HIST American Film

Rating: 7/10 (21 October 2009)

"The Grapes of Wrath" is a wonderful adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1939 Pulitzer-prize winning novel. I have a very high level of respect for John Ford and the scrutiny that came down upon him after directing this film, one of the most left-leaning, liberal films in Hollywood at the time.
The visual quality of this film is beautiful and the cinematography so clearly expresses the deep sadness and uncertainty of a family that has been forced out of their home and off of their land. There are too many beautiful visual moments in the film to explain in detail, but there seemed to be a pattern of filming that stuck out in my mind, and that is when only the reflection of conversational scenes are filmed, either in the reflection of a windshield or in a review mirror. This camera technique presented the very translucent and uncertain emotions that this wandering family must have been feeling. As I said this is only one of many successful visual scenes that make this film the emotional and beautiful success that it is.