Written text is where a good deal of ideas for movies stem from, putting visuals, voices, and acting to well loved places and characters. Be it novels, plays, novellas, short stories, and seemingly everything in between countless movies, some of the best ever made in fact derive from text. Our subject today is one of those movies. A film based on a beloved book from one of America's most revered and skilled authors and put to screen by one of the best American filmmakers. It's as much a film dedicated to the work as it is a nod to the time, place, and themes it seeks to represent. A film that like the book when released made an impact almost immediately.
So if you're like me and you enjoy film and the impact and emotions they convey, then grab a glass of your preferred liquid and join me for the next little while. For me that's a nice iced mocha latte from our friends at Saxbys in Philadelphia to combat the humidity. So sit back, relax, and let's talk about the love of film. Welcome to Glazed Cinema.
Sometimes a piece of art arrives and immediately makes an impact, spreads through word of mouth like wildfire and is recognized as a modern masterpiece. Today is one of those works, about another work of art that did that very thing.
Our subject today begins with a brilliant shot of a person walking down a long and flat road parting crop fields on either side with a horizon of trees in the foreground. After a slow dissolve the figure is closer now as the serene background engulfs its silhouette. We can see now that it is a man as he strolls through the four way crossroads, hands in his pockets. As he approaches a store aptly named Cross Roads a man and woman exit and share goodbyes as he hops in the truck labeled Oklahoma City Transport Company. Approaching the side of the truck he asks the driver for a ride, to which the driver points out a sign that says "No Rides Allowed, Instructions of Owner." To which the traveler retorts, "Sure, I see it...but a good guy don't pay no attention to what some heel makes him stick on his truck." Obliging the ride the two travel down the road as the driver remarks at some his own observations of the traveler. Not liking the nosy inquiries the traveler jabs back, making sure the driver knows to mind his own business. He also tells him that he just got out of the penitentiary after a four-year stint. While getting out he keeps the door open and says, "You're about to bust a gut to know what I done ain't ya? Well I ain't a guy to let you down. Homicide." Slamming the door with his final word the truck drives away as our traveler turns and walks down a path towards the farm where his family are sharecroppers. This man, the lone traveler is our main character and the person who we'll be following for the remainder of the movie. His name is Tom Joad and he's played by the incomparable Henry Fonda.
The Grapes of Wrath is a movie based on the classic novel of the same name by John Steinbeck. Published in 1939, Steinbeck unfurls a story revolving around a family from the Midwest who upon hearing news of work out in California, begin travelling west in hopes of a brighter future. The book was a work of fiction, but played on real-life historical events, a lot of which were happening while Steinbeck wrote the text and after it was published. He wanted to raise an alarm and bring attention to injustices that were happening in California at the time.
The book follows a family from the Midwest who like so many others travelled from their homes after receiving flyers advertising work. With so many unable to work due to the environmental and economical crises of the Dust Bowl and The Great Depression this instilled hope in scores of farmers and their families. Such leaflets were mailed ands handed out to farmers plagued by hard times. For those unfamiliar with the time in which this takes place, I'll provide a brief synopsis. The Dust Bowl was an environmental catastrophe that occurred in the 1930s. It consisted of dust storms, heat waves and drought at various times and in total it lasted for six agonizing years in Midwestern America. The Dust Bowl was bad enough on its own, but it happened during the Great Depression, the worst economical crisis in modern history. In the dust bowl fertile farms were reduced to barren soil, livestock died from starvation and thirst, and both farms and businesses shut down. Children and adults alike sometimes died from dust pneumonia form the storms that occurred among other health problems. Over the course of that time it's estimated that seven-thousand people died and two-million were left homeless.
It was one of the worst periods in America's history and in that time as bad as things were some among the wealthy used their means to keep the less fortunate down. Through their greed they used their power to exploit those needy and unfortunate others for their own benefit instead of reaching down to lend a hand. Steinbeck witnessed this as a reporter in San Francisco on an assignment to follow migrant workers in California. After seeing what was going on he began writing what would become The Grapes of Wrath following the fictional Joads.
The Joad family in the story is among these who, while travelling westward share idyllic visions of what they'll find once they reach California. Upon arriving in the land of promise however they find that there are now too many people and not enough work for everyone who's arrived.
Injustices that plagued migrant workers who upon arriving with work able-bodies, hope, and big dreams were greeted with something far less than that idyllic vision that so many at the time shared. The book quickly captured the nations attention selling over 400,000 copies in its first year and shortly afterward a film release was approved by 20th Century Fox Studios with John Ford in the director's chair.
