Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Instructor: Paul McEwan, Ph.D., Muhlenberg College
One of the few cinematic masterpieces to match the stature of the book on which it is based, John Ford’s 1940 adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel trims some of the extraneous details from the book without losing any of the ideas or the heart. The Joads are an American family displaced by the Dust Bowl and set upon from all sides by those who would exploit their desperation, fiercely trying to not simply survive but to live with some dignity.
The film is enriched by the cinematography of Gregg Toland (Citizen Kane), who would be nominated for six Oscars before he turned 40. In The Grapes of Wrath, his moving camera and deep focus give us the feel of a documentary, long before documentary crews could pull off a film like this. We are in the camps and alongside the Joads as they seek work in California. This is definitely a film to be seen on the big screen.
Henry Fonda is the quintessential Tom Joad, a flawed but decent man who refuses to stand by and see others mistreated. The film’s left-leaning politics were a tricky business in the period of red-baiting, but it has come to be revered as an American classic. When the National Film Registry began in 1989, this was one of the first 25 titles to be listed. There is a beauty in both the harsh landscape and in a family’s refusal to be defeated that has touched and inspired viewers for over 80 years.
Are you interested in “just” seeing this movie? Visit the public screening page here.
Cinema Classics Seminars offer an entertaining and engaging way to learn more about some of the true classics of world cinema. All students receive an introductory lecture before the film and a guided discussion after the film. In addition, those in attendance receive a ticket to see it on the big screen, as well as popcorn and a drink. Please note: the screening associated with this seminar will be open to the public, as well.
Please email BMFI Programs and Education Coordinator Jill Malcolm with any questions.
$25 for members, $35 for non-members
Schedule