The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Réalisateur:

John Ford

Scénaristes:

Nunnally Johnson (screenplay)
John Steinbeck (novel)

Date de sortie:

15 mars 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Drame

Accroche:

The thousands who have read the book will know why WE WILL NOT SELL ANY CHILDREN TICKETS to see this picture!

Intrigue:

A poor Midwest family is forced off of their land. They travel to California, suffering the misfortunes of the homeless in the Great Depression.

Plot Keywords:

California | Farm | Jail | Farmer | Labor

Récompenses:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Fine Cast & Production

Ensemble

Henry Fonda	...	Tom Joad
Jane Darwell	...	Ma Joad
John Carradine	...	Casy
Charley Grapewin	...	Grandpa
Dorris Bowdon	...	Rose of Sharon
Russell Simpson	...	Pa Joad
O.Z. Whitehead	...	Al
John Qualen	...	Muley
Eddie Quillan	...	Connie
Zeffie Tilbury	...	Grandma
Frank Sully	...	Noah
Frank Darien	...	Uncle John
Darryl Hickman	...	Winfield
Shirley Mills	...	Ruth Joad
Roger Imhof	...	Thomas

Autre(s) titre(s):

Highway 66 (USA) (fake working title)

Durée:

128 min | West Germany:108 min (cut version)

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Noir et Blanc

Rapport de forme:

1,37 : 1

Son:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Classification:

UK:A (original rating) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | UK:PG (video rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:12 | Soviet Union:(Banned) | Argentina:13 | USA:Approved (certificate #5789) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Brazil:12 | Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 (re-release) | Sweden:15

Lieux de tournage:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Société:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Anecdotes:

Beulah Bondi was tested for the role of Ma Joad. Bondi, believing that she had the part, reportedly bought an old jalopy and moved to Bakersfield (CA) to live among the migrant workers in order to research the role.

Goofs:

Révélant des erreurs: The same shot, from slightly different angles, of the Joads' truck crossing the desert at night is used twice, showing a single large cactus in the foreground and three sets of lights in a row on a mountain in the distance.

Guillemet:

Casy: I wouldn't pray just for a old man that's dead, 'cause he's all right. If I was to pray, I'd pray for folks that's alive and don't know which way to turn.

Connexions De Film:

figure dans AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006) (TV)

Bande son:

Red River Valley

Fine Cast & Production

This classic adaptation of "The Grapes of Wrath" features a fine cast as well as a skillful production headed by director John Ford. Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell are well-remembered for their roles, which are among the defining roles in their careers. The only limitations that it has come from the original novel, with its heartfelt but sometimes contrived story.

Besides Fonda and Darwell, the supporting cast features plenty of good supporting players, including Charley Grapewin and John Carradine. All of them make their characters come alive believably. They also fit together well and complement one another's performances, which accentuates the themes involved in the struggles of the Joad family.

For all that the Steinbeck novel is so revered, and for all that his story is an often compelling depiction of its characters, with whom many in the era could identify, it would have been better if it had not been so heavy-handed. Even given that the times were bad, more balance in the characters outside of the family, and in the Joads' experiences, would have made it an even better story. Certainly, this is barely even noticeable when compared with the stories in many present-day movies and novels, which often dispense with any attempts at plausibility.

And that does not stop this adaptation from being a worthwhile and often moving film. Ford clearly appreciated the potential in the material, and he and the cast work together to make each character count, and to give meaning to each scene.