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IMDbPro

The Grapes of Wrath

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
95K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,546
908
Henry Fonda, John Carradine, Jane Darwell, Dorris Bowdon, Frank Darien, and Russell Simpson in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Theatrical Trailer from 20th Century Fox
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
99+ Photos
Drama
An Oklahoma family, driven off their farm by the poverty and hopelessness of the Dust Bowl, joins the westward migration to California, suffering the misfortunes of the homeless in the Great... Read allAn Oklahoma family, driven off their farm by the poverty and hopelessness of the Dust Bowl, joins the westward migration to California, suffering the misfortunes of the homeless in the Great Depression.An Oklahoma family, driven off their farm by the poverty and hopelessness of the Dust Bowl, joins the westward migration to California, suffering the misfortunes of the homeless in the Great Depression.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
95K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,546
908
  • Director
    • John Ford
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson(screen play)
    • John Steinbeck(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Jane Darwell
    • John Carradine
  • Director
    • John Ford
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson(screen play)
    • John Steinbeck(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Jane Darwell
    • John Carradine
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 433User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
    • 96Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #233
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 10 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Grapes of Wrath
    Trailer 2:22
    Watch The Grapes of Wrath

    Photos129

    Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Jane Darwell and Russell Simpson in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda, John Carradine, and John Qualen in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    O.Z. Whitehead in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, Dorris Bowdon, Frank Darien, Darryl Hickman, Shirley Mills, Russell Simpson, and O.Z. Whitehead in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, and Dorris Bowdon in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
    Henry Fonda, Dorris Bowdon, Frank Darien, Eddie Quillan, Russell Simpson, Frank Sully, and O.Z. Whitehead in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Tom Joad
    Jane Darwell
    Jane Darwell
    • Ma Joad
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Casy
    Charley Grapewin
    Charley Grapewin
    • Grandpa
    Dorris Bowdon
    Dorris Bowdon
    • Rosasharn
    Russell Simpson
    Russell Simpson
    • Pa Joad
    O.Z. Whitehead
    O.Z. Whitehead
    • Al
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Muley
    Eddie Quillan
    Eddie Quillan
    • Connie
    Zeffie Tilbury
    Zeffie Tilbury
    • Grandma
    Frank Sully
    Frank Sully
    • Noah
    Frank Darien
    Frank Darien
    • Uncle John
    Darryl Hickman
    Darryl Hickman
    • Winfield
    Shirley Mills
    Shirley Mills
    • Ruth Joad
    Roger Imhof
    Roger Imhof
    • Thomas
    Grant Mitchell
    Grant Mitchell
    • Caretaker
    Charles D. Brown
    • Wilkie
    John Arledge
    John Arledge
    • Davis
    • Director
      • John Ford
    • Writers
      • Nunnally Johnson(screen play)
      • John Steinbeck(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Prior to filming, producer Darryl F. Zanuck sent undercover investigators out to the migrant camps to see if John Steinbeck had been exaggerating about the squalor and unfair treatment meted out there. He was horrified to discover that, if anything, Steinbeck had actually downplayed what went on in the camps.
    • Goofs
      When Casy and Tom are walking along the road towards the Joads' old farm, their shadows can be seen on the painted backdrop behind them. Also you can hear the reverberation caused by the film stage when they speak.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Ma Joad: Rich fellas come up an' they die, an' their kids ain't no good an' they die out. But we keep a'comin'. We're the people that live. They can't wipe us out; they can't lick us. We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people.

    • Alternate versions
      International distributions (e.g. UK) have a short ~30 second prologue at the beginning to explain the historical context to the story to touch on the socio-economic problems in the US which arose during the Great Depression and the concurrent Dust Bowl.
    • Connections
      Edited into John Ford: The Man Who Invented America (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Red River Valley
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Played during the opening credits and often in the score

      Sung by Henry Fonda at the dance

    User reviews433

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Fine Cast & Production
    This classic adaptation of "The Grapes of Wrath" features a fine cast as well as a skillful production headed by director John Ford. Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell are well-remembered for their roles, which are among the defining roles in their careers. The only limitations that it has come from the original novel, with its heartfelt but sometimes contrived story.

    Besides Fonda and Darwell, the supporting cast features plenty of good supporting players, including Charley Grapewin and John Carradine. All of them make their characters come alive believably. They also fit together well and complement one another's performances, which accentuates the themes involved in the struggles of the Joad family.

    For all that the Steinbeck novel is so revered, and for all that his story is an often compelling depiction of its characters, with whom many in the era could identify, it would have been better if it had not been so heavy-handed. Even given that the times were bad, more balance in the characters outside of the family, and in the Joads' experiences, would have made it an even better story. Certainly, this is barely even noticeable when compared with the stories in many present-day movies and novels, which often dispense with any attempts at plausibility.

    And that does not stop this adaptation from being a worthwhile and often moving film. Ford clearly appreciated the potential in the material, and he and the cast work together to make each character count, and to give meaning to each scene.
    helpful•23
    8
    • Snow Leopard
    • Oct 26, 2004

    FAQ10

    • Near the end of the film, Tom's employer shows the workers a flyer talking about "Red agitators" and Tom asks about the meaning of the message -- what's the message?
    • What is 'The Grapes of Wrath' about?
    • Is "The Grapes of Wrath" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 15, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Highway 66
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Rosa, New Mexico, USA(service station, diner, bridge, train sequence)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $800,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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