Gentleman's Agreement
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Movie Reviews of Gentleman's Agreement
Movie Review: GUILTY
Summary: 5 Stars
It happens all the time. Someone tells a joke--or perhaps you tell one yourself. Just a little joke about "those people." I've done it, and very likely you have done it too. But it's really okay. We're not prejudiced, and we're not hurting any one. It's just a little private laugh between friends.
Based on the celebrated but now sadly neglected novel by Laura Z. Hobson, GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT is a story about the little jokes that people tell because they want to fit in--and the jokes that people let pass because they don't want to make a scene. And it is about the way in which such incidents enable still darker prejudices that strike directly at the heart of all the people we make the little jokes about.
Philip Schuyler Green has been employed to write an expose of anti-Semitism in post-WWII America--and he has an inspiration. He will pretend to be Jewish himself and experience anti-Semitism first hand. But the little jokes are soon followed by little patronizations, the patronizations give way to ill-concealed racism and religious prejudice, and what began as a magazine job begins to shake Green to his very foundations. It will threaten his friendships, his relationship with the socialite he hopes to marry, the well-being of his mother, and ultimately the safety of his child.
Critics are fond of pointing out that the film is flawed. That is true enough: the first quarter hour feels a bit slow, leading man Gregory Pecks seems to lack conviction in his earliest scenes, and the script often calls upon its characters to philosophize in an unlikely way; the last scene in the film also rings false. In terms of performance, the cast is stylistically divided: half perform in what might be called "the standard Hollywood style" of the day, half adopt an approach that we recognize as modern. Nonetheless, these become trivial issues in the face of the powerful statement involved; everything goes down before it, and if you unexpectedly and most unpleasantly see yourself reflected in one or more characters or situations, don't feel alone.
Critics are also fond of stating that changing times have left the subject dated. Well, you tell me... when was the last time you heard one of those "little jokes?" True enough, it may not have been about Jews. It might have been about African-Americans. Or Mexicans. Or gays. Or was it, given today's environment, just a little joke about Moslems? To our great shame, the overall point of GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT remains as deadly accurate today as it was more than half a century ago.
The DVD has several bonuses. Most notable are the "Back Story" documentary produced by AMC and the commentary led by critic Richard Schickel. The transfer, although not excellent, is good. And the story is as unfortunately pertinent as ever.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
In Memory of Bob Zeidler, Amazon Reviewer
Greatly Missed and Not Forgotten
Movie Review: Superb DVD presentation of classic film
Summary: 5 Stars
Kudos to Fox Home Entertainment for a very satisfying DVD presentation of "Gentleman's Agreement," the 1947 Best Picture Academy Award winner. The film itself is deserving of all of the accolades it received, both upon its initial release, and in all the years since.I'm assuming that most of the people considering a purchase of the DVD have already seen the movie, so I'd like to focus here on the incisive commentary by Richard Schickel, long-time film critic for Time magazine. Stars June Havoc and Celeste Holm are also heard on the track, recorded separately, and while their remarks are interesting, this is Schickel's showcase, and he runs with it.
As it happened, I wound up listening to this commentary over the course of three nights. This kind of gradual exposure allowed me to really absorb Schickel's observations.
The critic is no sycophantic fan of "Gentleman's Agreement." While he admires its aims, and much of its execution (primarily the achievements of director Elia Kazan), he has some reservations about the script, and some of the acting.
He demonstrates a complete understanding of the conventions of 1940s studio filmmaking, but doesn't always accept the necessity that "Gentleman's Agreement" had to adhere to those norms. I didn't always agree with Schickel's criticisms of the film, but they certainly made me think, and I never found them off-putting.
Schickel wisely underscores the contribution of John Garfield, whose training in The Group Theater gave him a more realistic acting style than anyone else in the film. "Garfield seems to be acting in an entirely different movie," Schickel says, and it is not a criticism. The Garfield performance leads on a direct path to Marlon Brando's Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire," also directed by Kazan, and Schickel makes this clear. It is at this point that he makes the single most fascinating statement in the entire commentary, which I won't spoil for you here. Suffice it to say that it's something that may strike you as intuitive, but put into this context, becomes something of a revelation.
