Amazingly compelling movie

Rating: 8/10 (14 November 2010)

This film is a shining example of John Ford's directing prowess. "The Grapes of Wrath" is a ripped for the history books example of life in the 1930's Midwest. Henry Fonda has an amazingly compelling performance as Tom Joad, an ex-con returning home to his family of sharecroppers. When the company repossesses the land, the family must move where they can hope they can find work. The film takes a very naturalistic lighting approach which magnifies the performances given by the cast. I have never read the original novel by John Steinbeck, but this work put together by John Ford sets itself apart to stand on it's own merit. The film takes on a subject matter that was still very fresh in the minds of the American public. John Steinbeck who won numerous awards for his work, including the Noble Prize for Literature (1962) also was graced with the honer of being one of the first authors to have their successful book be turned into an equally successful movie.