Gentlemen, start your analyses...

CineVerse took the wayback machine to 1947 last evening and journeyed through "Gentleman's Agreement," an important message picture of the era. Here are some of the major conclusions of that group discussion:

HOW WOULD THIS FILM HAVE BEEN GROUNDBREAKING AND EYE-OPENING FOR 1947 MOVIEGOERS?

·       It was reportedly the first major expose on anti-Semitism by a Hollywood film, and is the first mainstream movie that uses the word “jew.”

·       According to movie reviewer Richard Gilliam: “Before World War II, there was an unspoken rule in Hollywood that anti-Semitism could only be hinted at or passingly referred to, even when the film was about an act of anti-Semitism. For example, watch the 1937 Oscar-winning Best Picture The Life of Emile Zola and see if you would notice that Captain Dreyfus, the French soldier who is wrongfully convicted, is Jewish. Gentleman's Agreement broke the barrier and allowed films to admit that racial and ethnic prejudice is more active in our society than we may want to admit.”

·       While the plot and actions that occur in the film aren’t shocking, they do force viewers to ask bigotry related questions about themselves: what would they do in a particular character’s situation? How would they treat Green, or react if they were Green?

·       It doesn’t pull any punches: it tackles the issue head without soft-selling it, although by today’s standards, the film is pretty tame.

·       The movie is bold in that it actually names names of public figures and prosperous communities that were known for being anti-Semitic and restrictive to Jews

·       This was a risky career move for Gregory Peck, whose agent feared it would damage his client’s career; Cary Grant had earlier turned down the role.

·       This movie helped launch the cycle of social message films tackling racial problems that were released over the next few years, including: Pinky (1949); Home of the Brave (1949); Intruder in the Dust (1949) Devil’s Doorway (1949); Broken Arrow (1950); The Lawless (1950); “Viva Zapata” (1952); and Apache (1954)

HOW IS GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT STILL RELEVANT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, AND HOW IS IT DATED AND BENIGN?

·       While society has arguably improved as far as racial inequalities and bigotries against ethnicities, many minorities are still discriminated against and held in low esteem: you can substitute the anti-Semitism in this film with homophobia and have a template for a decent remake today

·       This movie’s historical context may be more relevant today than the actual subject matter it examines; in other words, this film is possibly more important as a historical footnote, being a groundbreaking movie for its time, than as an evergreen morality tale that subsequent generations can learn from

·       The film’s time period, sociocultural milieu, character types and situations aren’t very applicable to modern times, making it more of a curious artifact than a topical social message picture for the 21^st century.

OTHER FILMS THAT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ANTI-SEMITISM

·       The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

·       Crossfire, also released in 1947

·       School Ties (1992)

·       Liberty Heights (1999)

·       Focus (2001)

OTHER FILMS BY ELIA KAZAN

·       A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

• A Streetcar Named Desire
• Viva Zapata!
• On the Waterfront
• A Face in the Crowd
• East of Eden
• Splendor in the Grass