an anylsis of grapes of wrath

'A great man and a great American, Frank Capra is an inspiration to those who believe in the
American dream' John Ford
'The megaphone has been to John Ford what the chisel was to Michelangelo Ford Cannot be
pinned down or analyzed. He is pure Ford Which means pure great' Frank Capra
Frank Capra and John Ford have directed many classic movies and it is unfair to only view two of
their works and summarize all there is too say about their styles, so I won't. Instead, I will be
discussing different styles and conventions that Frank Capra and John Ford used in the four
movies I viewed. These movies are Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Mr Deeds goes to Town
both Capra, films and The Informer and Grapes of Wrath by Ford.
America in the 30's was a time of hardship economically, politically and socially. If you have
taken an American history course you know all about the depression and the crisis that it bestowed
upon the land. Hollywood, the movie making capital of the world tried its best not to reflect the
problems of the country in its products. Instead of the grim realities of world, Hollywood lured in
the audience with escapist movies. The classic thirties genres like screwball comedies,
glamourous musicals and fantasy movies, were mere ploys to divert the sad reality of the time and
in doing so Hollywood firmly defined its role as entertainer not critic. Capra and Ford can also be
accused of following this pattern too, with other movies they made. The 30's were also a time of
the great studio system and one had to work under the control of these institutions, although both
directors managed to achieve enough fame and power that they could create their own visions.
With this power and fame, Capra and Ford were able to turn out movies that went against the
usual Hollywood style; critical of society, authority, government, newspapers, the police and
political rebels. These men where able to make movies about the injustice in the world and they
created simple folk yet(much like Forrest Gump in Capra's case) complex enough to deal and in
some cases win against the evils of the world. Although they deal with similar topics and
understands about society and man, they have different ways of delivering their message. Capra
used humor, fantasy, splendor, and a quick moving camera. Ford on the other hand used gritty
realism, harsh environments, and a static camera, with slower cuts and movements. They both can
be considered anti-establishment directors, but I would say that their movies go beyond simple
anti-establishment attitudes and actually try to and establish a new more righteous establishment.
Ford and Capra believed so much in America that during her time of great crisis in WWII, they
left Hollywood and all the money to work for the U.S. Forces. Ford became an Admiral in the

U.S. Navy and Capra a Colonel for the Army.
Of the four movies by Capra and Ford, The Informer is the only one that was not a box-office
smash at its time of release, however all four movies carry the prestigious titles of being called
some of the greatest films of all time. All these films can be enjoyed on a simplistic entertainment
level, but there is so much hidden between the texts that makes them great, therefore they were
obviously made for more than just enjoyment.
There are strong issues being dealt with about man and his relationship within the society he lives
in. From the most basic problems about individuals suffering from lack of shelter and starvation to
mass starvation and political corruption. There also seem to be the tone in Capra's and Ford's
movies that man was doing fine until society interfered with him, not just society in general but
more city society. There is a feeling that city people are corrupt and infect all that they touch,
while the simple country folk are pure and good. This point is proven over and over again, it is not
the individual that is corrupt it is the society that corrupts the individual. Deeds and Smith both
from there respective self titled movies are happy and fine living quiet sheltered lives in their
small town. As soon as city society comes knocking on their door trouble begins. Whereas when
we meet Fonda in Grapes of Wrath, society has already beaten him down and now he must rise
again or perish. Gypo too in The Informer has been defeated by society and he too must rise or
perish. So as Capra's hero's are virginal, Ford's have already been around the block a few times
but insist that they are still virgins.
The character's in Ford and Capra's movies are microcosms for all that is happening and these
movies are mainly character centered and driven so it is a fair way in dealing with their idea's.
Capra's characters are modeled on the belief that one man can make a difference and help society,
while Ford's characters are almost incapable of helping themselves. (although Fonda in Grapes of
Wrath speaks of wandering the earth to bring truth and justice to the world,) Fonda will only effect
small minorities of people, while Capra's characters change the world. Yet both styles of character
are modeled on the simple and common folk. They are naive to the world and as the movie
progresses, they and we, the audience learns how corrupt the world is, but whereas Capra gives
you the golden ending, (believable and happy) Ford takes a much more cynical look. Gypo the
main character is killed while the Joad family future in Grapes of Wrath is not that much better
than when they statred out.

