Review of The Grapes of Wrath (1940) by Troy F — 07 May 2011

Imagine life living in an era still greatly affected by the Depression, making a living is already difficult enough as it is. Now picture being forced away from your home and land-everything you own- along with thousands of others to find work elsewhere to make a living.

The tragedy of such a scene is displayed in this wonderful adaptation of John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath. This classic film follows a family who is forced out of Oklahoma to California to find work as they move from place to place and find nothing but struggles and trouble.

It may seem like very little to what the film is about, but the film is very interesting, and I feel it has especially held up well today. At the time, this film well represented the reality of such unfortunate results from the economic depression, while viewing it today it's quite fascinating how well the economy has prospered since, it's like we're looking directly at life as it was 70 years ago.

I can't compare it to the novel since I haven't read it, but I can't imagine this film being any better or more faithful to its theme. The cast all play their parts wonderfully, and the film is very well produced for its time.

This is an extraordinary classic not only as a film, but also as a highly well written story by John Steinbeck who I know was a great writer in his time (I highly adored his novel Of Mice And Men).