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The Grapes of Wrath

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
92K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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 D... 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
92K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Ford
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson(screen play)
    • John Steinbeck(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Jane Darwell
    • John Carradine
Top credits
  • 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
    • 382User reviews
    • 103Critic reviews
    • 96Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #231
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 10 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

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

    Photos127

    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 Joadas Tom Joad
    Jane Darwell
    Jane Darwell
    • Ma Joadas Ma Joad
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Jim Casyas Jim Casy
    Charley Grapewin
    Charley Grapewin
    • Grandpa Joadas Grandpa Joad
    Dorris Bowdon
    Dorris Bowdon
    • Rosasharn Riversas Rosasharn Rivers
    Russell Simpson
    Russell Simpson
    • Pa Joadas Pa Joad
    O.Z. Whitehead
    O.Z. Whitehead
    • Al Joadas Al Joad
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Muley Batesas Muley Bates
    Eddie Quillan
    Eddie Quillan
    • Connie Riversas Connie Rivers
    Zeffie Tilbury
    Zeffie Tilbury
    • Grandma Joadas Grandma Joad
    Frank Sully
    Frank Sully
    • Noah Joadas Noah Joad
    Frank Darien
    Frank Darien
    • Uncle John Joadas Uncle John Joad
    Darryl Hickman
    Darryl Hickman
    • Winfield Joadas Winfield Joad
    Shirley Mills
    Shirley Mills
    • Ruthie Joadas Ruthie Joad
    Roger Imhof
    Roger Imhof
    • Thomasas Thomas
    Grant Mitchell
    Grant Mitchell
    • Caretakeras Caretaker
    Charles D. Brown
    • Wilkieas Wilkie
    John Arledge
    John Arledge
    • Davisas Davis
    • Director
      • John Ford
    • Writers
      • Nunnally Johnson(screen play)
      • John Steinbeck(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The Joad clan, introduced to the world in John Steinbeck's iconic novel, is looking for a better life in California. After their drought-ridden farm is seized by the bank, the family -- led by just-paroled son Tom -- loads up a truck and heads West. On the road, beset by hardships, the Joads meet dozens of other families making the same trek and holding onto the same dream. Once in California, however, the Joads soon realize that the promised land isn't quite what they hoped. —Jwelch5742
    • great depression
    • bakersfield california
    • penny candy
    • colorado river bridge
    • softhearted truck drivers
    • 159 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The thousands who have read the book will know why WE WILL NOT SELL ANY CHILDREN TICKETS to see this picture!
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Steinbeck loved the movie and said that Henry Fonda as Tom Joad made him "believe my own words".
    • 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 reviews382

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A marvellous production of Steinbeck's epic.
    Henry Fonda's portrayal of Tom Joad captures perfectly the humanity and compassion of the Steinbeck character, an ex-con who breaks his parole conditions by joining his family in their epic journey across the southern US to a "better life" in California.

    This is not the usual Hollywood fare. Tragedy and betrayal beset the Joad family from the outset. But it is nonetheless an uplifting movie. Spirit, compassion and tenderness mark them out. Fonda's role is particularly understated, and we see, as in Steinbeck's masterly epic, the maternally robust figure of Ma holding the family together.

    The performances all round are wonderful, and Ford's direction and sense of space under the big sky of the Midwest is breathtaking.

    This film is now largely a testament to the time in which it was set, but like the war movies that were soon to follow, a story that needed telling lest we forget.
    helpful•88
    16
    • 29055
    • Jan 5, 1999

    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
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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

    Technical specs

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

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