The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

8.1Approved128 minDirector: John Ford

1940 film by John Ford

The Grapes of Wrath is a 1940 American drama film directed by John Ford. It was based on John Steinbeck's 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Nunnally Johnson and the executive producer was Darryl F. Zanuck.

The film tells the story of the Joads, an Oklahoma family of sharecroppers, who, after losing their farm to increased mechanization during the Great Depression in the 1930s, become migrant workers, and end up in California. The motion picture details their arduous journey across the United States as they travel to California in search of work and opportunities for the family members, and features cinematography by Gregg Toland, who was on loan from Samuel Goldwyn Productions.

The film is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. In 1989, it was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Grapes of Wrath about?
The Grapes of Wrath (1940) — The Joad clan, introduced to the world in John Steinbeck's iconic novel, is looking for a better life in California. After their drought-ridden farm is seized by the bank, the family -- led by just-paroled son Tom -- loads up a truck and heads West. On the road, beset by hardship
Is The Grapes of Wrath based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Grapes of Wrath scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.