Review of The Grapes of Wrath (1940) by Jose Luis M — 04 Jan 2015

The notoriously conservative John Ford's only venture out of his Western-filled comfort zone is a sympathetic but radical adaption of the John Steinbeck novel. After serving time in the penitentiary, Tom Joad rejoins with family in the peak of the depression, and is shocked and angered to see the deplorable conditions his family and others are suffering through.

It's a bleak plea for work and the rights of the common people, yes, but a cinematic marvel as well, with Gregg Toland perfectly capturing the wide open spaces and sparse civilization of depression era America, and John Ford's ingenious use of candle light as the sole light-source in night-time scenes.

Too often, movies from this era tend to show their over-pressed message with age, but the deep focus on its characters, brilliant performances and the stern writing give The Grapes of Wrath an immediate impact that'll never fade.