#136 The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

If you want an example of a film that shows the importance of family and standing up for the little guy, here you have it! John Ford’s “The Grapes of Wrath” is when a farming family is forced to make a journey to California to find work after being evicted off their land during the Great Depression.

“The Grapes of Wrath” is based on the popular John Steinbeck novel that you may or may not have read while you were in school. Their oldest son Tom joins his family on this hard journey to California for better work opportunities. They face a number of obstacles in the migrant camps that thousands of farmers were dealing with during that time. Their oldest son Tom, who returned from jail, joins them on this hard journey and they face a number of obstacles in migrant camps that thousands of farmers were dealing with during the time. Farmers were losing their jobs for elements that were beyond their control like weather changes, drought, or dust storms. This family is headed towards an uncertain future with the strength of faith and love holding them together.

My favorite parts about “The Grapes of Wrath” are the moments where we see this family’s love and support. When Tom returns to the farm after serving a four year jail sentence, you can see how it brightened everyone’s day. They go from the sadness of leaving their home to absolute joy at the sight of Tom. Like he’s a glimmer of hope that happiness can still exist during this tough time. Whenever Tom gets in trouble, his family never hesitates to protect him. I also liked that the style of filmmaking seemed more of a documentary than providing dramatic, over-the-top scenes. We gain an understanding of how hard it was to make money and how scarce it was. No wonder John Ford won Best Director!

Jane Darwell won Best Supporting Actress for her role as the matriarch of the family. Normally in dramas I’ve seen about farming families, there is normally the male farmer and the homemaker wife. With no father, Ma Joad is the glue that holds the family together. She provides them with the one thing this family needs to get through life- hope that everything will be alright. I love watching the scenes between her and Tom like when they dance at the camp. The scene above really shows why Darwell won the Oscar. There were no words spoken as she was about to leave her house. She thinks back to the objects that remind her of her life in the house including a pair of earrings that bring her back to her youth. We see both happiness and sadness on her face.

This is one of the best speeches. Henry Fonda really knows how to portray Tom’s humanity and his big heart.

I’ll be all around in the dark. I’ll be ever’-where – wherever you can look. Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever there’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad – I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when the people are eatin’ the stuff they raise, and livin’ in the houses they build – I’ll be there, too.

Watch this classic book adaptation and comment below what you think: