The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (screen play)
John Steinbeck (based on the novel by)

Release Date:

15 March 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The thousands who have read the book will know why WE WILL NOT SELL ANY CHILDREN TICKETS to see this picture!

Plot:

A poor Midwest family is forced off of their land. They travel to California, suffering the misfortunes of the homeless in the Great Depression.

Plot Keywords:

California | Farm | Oklahoma | Great Depression | Labor

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Henry Fonda	...	Tom Joad
Jane Darwell	...	Ma Joad
John Carradine	...	Casy
Charley Grapewin	...	Grandpa
Dorris Bowdon	...	Rosasharn
Russell Simpson	...	Pa Joad
O.Z. Whitehead	...	Al
John Qualen	...	Muley
Eddie Quillan	...	Connie
Zeffie Tilbury	...	Grandma
Frank Sully	...	Noah
Frank Darien	...	Uncle John
Darryl Hickman	...	Winfield
Shirley Mills	...	Ruth Joad
Roger Imhof	...	Thomas
Grant Mitchell	...	Caretaker
Charles D. Brown	...	Wilkie
John Arledge	...	Davis
Ward Bond	...	Policeman
Harry Tyler	...	Bert
William Pawley	...	Bill
Charles Tannen	...	Joe
Selmer Jackson	...	Inspection Officer (as Selmar Jackson)
Charles Middleton	...	Leader
Eddy Waller	...	Proprietor (as Eddie Waller)
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Floyd
David Hughes	...	Frank
Cliff Clark	...	City Man
Joe Sawyer	...	Bookkeeper (as Joseph Sawyer)
Frank Faylen	...	Tim
Adrian Morris	...	Agent
Hollis Jewell	...	Muley's Son
Robert Homans	...	Spencer
Irving Bacon	...	Driver
Kitty McHugh	...	Mae
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wally Albright	...	Boy Who Bragged of Eating Chicken (uncredited)
Erville Alderson	...	Arkansas Storekeeper (uncredited)
Josephine Allen	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Robert J. Anderson	...	Hungry Boy (uncredited)
Frank Atkinson	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Father (uncredited)
Trevor Bardette	...	Jule - Bouncer at Dance (uncredited)
John Binns	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Joe Bordeaux	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Leon Brace	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Henry Brahe	...	Migrant (uncredited)
George P. Breakston	...	Boy (uncredited)
Buster Brodie	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Scotty Brown	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Hal Budlong	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Nora Bush	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Russ Clark	...	Guard (uncredited)
Shirley Coates	...	Girl in Migrant Camp (uncredited)
Cal Cohen	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Cecil Cook	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Harry Cording	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Jim Corey	...	Buck Jackson - Witness at Dance (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Chef (uncredited)
Delmar Costello	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Jane Crowley	...	Migrant (uncredited)
W.H. Davis	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Helen Dean	...	Migrant (uncredited)
John Dilson	...	Bookseller (uncredited)
Lillian Drew	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Thornton Edwards	...	Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Billy Elmer	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty	...	Deputy (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Guard (uncredited)
Francis Ford	...	(unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Emily Gerdes	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Tyler Gibson	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Barney Gilmore	...	Migrant (uncredited)
William Haade	...	Deputy with Shotgun (uncredited)
Ben Hall	...	Gas Station Attendant in Bakersfield (uncredited)
Dean Hall	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Edna Hall	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Sidney Hayes	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Cliff Herbert	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Charles Herzinger	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Herbert Heywood	...	Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Harry Holden	...	Migrant (uncredited)
E.J. Kaspar	...	Migrant (uncredited)
David Kirkland	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Lillian Lawrence	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Rex Lease	...	Cop (uncredited)
Hazel Lollier	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Muley's Wife (uncredited)
Louis Mason	...	Man in Camp (uncredited)
Harry Matthews	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Scotty Mattraw	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Walter McGrail	...	Gang Leader (uncredited)
Jules Michelson	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Walter Miller	...	New Mexico Border Guard (uncredited)
Philip Morris	...	Guard (uncredited)
Frank Newburg	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Deputy #1 (uncredited)
L.F. O'Connor	...	Migrant (uncredited)
George O'Hara	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Ted Oliver	...	State Policeman (uncredited)
Inez Palange	...	Woman in Camp (uncredited)
Steve Pendleton	...	Gas Station Attendant #2 in Needles (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	...	Camp Helper (uncredited)
Walter Perry	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Walton Pindon	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Rose Plumer	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Chauncey Pyle	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Bob Reeves	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Gladys Rehfeld	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Waclaw Rekwart	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Dick Rich	...	Keene Ranch Guard (uncredited)
Gloria Roy	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Peggy Ryan	...	Hungry Girl (uncredited)
Robert Shaw	...	Gas Station Attendant #1 in Needles (uncredited)
Lee Shumway	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Georgia Simmons	...	Woman (uncredited)
C.B. Steele	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Al Stewart	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Fred - Trucker #2 at Diner (uncredited)
Paul Sutton	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook	...	Deputy / Troublemaker (uncredited)
Charles Thurston	...	Migrant (uncredited)
D.H. Turner	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Tom Tyler	...	Deputy Handcuffing Casy (uncredited)
Pearl Varvalle	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Eleanore Vogel	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Guard (uncredited)
Harry Wallace	...	Migrant (uncredited)
John Wallace	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Glen Walters	...	Woman Who Gets Shot (uncredited)
Jack Walters	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Frank Watson	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Jim Welch	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Charles West	...	Migrant (uncredited)
Dan White	...	Poor Man Walking with Woman in Transient Camp (uncredited)
Norman Willis	...	Joe - Shot at Floyd (uncredited)
Bill Wolfe	...	Square-Dance Caller (uncredited)
Bill Worth	...	Migrant (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits
Nunnally Johnson		(screen play)
John Steinbeck		(based on the novel by)

Produced by
Nunnally Johnson	....	associate producer
Darryl F. Zanuck	....	producer

Cinematography by
Gregg Toland		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert L. Simpson		(film editor) (as Robert Simpson)

Art Direction by
Richard Day		(art direction)
Mark-Lee Kirk		(art direction)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little

Costume Design by
Gwen Wakeling		(costumes)

Makeup Department
Myrtle Ford	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Gustaf Norin	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ralph Dietrich	....	production manager (uncredited)
Bernard McEveety	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Otto Brower	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Edward O'Fearna	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Wingate Smith	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Eddie Jones	....	props (uncredited)
Andy Kisch	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
William Sittel	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
George Leverett	....	sound
W.P. Mathewson	....	assistant boom operator
Edmund H. Hansen	....	sound (uncredited)
Harry Kornfield	....	assistant sound (uncredited)
Jack Miller	....	cableman (uncredited)
Robert Parrish	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Arthur Dorien	....	best boy
Charles G. Clarke	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Paul Garnett	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Eddie Garvin	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Ralph Hoge	....	grip (uncredited)
Lou Kunkel	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Bill McLellan	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Emmett Schoenbaum	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Bert Shipman	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Harry Kernell	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Josephine Perrin	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Mary Crumley	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Robert Parrish	....	negative cutter (uncredited)
Jack Wells	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Alfred Newman	....	musical direction
Danny Borzage	....	musician: accordion (uncredited)

Other crew
Tom Collins	....	technical director
Meta Stern	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1940) (USA) (theatrical) (released through) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
• Fox Films (1941) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Centfox (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (1947) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Key Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1968) (1979) (Finland) (TV) (MTV1)
• TV3 (1990) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1985) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Früchte des Zorns" - Austria, West Germany
"Les Raisins de la colère" - Canada (French title), France
"Vredens druvor" - Finland (Swedish title), Sweden
"Érik a gyümölcs" - Hungary
"As Vinhas da Ira" - Portugal
"De druiven der gramschap" - Belgium (Flemish title)
"El raïm de l'ira" - Spain (Catalan title)
"Fructele Maniei" - Romania (imdb display title)
"Furore" - Italy
"Gazap üzümleri" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Grappes d'amertume" - Belgium (French title)
"Grona gniewu" - Poland
"Grozdje gneva" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"La Viña de la ira" - Venezuela
"Las uvas de la ira" - Spain
"Las viñas de la ira" - Mexico (DVD title)
"Plodovi gneva" - Yugoslavia (Serbian title) (literal title)
"Ta stafylia tis orgis" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Viñas de ira" - Argentina
"Viacrucis" - Mexico (imdb display title)
"Vihan hedelmät" - Finland
"Vinhas da Ira" - Brazil
"Vredens druer" - Denmark
"Vredens druer" - Norway (imdb display title)

Runtime:

129 min | West Germany:108 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | UK:PG (video rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:12 | Soviet Union:(Banned) | Argentina:13 | USA:Approved (certificate #5789) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Brazil:12 | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | USA:Not Rated | Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 (re-release) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Backlot, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Beulah Bondi was tested for the role of Ma Joad. Bondi, believing that she had the part, reportedly bought an old jalopy and moved to Bakersfield (CA) to live among the migrant workers in order to research the role.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Tom Joad's semi-retarded brother, Noah, vanishes after the swimming-in-the-river sequence. In the book, Noah believes he's a burden on the family and runs away. In the film, no explanation is given for his disappearance.

Quotes:

Casy:I wouldn't pray just for a old man that's dead, 'cause he's all right. If I was to pray, I'd pray for folks that's alive and don't know which way to turn.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Boxcar Bertha (1972)

Soundtrack:

Red River Valley

A marvellous production of Steinbeck's epic.

Henry Fonda's portrayal of Tom Joad captures perfectly the humanity and compassion of the Steinbeck character, an ex-con who breaks his parole conditions by joining his family in their epic journey across the southern US to a "better life" in California.

This is not the usual Hollywood fare. Tragedy and betrayal beset the Joad family from the outset. But it is nonetheless an uplifting movie. Spirit, compassion and tenderness mark them out. Fonda's role is particularly understated, and we see, as in Steinbeck's masterly epic, the maternally robust figure of Ma holding the family together.

The performances all round are wonderful, and Ford's direction and sense of space under the big sky of the Midwest is breathtaking.

This film is now largely a testament to the time in which it was set, but like the war movies that were soon to follow, a story that needed telling lest we forget.