"Wherever you look...I'll be there"

The ghost of Tom Joad still haunts movie lovers whenever they revisit "The Grapes of Wrath," the near-perfect 1940 adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel, helmed by master director John Ford. Joad and his family stand in for all oppressed peoples of all eras and serve as a reminder that a family collective can rise above adversity--to a point. CineVerse last discussed this film nine years ago, at the start of The Great Recession, when attendees found that its messages continued to ring true and resonate decades later. In 2018, "The Grapes of Wrath" still wields an undeniable power to stir and inspire viewers. Here are several reasons why, as talked about last night:

WHY WOULD THIS FILM HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BOLD AND CONTROVERSIAL FOR 1940?

• It was probably the most liberal film of pre WWII Hollywood; it was perhaps the closest a mainstream Hollywood movie ever came up that time to advocating socialism. 
• With its populist message and pro-labor themes, it angered many in the business world, law enforcement and power establishment; Californians particularly took umbrage to how they were criticized. 
• This was really the first serious mainstream drama about the plight of those suffering during the Great Depression, 11 years after it had begun. 

THEMES EXAMINED IN THE MOVIE:

• Economic inequalities and social injustice and how one man can make a difference 
• The individual may fall, but a unified community will prevail 
• The empty promise of the American dream 
• The journey to the promised land of California is like the biblical exodus to Canaan 
• The importance of the survival of the family unit and a document of its inevitable disintegration 
• The resiliency of the human spirit and the survival of dignity in the face of adversity 
• How only the fittest often survive in human evolution 
• Those with well-run machines have the power; the Joads are trying to keep their broken-down machine running to regain power and autonomy 
• Faith in FDR: the camp manager looks like and is meant to evoke President Roosevelt and his New Deal politics 

WHAT DOES CASEY’S CHARACTER REPRESENT IN THE FILM?

• A Christ-like figure with the same initials J.C., who must wander in the wilderness like Christ did 
• He also symbolizes a Ralph Waldo Emerson philosophy—waxing poetically that a man’s soul was just part of a larger communal soul. 
• He becomes an inspiration to Tom, who is kind of like Peter the apostle, who must spread Casey’s gospel and keep the faith.

HOW DO YOU INTERPRET STEINBECK’S TITLE, THE GRAPES OF WRATH? 

• It hints that a time of reckoning is coming; that the almighty would merit out justice on the oppressors of the righteous. 
• California, where the Joads are heading, is known for its grape vineyards and its winemaking.

CONSIDERING DIRECTOR JOHN FORD’S EXPERTISE WITH WESTERNS, WHY WAS HE THE IDEAL DIRECTOR TO HELM THIS PICTURE?

• Ford documented the westward migration of America’s settlers and white migration into Indian lands in many western films. 
• This film was like a sad end of the dream of the westward relocation of American settlers that had begun generations earlier. 
• Ford could also gather and direct an ensemble cast of numerous characters like few others. 
• Ford had a knack for spotlighting American values, themes of family and inspirational messages of the underdog and the common man in many of his films. 

WHAT’S INTERESTING ABOUT THE LIGHTING, CAMERAWORK AND SETS/LOCATIONS OF GRAPES OF WRATH?

• Many scenes are shot on location or in actual outdoor settings, but some are shot on sets/stages with easily identifiable cycloramas and painted backdrops, blending nightmare-like fantasy with reality. 
• The film depicts several night scenes and often employs very low levels of light, which is rare for a motion picture at this time.