I've seen Web-based reviews of this DVD that criticize Schickel for doing too much plot summary. I disagree; he doesn't merely give a blow-by-blow account of what's hapening. He mentions plot points, but goes on to offer an opinion about how well the moment is conveyed, or about what real-life parallels the film is touching upon, or something else that is valuable to the viewer.
DVD commentaries just don't get much better than this.
The other extras on the disc, among them an AMC backstory presentation and a selection of 1947 newsreels, are nice additions.
Movie Review: GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT
Summary: 5 Stars
GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT - 1947
RATED - NR but probably G/PG for mature themes.
RATINGS - 29 Amazon (4.5/5), 63,325 Netflix (3.7/5), 2,612 IMDB (7.3/10), TV Guide (5/5)
STARRING - Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield.
AWARDS - 3 Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE plus 5 Academy nominations. AFI TOP 100 Movies nominee.
THEMES - Prejudice, discrimination, justice, morality.
STORY - Gregory Peck stars as successful report Philip Schuyler who is given an assignment to write on anti-semitism. Looking for an angle for the story, he poses as a Jewish man with his son (he is recently widowed). At first, it's just about getting a more inside look for the story. It becomes very personal when both he and his son actually experience the prejudice he's writing about. Interspersed is a romance with Kathy Lacy (Dorothy McGuire), the divorced niece of the editor. While she is supportive and actually initiated the idea for the story, Philip finds there is a real difference between those who intellectually oppose prejudice and those willing to actually do something about it. When he finds out she owns a home in an area where there is a GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT not to ever sell to anyone Jewish, the romance hits the rocks and he turns into a crusader for the Jewish people. While the story may be somewhat outdated (it was actually shocking in 1947) the question to ask ourselves is where are we more like Kathy in areas of our lives that we should be outspoken about. Where can we make a difference by standing up for those who are experiencing discrimination or something less than equality? A film well worth watching and discussing. www.lusreviews.blogspot.com.
Movie Review: Excellent and important film.
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a wonderful and sensitive portrayal of the insanity of racism that goes on. While this may be somewhat dated in it's specific subject matter, the underlying theme is ongoing.
Gregory Peck is terrific (as always) in his role of a morally strong writer who decides to pretend to be Jewish to get an inside scoop on the anti-Semitism that was so prevalent. Oh, he got an inside scoop for sure. It's truly amazing how many people would be nice to him and willing to help, but as soon as they found out that he was Jewish they turn the cold shoulder. That action all by itself shows the senselessness of the racism--if they didn't even know there was a difference until told, what was the point?!
There was a good supporting cast in this movie as well. Dorothy McGuire was Peck's love, and she played a very real character. Sometimes the "real characters" were a little too real, as this by no means was a feel good story from beginning to end. The relationships got real rocky at times, and the point made by the movie was more than just to point out the ignorance of racists. The point of the movie was to show how good people, people who were not racist, helped racism along by not taking a stand and acting against it.
Ultimately, Peck took a stand that was very difficult and affected his personal life, but it was worth it. He helped people to see the truth and change. This movie points out the foolishness of many people--and not just the people who tell racist jokes and spit in peoples' faces. The validity of this message allows this movie to be up-to-date today. Well worth your time and money.
Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Gentleman's Agreement stars Gregory Peck as Phillip Green, a journalist, who poses as a Jew to write a series of articles on Anti-Semitism in America in the 1940's. Dorothy McGuire stars as his fiancée whose affections begin to waver as the charade continues. John Garfield stars as Dave Goldman, Green's Jewish best friend, who comes to New York to find a place to live, and runs into obstacles because he is Jewish. Gentleman's Agreement was presented despite the pleas of various studio heads for the movie not to be made. It tackled racial prejudice with a fury, received eight Academy Award nominations, and took home three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress.
The story is spellbinding. The acting is superb. Gregory Peck, as Phillip Green does an inspirational job as Green. You can feel his frustration and see the anguish on his face as he deals with the prejudice of others, the violence against his family, and stumbling blocks thrown his way from his fiancée. He is faced with a secretary, who is Jewish born, but had to change her last name to get work at the very company Green works for. He tackles prejudice head on at a hotel, where he has weekend reservations, but discovers that is restricted. The directness of the movie will astound you and make you shake your head in awe that this type of prejudice could have been tolerated in America.
Gentleman's Agreement is a movie that should be shown again and again until people get the message it was meant to send. Anti-Semitism cannot and will not be tolerated in America.