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Thursday, 14 August 2008 10:34 am
Film review: Gentleman's Agreement
As a classic film lover and a man with a Jewish heritage, I pretty much had to see this one. In it, Gregory Peck as journalist Philip Schuyler Green pretends to be Jewish (only by casually saying so) in order to research American anti-Semitism for an article.
Yes, it's a message movie and therefore preachy. It also shows its age: What modern NYC inn clerk will understand the implication of "restricted" immediately to mean "restricted to Gentiles"? Nonetheless, it remains relevant, especially if you extend the idea to other human divisions. (The DVD cover calls it one of the first movies to tackle "racism" head-on, but I don't count Jews as a race. Occasionally someone mentions the oppression of blacks, but there are none in the whole movie.)
What we find is that the world is not neatly divided into decent people and haters. Most of the persecution that Green observes is not open and brazen: Culprits may equivocate with "Oh, I wouldn't say that" and do their best to sound polite, but their motives are transparent. Even members of the oppressed group can be prejudiced against the more obviously different members, or at least fear the disruptive consequences of integrating them at the office. And too many people, while highly disdainful of intolerant speech, lack the courage to retort. There are times when I think Green is a little too quick to point the finger, but reactions indicate that he usually surmises correctly.
The film does not get as severe as it could have. When Green's cute, saintly son Tom (presumably not a young version of the comedian) gets bullied, it's entirely verbal and not enough to discourage him from upholding the family facade. Even when Green's Jewish friend loses his slow temper at an open anti-Semite seeming looking for a fight, no blows are exchanged. That said, it still feels pretty realistic and gritty for 1947. Just hearing words like "kike" under the Hays Code is something, but the real drama comes from Green's project interfering with his love for fellow journalist Kathy (Dorothy McGuire, also known from The Enchanted Cottage). If you get nothing else out of the story, watch it for this. And perhaps Celeste Holm's award-winning supporting role.
I'm a little disappointed at GA's 7.3 on IMDb. That's a rating typical of divisive material. All four of the other Academy Best Picture nominees that year have a higher rating. Guess it was a good year.
EDIT: Lest you suspect it's too serious to be fun, it does get quite humorous when it tries. And only then.
Yes, it's a message movie and therefore preachy. It also shows its age: What modern NYC inn clerk will understand the implication of "restricted" immediately to mean "restricted to Gentiles"? Nonetheless, it remains relevant, especially if you extend the idea to other human divisions. (The DVD cover calls it one of the first movies to tackle "racism" head-on, but I don't count Jews as a race. Occasionally someone mentions the oppression of blacks, but there are none in the whole movie.)
What we find is that the world is not neatly divided into decent people and haters. Most of the persecution that Green observes is not open and brazen: Culprits may equivocate with "Oh, I wouldn't say that" and do their best to sound polite, but their motives are transparent. Even members of the oppressed group can be prejudiced against the more obviously different members, or at least fear the disruptive consequences of integrating them at the office. And too many people, while highly disdainful of intolerant speech, lack the courage to retort. There are times when I think Green is a little too quick to point the finger, but reactions indicate that he usually surmises correctly.
The film does not get as severe as it could have. When Green's cute, saintly son Tom (presumably not a young version of the comedian) gets bullied, it's entirely verbal and not enough to discourage him from upholding the family facade. Even when Green's Jewish friend loses his slow temper at an open anti-Semite seeming looking for a fight, no blows are exchanged. That said, it still feels pretty realistic and gritty for 1947. Just hearing words like "kike" under the Hays Code is something, but the real drama comes from Green's project interfering with his love for fellow journalist Kathy (Dorothy McGuire, also known from The Enchanted Cottage). If you get nothing else out of the story, watch it for this. And perhaps Celeste Holm's award-winning supporting role.
I'm a little disappointed at GA's 7.3 on IMDb. That's a rating typical of divisive material. All four of the other Academy Best Picture nominees that year have a higher rating. Guess it was a good year.
EDIT: Lest you suspect it's too serious to be fun, it does get quite humorous when it tries. And only then.