Gregory Peck plays a magazine writer who is asked to write a series of articles on anti-Semitism. He struggles to find an angle that hasn't been done before, then realizes the only way he can write it is to live it first. He pretends to be Jewish and encounters some outspoken biased feelings from some, and even worse a politeness from others who smugly hide their prejudices but still restrict hom from joining others. This sudden "truth" about him affects his relationship with the woman he loves...and his happy son is suddenly picked on by classmates who call him derogatory Jewish slurs.It is still a powerful piece, though dated, of course. But prejudice still exists for people of all nationalities and religions. We've seen enough of that in the news to know that hate never disappears. Gregory Peck is excellent as the writer, and Dorothy McGuire turns in a good performance. Exceptional in the cast are John Garfield as the writer's best friend (who happens to be Jewish), Anne Revere as Peck's mother, and Celeste Holm, who develops a crush on him. Garfield is best known for his angry young man performances, but except for one brief moment of a fight in this film, he displays a touching inner dignity throughout the picture. Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap) is excellent as Peck's son.
The film was a difficult one to get made. It was a best-selling novel, but most of the studio heads wouldn't option the screen rights because they were Jewish and they didn't want to draw attention to themselves by making this story. Maverick producer Darryl F. Zanuck, who wasn't Jewish, was the head of the 20th Century-Fox studio at the time, bought the rights. And after it was filmed, the other studio heads offered to buy the film from him, in order to shelve it. He wouldn't sell out...and the film went on to win the Best Picture Oscar for 1947.
Many of the people in front of the cameras and behind had to face the House Un-American Activities Committee. John Garfield died a few years later of a heart attack due to the hounding by HUAC.
Video quality is exceptional, with definite grain.
Audio is also good.
Extras are carried over from the DVD: A Hollywood Backstory about the making of the movie (25 min.), a trailer, two Movietone clips, and a dry-as-dust commentary by Richard Schickel with tiny bits interjected with film stars Cleste Holm and June Havoc.
Highly recommended.
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This classic is a must for every forward thinking adult. It gives younger Americans an idea of what post WW2 life was like for young Jewish Americans. It should be counted among the best in teaching tolerance with respect to all predjudice in modern America (with the added addition of fine acting and directing.Read Best Reviews of Gentleman's Agreement (2013) Here
Studio heads were so skittish around developing any film project based on Laura Z. Hobson's stinging indictment of anti-Semitism coming just after the war during peace time, for fear of, "rocking the boat", within the Hollywood community, that all except one, Darryl F Zanuck at 20th Century Fox, had the proverbial fortitude, or guts, if you will, to actually make the film a reality. His efforts paid off handsomely Oscar night when the film won the coveted award, among others, for Best Picture of 1947.Want Gentleman's Agreement (2013) Discount?
This film was made in 1947. It is a brilliant expose of how deep prejudice and bigotry were and still are. Gregory Peck is brilliant and Elia Kazan was perfect in this portrayal of such taboo subjects.Save 24% Off
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