Review of Tortilla Flat (1942) by Ken T — 24 Oct 2010

John Steinbeck novels have been well translated into terrific films in the past - Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath for example. However, the same cannot be said of Tortilla Flat. Spencer Tracy plays Pilon, a lazy, manipulative Paisano who with his equally lazy, yet infinitely more stupid friends move in on buddy Danny (John Garfield) who has recently inherited two houses from a dead grandfather.

Danny is a little slow-witted himself and prone to fighting when drunk or aggravated. He loves Dolores (Hedy Lamarr) a smart woman working in a canning factory. The friends take note that "The Pirate" (Frank Morgan) who lives in a shack with his many canine friends, has plenty of money.

Pilon devises a scheme to try to get the money - and spend it, as usual, on wine. But "The Pirate" has more divine intentions for the cash. Pilon is so exaggerated a character he cannot be liked.

Danny's character is a tough guy, but still, his naivite was so much, that it was tough to feel pity for him. And why would a girl as good as Dolores be interested in this tool? Frank Morgan is terrific as "The Pirate", but his character is so extremely generous and nice it was hard to believe his trusting nature considering his years and the company that lives nearby.

Tortilla Flat is a tough pill to swallow and gets more ridiculous as the film progresses.