What it’s about
This triumphant film adaptation of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning book tells the story of the Joad family, farming Okies who lose everything in the devastating Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. They are forced to pack their meager possessions into a jalopy and drive west to California in a desperate search for a second chance. Will they make it?
Why we love it
Here the brilliant John Ford creates pure cinematic poetry, with Henry Fonda giving the performance of his career as Tom Joad, and actress Jane Darwell winning an Oscar for her brilliant portrayal of Tom's beleaguered mother. A moving and authentic depiction of one of our country’s most difficult periods — and the sturdy, decent men and women who weathered it — this timeless entry speaks to the indomitable nature of the human spirit. Unquestionably, this is one of the all-time cinematic champs, and a Ford peak. Pick these “Grapes!”