Just read Spielberg is considering a re-make of the Grapes of Wrath. No one can match the original in which Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell won academy awards. I can't imagine how this can be done rightfully as TGoW is one of the best classic american movies ever made along with such as Casablanca. It was true to the times and shows in its own way why so many fought and died to form unions in this country,even though unionism in the farming industry didn't really take hold until the 60s-70s when Caesar Chavez came along. The movie and those that were depicted as just wanting to be treated fairly by their employers was/is of interest to me particularly as I went to school with the children of the migrants of the 40s and I remember vividly the overloaded cars of those looking for places to work and stay without the harrassment of being mistreated and oftentimes being referred to as dirty commies. This will probably come off as bad as when that dipshit,Ted Turner started "colorizing" old classic movies,which is something I still don't understand why anyone with half a brain would do. I say leave 'em alone ,Stephan and if you have so much respect for them---make sure the originals are shown to modern audiences. That movie in particular was relevant then and is relevant now.
I agree...and I always thought "colorizing" really made those wonderful old movies look weird/off. SS needs to just stick to alien movies. He definitely should leave TGoW alone! If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I've never seen the movie but its a great book. I don't recall the last book to movie adaptation I've liked so I'll probably skip this one.
As I under stand the grapes of wrath , it was as much about the dust boll , people leaving OK for CA . P.B.S. made a good story on the dust boll , how some stayed , tuffed it out others left for CA , ect.
A few places I've lived ,there were little movie houses that showed the classics like GoW,The Man Who Came to Dinner,Tobacco Road,God's Little Acre, some Jeanette McDonald-Nelson Eddy movies like Maytime. Before VCRs,I showed some of these at a friends restaraunt(sp?) on Sunday and Monday nights with two borrowed projectors from a local school and a rented screen. I got them from Hollywood and Chicago in 16 millimeter. Had a great time. Also showed short subjects like they used to do in the "old" days. Charged just enough to pay for the movies--profit wasn't a motive--there was only one old theater in town showing new movies on one screen. Lincoln City Oregon back in the early 70s. I agree about some of the trash they show now. The Bijou here in Eugene at least shows movies that are usually only seen on Redford's channel-Sundance,but some newer ones. I saw Winter's Bone there.
The copyrights expired on the old B/W films, giving people like Turner new ways of using technology to make some money off them without serious legal response. The short subject films are long gone from the American mainstream Hollywood market. So are the long epics. The U.S mainstream industry has been narrowed down to moderate-length films that can maximize a profit, which has removed variety, creativity, and latitude that the mainstream film industry once had.
The old films are still there for any one to view them . The new one will stand on there on merit . If there good people will watch them , if not they will gather dust .
It looks to me that accountants are running the movie business. "hey,lets make sure that lots and lots of shit blows up. Otherwise,we're not backing you",which is what I imagine goes on when prospectives try to get financing. No matter. It is what it is and as soon as I say that the 40s and 50s(and the middle and end of the 30s) was the golden age of movies it will be---yeah --another old man saying the old days were better.
Turner Classic Movies is probably my favorite TV station. Just watched A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I've always loved I Remember Mama. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Qmi8llvI4"]I Remember Mama - Trailer - YouTube And I must say that if colorization is done correctly, for certain films, I love it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2M1n9r29Zs"]The 3 Stooges B&W & Color Trailer.wmv - YouTube
Assuming they do remake The Grapes of Wrath. Who would you pick for the actors? Tom Joad - Sean Penn Pa Joad - Anthony Hopkins Ma Joad - Sally Field I don't know. I don't really like any of my picks, I keep thinking of older ones, that are unfortunately, all gone.
Sorry meagain. Not enough stuff blowing up! Why,you bugger you--colorization?? It's akin to religious blasphemy to colorize!! I refuse to participate in picking new actors for TGoW. (maybe because I'm an old crack!!) I would have walked 5000 miles just to say hello to Margaret O'Brian!!
