unfeeling machines, but also warm, compassionate hearts; ruthless farm owners exploiting others, but also people struggling to survive, embracing each other for comfort; there are small lives lost to hunger, but also beings fighting with all their strength to stay alive. The people heading west originally placed their hope in the prospect of picking work, but now the grapes they once pinned their hopes on have turned into grapes of despair.
Despite the desperate circumstances, the Joad family still maintains their warmth and humanity. It is not the suffering itself that deserves praise, but rather the spirit of those who, in the midst of suffering, remain resilient, continue to fight back, and hold on to hope and kindness. The Joad family embodies the spirit the author speaks of— a spirit that every one of us, when mired in the mud of life, can learn from. With forgiveness and compassion, with courage and fearlessness, we can learn to make peace with life's hardships and find a sense of openness and strength in an unpredictable world.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/14/24
Full Review
Yash B
"The Grapes of Wrath" is a classic movie and it is easy to see why. The themes are timeless and I feel like the movie is a good balance of being a product of its time and also having relevancy today. The movie is just really bleak to get through. I think that is by design, but at a point, it started to feel draining for me and by the time it ends I didn't really feel much hope. I feel it is effectively made and I wanted to see what would happen to the characters throughout. Overall, it is a good movie that has a lot of great elements but is overwhelmingly bleak and pessimistic to the point where I didn't always like watching it.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
07/05/24
Full Review
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