How did I get to Hollywood? By train. -John FordArguably one of American's greatest directors, John Ford was admired by the likes of Orson Welles for his artistry. While he did do other types of films, he was and still is best known for his Westerns. He won 4 Oscars for Best Director, a record that still stands today. Maybe there really is no argument, then. He was an interesting guy, never really considering himself an artist. But as history has shown us, many of the greats don't. Read all about him here.
Initial reaction: I've read John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath, and to be honest, I wasn't sure how I would like the movie before I saw it. I appreciated the story within the context of the Great Depression, and Steinbeck is a very moving author, so I thought it would be difficult to translate such a story to the film. However, I felt that the film did an excellent job inserting cinema-specific elements that highlighted the mood of the novel, which was a sad one. And visually, it's absolutely stunning.
Question posed for screening: What are some moments in the film that are purely cinematic (or in other words, can only be shown in a film)?
A purely cinematic trope that I saw throughout this film was Ford's ability to show the desolation of the setting. The film takes place in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, so already we know that this story has a strong sense of desperation and uncertainty. The setting becomes a character itself, reinforcing the emotions that the characters are already feeling.
Moment 1. Wind blowing dust
No other medium could allow the dust and dirt to be in motion. How Ford chose to set up these shots is just stunning. You really get a good sense of how dirty and dry the setting is, reinforcing the themes of isolation and desolation present throughout the film.
Something else that magnifies these themes even more is the feeling that neither you nor the characters can escape. The dust is literally everywhere. There is absolutely no escaping the harsh elements, both in the story and in the physical setting.
Again, the wind allows the setting to become a character on its own. By seeing how badly the dust affects how the characters walk, interact, breath, and see, we can see how the setting and characters interact with/affect each other. The physical space becomes yet another barrier holding the characters back.
Moment 2. Vehicles in movement over a large space
Another purely cinematic aspect of the film would be how the film creates the physical space in which the characters interact and live. The Dust Bowl- at least in how we see in it in the film- is HUGE. There is absolutely no escaping the desolate surroundings. Every way the camera turns, we see more dust. We see more nothingness. We know how large a car is, so we can use that knowledge as a reference. These shots only help to intensify the feeling of helplessness that is so obvious during the film.
Moreover, no other medium would allow viewers to see the physical distance between the characters and the moving vehicle in this huge space. Something neat Ford does is show, in real time, a car approaching the characters (or an area near where the characters are). He doesn't just show the car far away, edit it, and then show it close up. We as spectators are forced to wait the full amount of time with the characters and watch as the cars approach, waiting for the action or dialogue to resume again. During scenes where there is tension, this is an extremely effective technique.
***
Rating: I really liked this movie, if only for how visually stunning the film is. For those of you who judge a movie based mostly (or solely) on plot, this may not be the film for you. Steinbeck's story is a tough one to sit though, so it may not be something to watch for a night of light entertainment. How Ford uses the visual medium of film to bring it to life, however, is something to be admired. The cinematography, the use of sound, the lighting...I could go on. But I won't, because I think it's definitely worth judging for yourself.
No other medium could allow the dust and dirt to be in motion. How Ford chose to set up these shots is just stunning. You really get a good sense of how dirty and dry the setting is, reinforcing the themes of isolation and desolation present throughout the film.
Something else that magnifies these themes even more is the feeling that neither you nor the characters can escape. The dust is literally everywhere. There is absolutely no escaping the harsh elements, both in the story and in the physical setting.
Again, the wind allows the setting to become a character on its own. By seeing how badly the dust affects how the characters walk, interact, breath, and see, we can see how the setting and characters interact with/affect each other. The physical space becomes yet another barrier holding the characters back.
Moment 2. Vehicles in movement over a large space
Another purely cinematic aspect of the film would be how the film creates the physical space in which the characters interact and live. The Dust Bowl- at least in how we see in it in the film- is HUGE. There is absolutely no escaping the desolate surroundings. Every way the camera turns, we see more dust. We see more nothingness. We know how large a car is, so we can use that knowledge as a reference. These shots only help to intensify the feeling of helplessness that is so obvious during the film.
Moreover, no other medium would allow viewers to see the physical distance between the characters and the moving vehicle in this huge space. Something neat Ford does is show, in real time, a car approaching the characters (or an area near where the characters are). He doesn't just show the car far away, edit it, and then show it close up. We as spectators are forced to wait the full amount of time with the characters and watch as the cars approach, waiting for the action or dialogue to resume again. During scenes where there is tension, this is an extremely effective technique.
***
Rating: I really liked this movie, if only for how visually stunning the film is. For those of you who judge a movie based mostly (or solely) on plot, this may not be the film for you. Steinbeck's story is a tough one to sit though, so it may not be something to watch for a night of light entertainment. How Ford uses the visual medium of film to bring it to life, however, is something to be admired. The cinematography, the use of sound, the lighting...I could go on. But I won't, because I think it's definitely worth judging for yourself.
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