July 25th, 2007 - Hunger Awareness Film Night Film - The Grapes of Wrath

It was another great evening of film. The group discussion was engaging. There were a number of people who had family stories that revolved around experiences like those depicted in Steinbeck's story of the Joads.

Many expressed dissatisfaction at the ending of the film. Mary pointed out it was not the director John Ford’s original meeting. Aaron had recently read the book so we were able to talk about Steinbeck’s original and more controversial ending.

Nita’s favorite part of the film was the Joad’s encounter with a waitress in the New Mexico filling station. At first, the waiteress thinks only about the normal way of doing business when the Pa Joad ask to buy a loaf of bread.

She points out the filling station is not a grocery store and they use the bread for making sandwiches. The counter man tells her to sell them the loaf. When they can pay only 10 cents for the 15 cent loaf, the counter man has her sell it to them as day old bread. Then the waitress is moved to generosity. It proceeds from there with the following dialogue:

Pa: It may sound funny bein' so tight, but we got a thousand miles to go and we don't know if we'll make it. (As he goes to pay for the loaf) Is them penny candies, m'am?

Waitress: Which ones?

Pa: There, them stripey ones.

Waitress: Oh, them, well, uh, no. Them's two for a penny.

Pa: Give us two then, m'am. (To the children) Go on, take 'em, take 'em. Thank ya, m'am.

Truck driver: (After the Joads have left) Them ain't two for a cent candy.

Waitress: What's it to you?

Truck driver: Them's a nickel a piece candy...(Both truck drivers leave hefty tips when they pay for their meals)

Waitress: Hey wait a minute, you got change comin'!

Truck driver: What's it to ya?

Waitress: (While holding the coins in her hand) Bert, look! (musing) Truck drivers.

We talked about other aspects of the film, hardships in life and how our congregation would respond to a crisis where water and food was not available. Some parts of the conversation were lighter as well, trying to remember the actor's names who played Bert and Ernie in It's A Wonderful Life (Frank Faylen and Ward Bond). Both played parts in The Grapes of Wrath.

Next week we'll see the silent movie Sparrows starring Mary Pickford .