Capra's heroes come from small town, happy middle America and are the epitome of the common
man. They are well liked and respected in the community that they live in. Capra's men have
greatness thrust on them by luck, while Ford 's characters have trouble thrust upon them. Both
Smith and Deeds achieve their honored positions by the misfortune of someone else. In both cases
it is the death of a famous individual who perishes and Deed's and Smith are called up from the
ranks of the common people to eventually achieve greatness. However, their call is based on pure
luck. Deeds luck was due because he was an heir of a wealthy relative, and Smith because a coin
toss ends with the coin standing erect. Ford's men come from the outside of society, Fonda from
prison and Gypo had been kicked out of the IRA. They have been disgraced and are at low points
in their lives, while Fonda tries to redeem himself in a society that keeps dropping him down. He
is released from prison, finds out the authorities have taken his home and starts out with nothing.
Fonda tries his hardest not to become a 'Mean Man'.(Ma Joad's name for what happens when you
go to prison and become evil) Gypo also wants redemption but is so lost in a society that rejects
him. The society in this case is the IRA and once Gypo is kicked out he has no money and
becomes lost. He wants to do good but is helpless until the end when he begs and is granted
forgiveness and dies redeemed, religiously speaking.
Ford used religion in both movies as turning points and a way to reflect the inner struggle of
characters, the death of the preacher changes Fonda forever and Gypo's redemption in the church
where he has at last found peace. Capra on the other hand uses real American monuments in the
same way. Grant's Tomb and the Capitol building are seen by Deeds and Smith as great American
institutions that symbolize the truth and greatness of their nation. During the monument scenes we
learn a lot about the inner emotions of the characters. No one else see's the beauty and ideological
importance of these monuments as we are told by supporting characters but this reflects that
twentieth century man has lost his faith in the institution. Although Capra's movies can be
considered to show American society and authority in poor light, he on the surface can be
considered anti-establishment or anti-American, but on a deeper level he is more
pro-establishment and American because he wants the institutes to work and mean something, not
just to be hollow houses to be used by the wealthy and cunning to swindle the land. Smith
actually argues these point when he is holding the filibuster and is trying to explain why kids must
learn to understand an appreciate the Constituent. So when they grow up they hold them of value

and the principals of the founding father actually meaning something. Ford too shows the same if
not even stronger anti-establishment views. At the same time as tearing down the institution they
support but not in its present corrupt form making these directors super-patriots, they are willing
to go against something they believe to be wrong in the hope it will get better. In this way both
Ford and Capra can be seen as Caprasque heroes both men somehow achieved enough luck that
they where in a position to change the world and they did.
Ford and Capra also make comments on the society of the educated man and the written word. In
fact the written word is used by both directors in various forms, it motivates, destroys and can
redeem. The written word is always paralleled with money or prosperity but, once unmasked is
usually wrong or bad. Gypo sees a poster of his friend that reads reward 20 pounds, Gypo out of
confusion turned to this poster and betrays his friend and his society for the money. The Joad
family is of on a quest to California on account that they read a pamphlet, this could be compared
to the newspaper clip Ma Joad has of her son's imprisonment. In both these Ford movies the news
or the written word is somehow a motivation for people to do something. But the written word
always leads to misfortune. Comparing the pamphlet with the article on Fonda's imprisonment
could symbolize and verify that nothing good ever comes from the written word. Ford way of
secretly criticizing the learned man. Perhaps he is commenting on the fact that we pay to much
attention to what is written, which could lead to our downfall. Don't just believe what you read
investigate to find out the truth. Later on in Grapes of Wrath we find out that the pamphlet is
actually a tool of the rich man to lure lots of workers out to California so they can offer really low
wages. The wealthy man controls the news and will always use it to his advantage, even though
most common folks believe what they read they must learn not to be so blind.
The use of newspapers and written words are more obvious in the two Capra films. They not only
affect the characters but they also help explain the story to the audience. In the Capra films we
learn that news is subjective to mistruths and when silly stories appear of Deeds in the paper we
know they were not meant in the context that they were printed. Yet it seems that in Capra's films
the society believes without question everything they read in the paper, yet as spectators we learn
the truth about the media. Babe the reporter who loves Deeds says in the court room she colored
the articles to sell more papers. Finally when we are introduced to Taylor in Smith we realizes
how corrupt the news actually really is. Taylor's name can be used as a metaphor for tailor as