John Ford at the time was a filmmaking veteran who had been making movies for twenty-two years. Ford had released several critically acclaimed and well received pictures over the years, the last three of which were My Darling Clementine, Young Mr. Lincoln, and Stagecoach. Despite his reputation and acclaim however, there were some who were not sold on a Ford directed version of Steinbeck's novel. A lot of people were skeptical that Ford, a staunch conservative could make a movie about a novel promoting unionization. However, Ford saw, like so many of those who had read the work that it above all was a human story, calling for better treatment, and that is what attracted Ford. He understood that what was being told was not only a good story, but it was important and extremely relevant.
I do think looking at this with hindsight it almost seems perfect really. Fitting that one of the best told tales from one of America’s greatest literary figures was put to celluloid by one of the country’s best cinematic figures.
In terms of the story found within the two works there are more comparisons than there are contrasts, however due to obvious time constraints some things are summarized in the movie. One of the biggest differences between the two works though is how Rose of Sharon's baby and of course the ending are handled. The ending of the novel is quite brilliant and left some readers stunned by its content. Of course the movie could have never replicated this scene. Afterall the movie was released just a few years into the Hays Code era where rules and restrictions were not only strict, but upheld. Just one year prior MGM had to fight just to maintain Clark Gable’s famous line to include the word ‘damn’. Just like MGM fought, 20the Century also fought to keep the image of a pregnant woman in this film and they won that battle. So among being a fantastic film it also boasts the first film to depict a pregnant woman.
Now while the ending of the movie takes a different approach the movie still carries the weight of its original inspiration very well. Without spoiling anything admittedly compared to the book the ending of the movie is where it’s weakest. It tries to do something, but compared to the ending of the book is not anywhere up to par, which is really a victim of the circumstances of the time it was made.
Ford and company do a fantastic job putting this book to film and everyone cast fits splendidly. Ford’s directorial approach is perfect for the subject matte and almost feels documentary like. Ford, a master at framing and making no wasted movements shows off his skill here in spades, thanks to cinematographer Greg Toland. Henry Ford as Tom, Jane Darwell as Ma, and John Carradine as Casy along with the other main cast members help to bring the characters and plot to life in a realistic way. Ford in particular is spectacular as the protagonist here and his uncanny ability to act almost freely and effortlessly is impressive here.
When it was released in 1940 it was only one-year removed from the book's original publication and a wide audience came out to see Ford and Fonda's new effort. For many fans of the book the movie was nearly perfect and critics awed over its beauty, effectiveness, and execution. Steinbeck was among those to see it upon release and stated that the cast, especially that of Henry Fonda perfectly captured the character of the Joad family. High praise coming from the author himself. The same year the movie debuted Steinbeck won a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for the work in his novel. The movie was also rewarded at the Academy Awards, being nominated for ten awards and taking home two of them including Ford winning Best Director and Darwell winning Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
It’s hard to believe that a movie as amazing as this one is can fly under the radar like it does. It seems like as well reviewed and revered as it is not many have seen it or even know it exists, which is a real shame. I rewatched this not too long ago and I was surprised how even though it portrays a historical period just how many sentiments are relatable eighty-four years later.
The Grapes of Wrath is a fantastic movie, bringing visuals to the tremendous original novel. The Grapes of Wrath was met with critical acclaim and awards and quickly became a fan favorite of the year's film catalog. It was so successful in fact that for the next eighteen years it was regularly touted as the greatest film ever made until the re-release of Citizen Kane in 1958.
If you're looking for a drama to watch and are unsure of which one to press play on, I highly recommend Ford's The Grapes of Wrath. Whether you're a film fan, a fan of Steinbeck's novel, or a fan of history there's something here for everyone. It is after all a very human story and one of the best ever told.
If you'd like to watch The Grapes of Wrath for yourself you can find it on a variety of streaming services. At the time of this recording unfortunately you can only find it on a few streaming services, but hopefully that changes in the future.
At the time of this recording you can find it on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, and Apple TV for $3.99 to rent.
If you like this podcast tell your friends and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Each week there will be new content including hints about episodes before they air. If you'd like to learn more about the podcast visit our website at glazedcinema.com. There you'll find more info about the show and a place to submit ideas for future episodes. For film fans who are hearing impaired the blog page on our website features each episode in written form as well. AS always, thanks for listening and I hope to see you next time with another beverage and another fine film on Glazed Cinema.
Comments