1947 and we meet another superstar – the 31-year-old Gregory Peck. Just like Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Vivien Leigh, Lawrence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby before him, it seems that getting into this blog is real CV fodder!
Gregory plays New York widower, single father and journalist Phillip. Phillip is asked to write a magazine article on anti-Semitism by his boss. Himself a gentile, he initially feels unmotivated to perform the assignment. He questions his career choice but does at least enjoy the dating game outside of work – meeting his new fiancé played by Dorothy McGuire at a lunch party.
Trying to explain discrimination is difficult and he finds this when talking to his young son. This brief conversation inspires a dramatic 180 in Phillip and he becomes extremely motivated to write the article. He goes one step further and decides to pose as a Jew for 6 months to get the “inside track” on how his life in 1940s America will change. The boss loves it and is happy to spend 6 months of wages on the project.
With his adopted Jewish surname his life is indeed different. He notes the struggles Jews face in getting jobs and fitting into society. He faces discrimination from landlords, hotel owners and even his future new in-laws.
It shows us that you don’t really understand what people go through unless you walk in their shoes each day. Not all discrimination is obvious. It can be subtle and arguably that kind is worse - a slow stab to the heart rather than a knife to the jugular.
This is an important film with an important message that came at a time in history when it was as needed then as it is now. It is not however a great film in itself. It’s not edge of your seat stuff that will occupy your mind for months afterwards and it's headed for a 6.
Rating:
6/10
Reflections:
1. The silence of the majority can be the oxygen for the persecution of the minority.
Oscar Best Picture Rankings:
1. Casablanca (1943)
2. Rebecca (1940)
3. Lost Weekend (1945)
4. How Green Was My Valley (1941)
5. Gone With the Wind (1939)
6. Mrs. Miniver (1942)
7. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
8. Wings (1928)
9. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
10. You can’t take it with you (1938)
11. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
12. Cimarron (1931)
13. Grand Hotel (1932)
14. It Happened One Night (1934)
15. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)
16. Cavalcade (1933)
17. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
18. Going My Way (1944)
19. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
20. The Broadway Melody (1929)
With credit to the patrons of the Best Picture Film Club:
Dr Sophie Bloomfield
Dr Caspar Briault
Dr Fionnuala Durrant
I like your reflection for this film starring Gregory Peck near the start of his career. That is so true. Great to see that the film club has contributed 🙂