"GRAPES OF WRATH"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 7 December 1940, Page 8

"GRAPES OF WRATH"

A deep, stirringly human appeal draws audiences to the very heights of film entertainment in Darryl F. Zanuck's production of “The Grapes of Wrath," John Stein beek’s fearless novel. The 20th Century-Fox film, which at its world premiere achieved the biggest opening attendance in the entire histor.y of New York's 22-year-old Rivoli Theatre. Under John Ford's honest direction the Joads come to life with all the warmth, vitality and rugged humour that characterised Steinbeck's widely acclaimed novel. Both the spirit and the letter of the book have been followed with extraordinary exactness by Associate Producer Nunnally Johnson who wrote the screen plan. The many thousands .who eagerly awaited this picture will find every iota of drive and power of the original story has been retained in the screen verTom Joad. who is played by Henry Fonda, remains the courageous figure Steinbeck created. Jane Darwell's performance, as Ma Joad. makes it impossible to believe that Steinbeck did not have her in mind when he created this indomitable Oklahoma mother. Jane carries her

>1 audience in the palm of her hand ; $; while she laughs and cries, scolds her j brood and defies the forces which j if; would tear her family apart, s What is by all odds one of the most j difficult roles in the picture, that of j , cl Casy. the garrulous, crusading preach- j , e'er, is carried off with great distinction : , - bv John Carradine. As Grampa. Char-j ley Grapewin turns in the best peril formance of a long and distinguished e career. ri Doris Bowdon actually appears to 1 y re-live Rosasharn's struggle to bring d new life into the world. She more - than justifies the belief Zanuck had in is her ability to act. Similarly justified is the selection of,' e other members of the cast. Russell cl Simpson plays the part of Pa Joad f with great effectiveness. O. Z. White- . y head, who plays Al. lives up to all the - fine things that were said of him when he came to Hollywood. John Qualen ; y as Muley, and Eddie Quillan as Connie. | e are tops. As for Zeffie Tilbury, who j plays Granma. it can be said of her a that she has every ounce of Granina's j e colours and humour. n Here is the greatest novel of our] e time turned into what is undoubtedly r 1 the greatest motion picture of our day. j