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Actors: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield, Celeste Holm
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Gentleman's Agreement |
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Gregory Peck is a journalist in search of a story in post World War II New York. He decides to pretend he is Jewish and write an article on anti-semitism in the United States. Only his editor knows he really isn't Jewish and immediately after he tells his colleagues that he is, he is treated differently. He tells his fiancee (Dorothy McGuire) and she agrees to go along with the plan, but not at a party. This causes tension between them, as he realizes she wouldn't want her friends and family to think she was marrying a Jew.
John Garfield, a returning Jewish soldier and friend, really does feel the effects of anti-semitism.
The movie shows how prejudice against any group can erode relationships and perpetuate stereotypes that just are not true. Gregory Peck writes his article and learns first hand what being a victim of religious intolerance is like.
--Joan Zuckerman, Resident Scholar
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Gentleman's Agreement is directed by Elia Kazan and is based on a Laura Z. Hobson novel.
Philip Green is a widowed journalist who has just moved with his young son to NYC. The first assignment his editor suggests is to write a story about anti-semitism. Initially Green can't find an angle for it, but soon hits upon one that could be very promising - for a short period of time, he will pretend to be a Jew (saying that his name is short for Greenberg, for example), and then chronicling the reactions he gets from his new co-workers, new social acquaintances, and the people who manage country clubs and restaurants.
Before he launches this plan, he falls in love with his editor's niece, Kathy, who is opposed to anti-semitism and initially seems to go along with Green's idea and support him. But problems arise in their relationship when Green thinks that Kathy is all talk and wouldn't actually do anything that would help Jewish people. And she thinks that he's being disagreeable and self-righteous, getting too swept away with the spirit of immediate confrontation and reform. The question is whether she'll come around to seeing things his way.
The movie's tone can get a little preachy as it belabors obvious points; also, the Peck character is pretty predictable - there aren't any inner struggles or doubts for him, he pretty much does the right thing passionately without a second thought (no character development required). However, when Celeste Holm steps onto the screen (she plays a fashion editor at the magazine Green works for), the movie sparkles.
--Esther, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Gentleman's Agreement |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Polit/Social/Race/Gender activism
Yes
Plotlet:
- fighting discrim. (other than racial/gender)
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Main Char. ethnic: (if not US Caucasian)
- Jew, regular
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- journalist
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) average
- (man) muscular
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavey
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
- wealthy
- rude people
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- challenged
- thoughtful
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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