Dana and Tom with 13x guest, Kieran B (Host and Creator of the Best Picture Cast; @bestpicturecast) discuss the adaptation of John Steinbeck's famous novel, The Grapes of Wrath (1940) for its 85th anniversary: directed by John Ford, written by Nunnally Johnson, ainematography by Gregg Toland, music by Alfred Newman, starring Henry Fonda, John Carradine, and Jane Darwell.

Plot Summary: The Grapes of Wrath, directed by John Ford and based on John Steinbeck’s novel, follows the Joad family, struggling to survive during the Great Depression. After being evicted from their Oklahoma farm, they journey west to California in search of work and a better life. Led by Tom Joad (Henry Fonda), the family faces hardship, exploitation, and disillusionment as they encounter the harsh realities of migrant labor. Despite suffering immense loss, their resilience endures, with Ma Joad (Jane Darwell) embodying the family’s unwavering hope. The film is a poignant exploration of poverty, injustice, and the strength of the human spirit.

Guest:

Kieran B (10x Member Club)

• Host and Creator of the Best Picture Cast; @bestpicturecast on X, IG, Letterboxd - BPC, Letterboxd - Personal
• Previous Episodes: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1957), Lost in Translation (2003), Gran Torino (2008), Stalag 17 (1953), Shane (1953), A Fistful of Dollars (1964), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) Revisit, 12 Angry Men (1957) Revisit, The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Revisit, Saw (2004), Up in the Air (2009), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to Kieran B.

01:45 Cast and Background for The Grapes of Wrath

03:54 Relationship(s) with The Grapes of Wrath

07:21 What is The Grapes of Wrath About?

14:26 John Ford Films

21:26 Plot Summary for The Grapes of Wrath

22:22 Did You Know?

23:52 First Break

25:10 What's Up with Kieran B.

29:45 Best Performance(s)

42:34 Best/Favorite/Indelible Scene(s)

50:13 Second Break

51:17 In Memoriam

52:35 Best/Funniest Lines

57:25 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:03:32 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:07:43 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:15:43 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:25:01 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:32:05 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

01:34:02 Remaining Questions for The Grapes of Wrath

01:37:05 Some Fan Comments/Feedback

01:39:04 Tom and Kieran's Xmas Movie Exchange

01:47:50 Upcoming Projects with Kieran

01:49:33 Thank You to Kieran B and Remaining Thoughts for the Week

01:58:30 Credits

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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/the-grapes-of-wrath-1940-ft-kieran-b

For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list

Keywords:

Grapes of Wrath, John Ford, American Dream, Poverty, Film Legacy, Classic Cinema, Henry Fonda, John Steinbeck, Movie Analysis, Film Discussion, Grapes of Wrath, film analysis, classic cinema, impact of film, originality in storytelling, relevance of classic films, rewatchability, audience reception, film legacy, Gregg Toland, Jane Darwell

Ronny Duncan Studios