someone who alters something. Although control of the paper is done in typical Capra fashion, by
the power of one man. The newspaper is another institution that must be unveiled because it has
the power to confuse and corrupt people. Taylor is the ultimate in corruption and when Babe was
working for the paper she too cheats. Anyone associated with the written word is portrayed in a
cynical or devious ways.
Finally the most destructive theme in Ford's and Capra's movies is money. Money is used in many
ways in these four films sometimes their is plenty and some times their is not any. Money ends up
playing a big role in each of these films, money is also used as a device to show how characters
behave when serious matters occur.
Deeds and The Informer are very similar in their dealing with money. Both movies begin with a
large written banner about money. Gypo is faced with a poster claiming reward money, while
Deeds begins with the newspaper proclaiming millionaire heir not found yet. In both cases death is
the cause that there is the transfer of money to the main characters. Gypo becomes paranoid and
drunk indirectly due to the money. Deeds also misuses his fortune at first, getting drunk and
running around New York naked. With money comes responsiablity and both Gypo and Deeds in
the beginning are not capable of handling responsesablity. It takes them many lesson to learn the
real value of money and when they firgure it out they end up givening their money away to help
someone less fortunate. Deeds gives his millions to the out of work people, while Gypo gives his
money to a lady in need of transportation home. Both cases the money is used for the purpose of
good. In Deeds the twenty million dollars brings many leeches, the same happens to Gypo with his
20 pounds. Gypo starts to spend money more and more frequently as the night wares on. He
attracts leeches who care little about Gypo but a lot about his money. These leeches end up
guiding the character into deeper and deeper trouble. Wheras Deeds has professional leeches like
lawyers, because Deed lives in the world of high fainace the thief where suits and have offices.
Both films end up using money as a test of a persons strength in the case of Gypo he fails at first
but eventually learns right even though it is too late. Deeds on the other hand passes the test at
first easily, but there are moments when he is close to failing.
Smith and Grapes of Wrath are also very similar with the use of money potrayed in these pictures.
Both are centered on the fact that society through money is being abused and the little guy can not
fight these odds. The big buisness men who smoke fat cigars and buy up land and kick off the

farmers in Grapes of Wrath are the same men that work in the Senate in Smith. These men the
wealthy are extremly greedy whereas the Joads just want enough money to feed the family and
live. These rich land owners are willing to starve children just to make more of a profit.
coincidently while the rich steal and make illegal deals to become richer the Joads do not even try
to steal a loaf of bread. Which is the point of these moves that there is more important thing than
money, even thought are society is based on it.
Capra and Ford worked very hard to achieve the positions in society they did, both grew up in
poor large families and hence started at the bottom and worked their way to the top. They lived the
American dream yet they were not so blinded by their success that they did not see the misfortune
of others. They knew the American system was corrupt and unfair and set out to criticizes and
even help change it. Either men cannot be labeled as liberal or socialist because there political
allegance was not towards a party or a theory, it was rooted in simple and obvious universal truths.
And because their movies deal with universal themes and truths I believe there movie do not or
will not ever appear old or dated.
American Film I
FA/FILM 3210
'FORD & CAPRA'
DEC 3 1996