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| The Grapes of Wrath | 
 enlarge | Director: John Ford
Actors: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Charley Grapewin, Dorris Bowdon
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.38
You Save: $8.60 (57%)
Buy New/Used from $6.38
Avg. Customer Rating:  (103 reviews)
Sales Rank: 895
Format: Black & White, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 128 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2220331D
UPC: 024543103301
EAN: 0024543103301
ASIN: B0000DJZ8R
Release Date: April 6, 2004
Theatrical Release Date: March 15, 1940
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Description
This remarkable film version of Steinbeck?s novel was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, Actor (Henry Fonda), Film Editing, Sound and Writing. John Ford won the Best Director Oscar and actress Jane Darwell won Best Actress for her portrayal of Ma Joad, the matriarch of the struggling migrant farmer family. Following a prison term he served for manslaughter, Tom Joad returns to find his family homestead overwhelmed by weather and the greed of the banking industry. With little work potential on the horizon of the Oklahoma dust bowls, the entire family packs up and heads for the promised land ? California. But the arduous trip and harsh living conditions they encounter offer little hope, and family unity proves as daunting a challenge as any other they face.
Amazon.com essential video
Ranking No. 21 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest American films, this 1940 classic is a bit dated in its noble sentimentality, but it remains a luminous example of Hollywood classicism from the peerless director of mythic Americana, John Ford. Adapted by Nunnally Johnson from John Steinbeck's classic novel, the film tells a simple story about Oklahoma farmers leaving the depression-era dustbowl for the promised land of California, but it's the story's emotional resonance and theme of human perseverance that makes the movie so richly and timelessly rewarding. It's all about the humble Joad family's cross-country trek to escape the economic devastation of their ruined farmland, beginning when Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) returns from a four-year prison term to discover that his family home is empty. He's reunited with his family just as they're setting out for the westbound journey, and thus begins an odyssey of saddening losses and strengthening hopes. As Ma Joad, Oscar-winner Jane Darwell is the embodiment of one of America's greatest social tragedies and the "Okie" spirit of pressing forward against all odds (as she says, "because we're the people"). A documentary-styled production for which Ford and cinematographer Gregg Toland demanded painstaking authenticity, The Grapes of Wrath is much more than a classy, old-fashioned history lesson. With dialogue and scenes that rank among the most moving and memorable ever filmed, it's a classic among classics--simply put, one of the finest films ever made. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 98 more reviews...
 Great film, great story, great package January 3, 2009
With endless comprehensive reviews of "The Grapes of Wrath" available on Amazon and no reason to speculate about whether the film or the book is superior (different mediums, different strengths), it is worth noting the following about this DVD:
- the print of the film has been restored from the best available sources and is very good. The restoration comparison really demonstrates how much clearer the picture is, restoring much of the skilled lighting and preserving the deep focus photography
- the commentary is very helpful because it provides the historical context of the story as well as information about the courage of Darryl F Zanuck to produce a box office hit of almost documentary content.
- the newsreels are particularly cogent. We see people whose story the film tells.
- the A&E Biography program on Zanuck is a worthwhile documentary on this giant of the film industry.
- The original theatrical trailer is included. It generates interest in the film without actually showing any scenes from it.
- Zanuck's tagged on upbeat ending does undermine the integrity of the book, the ending of which would never have survived the censorship.
This is a very good package and can be purchased as part of one of the Ford at Fox sets.
"Grapes of Wrath" classic December 29, 2008
The quality was exceptional considering it was originally a film format that had to be digitally remastered to bring it to DVD. I am highly pleased with this product.
 Disc is DEFECTIVE... December 7, 2008
This is a review for the actual disc not the movie. This disc is defective and will not play the full film. The first hour plays fine, but after that the disc freezes and/or jumps to much later scenes. There were marks (like scratches) along the outside of the disc when package was opened. All "tricks" to get a defective disc to play do not work (e.g., cleaning with alcohol, toothpaste). Save your money and DO NOT BUY THIS DISC. There are many other reviewers who have had this same problem so please be wary of purchasing this disc.
the grapes of wrath November 30, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bay a few copies, but we can not play them in Holland.
It is a shame, by for nothing.
Amazon wil sell but don't tel we can not use the dvd.
Shame you Amazon,
willem kuiper
wjc.kuiper@chello.nl
JOHN FORD'S CLASSIC B/W VERSION November 22, 2008
The Grapes of Wrath
US 1940 128mins. bw
AFTER THE DUST BOWL DISASTER OF THE THIRTIES, OKLAHOMA FARMERS TREK TO CALIFORNIA IN THE HOPE OF A BETTER LIFE. A SUPERB FILM WHICH COULD SCARELY BE IMPROVED UPON. THOUGH THE ENDING IS SOFTENED FROM THE BOOK, THERE WAS TOO MUCH HERE FOR FILM-GOERS TO CHEW ON. ACTING, CINEMATOGRAPHY AND DIRECTION COMBINE TO MAKE THIS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE. GREAT QUOTES FROM THE FILM WHICH I CHERISH:
(1) TOM(HENRY FONDA): THIS HERE'S WILLIAM JAMES JOAD, DIED OF A STOKE, OLD, OLD MAN. HIS FOLKS BURIED HIM BECAUSE THEY GOT NO MONEY TO PAY FOR FUNERALS. NOBODY KILLED HIM. JUST A STROKE, AND HE DIED.
(2) MA(JANE DARWELL): Rich fellas come up, an' they die, an' thier kids ain't no good, an they die out. But we keep-a-comin'. We're the people that live. Can't lick us. We'll go on forever, Pa, because we're the people.
MA: Well, Pa, woman can change bettern a man. Man lives - well in jerks. Baby born or somebody dies - that's a jerk. With a woman it's all one flow, like a stream - little eddies, little waterfalls - but the river, it goes right on. Woman looks at it that way.
A GENUINELY GREAT MOTION PICTURE. ACOORDING TO DAD, " THE MOST MATURE MOTION PICTURE THAT HAS EVER BEEN MADE, IN FEELING, IN PURPOSE AND IN THE USE OF THE MEDIUM." PERSONALLY I FEEL THAT IT IS A SEERING AND SINCERE INDICTMENT OF A MAN'S CRUEL INDIFFERENCE TO HIS FELLOWS. IT RECEIVED ACADEMY NOMINATIONS FOR BEST PICTURE(Nunnally Jhonson) BEST ACTOR(HANK FONDA). IT WON BEST DIRECTOR: JOHN FORD and BEST ACTRESS: JANE DARWELL.
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