SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

dougdoepke The movie's essentially, a one-man showcase: Charlie Grapewin as the amiable n'er-do-well Jeeter Lester. He's a hoot and a half in his ragged overalls and bewhiskered face. Too bad the old coot just can't seem to get anything done, despite his uncomplaining, loyal wife (Patterson). Rarely did old Hollywood uglify settings as thoroughly as here. Lesters' shack looks like a wood pile, while others along the Road share that skid-row appearance. Trouble is that when you think about it, there's nothing funny about these miserable background conditions. Fortunately for the movie, Jeeter's comical antics distract from that troubling aspect. For example, I love the way the loose porch board keeps getting even with Jeeter's uncaring neglect in fixing it.Yup, the Depression Era makes things especially tough for these Southern farmers, and the question the Lesters confront is whether they can get a loan before getting herded into the poor farm. Note too, how the sleek Captain Tim (Andrews) appears to represent a landlord class, while Jeeter is among his tenant farmers dependent on the upper class for support. At this point in the movie, however, all have fallen on hard times, though the Captain still looks spiffy and well-upholstered, unlike his tenants. Nonetheless, the results are played for laughs, though I suspect many folks find the rural Southern caricatures more offensive than funny. For example, did they have to make young Dude Lester so dislikable-- that slug an angry Loy (Bond) puts on him was long overdue. Also, remind me not to loan my car to the Destruction Derby kid anytime, ever. Anyway, the movie is a sing-along for frog throats like me what with all those great old time gospel songs, even if choirmaster Sister Bessie (Rambeau) is caricatured. But please, get me a ticket to that old Road where I can maybe meet up with the luscious Ellie May (Tierney). I guess my biggest gripe is that Tierney doesn't get more screentime-- maybe all of it. On the other hand, I've definitely reached a new appreciation of the lowly turnip, of all things.All in all, I suspect the TCF production does not wear well for many. Still and all, Grapewin delivers a rollicking performance, so give the 84-minutes a try if you haven't already.

weezeralfalfa If you took "The Grapes of Wrath", "L'il Abner". and Laurel & Hardy and shook them up together, you'd probably end up with an approximation of this film. During production, some thought it might even top the previous year's success with "The Grapes of Wrath", both directed by John Ford. But it was only moderately successful in the minds of most critics and at the box office. Perhaps this was, in part, due to the absence of any recognized leading man or woman. Tottering,shaky-voiced, Charlie Grapewin, as Jeteer Lester, was the main character, and dominated the dialogue in most scenes. But, normally, he served as a secondary character actor, appearing in such films as "The Good Earth", "The Wizard of Oz", and "The Grapes of Wrath". To me, he should have won the Best Actor Oscar. What about the film as a whole? It certainly had a lot more humor than most Oscar winners. Perhaps that was part of it's problem. Comedies such as this and musicals generally weren't considered Oscar material. Its main problem, as I see it, is the characterization of Gene Tierney as Jeeter's 23 year-old seemingly retarded daughter, Ellie May. At first she is seen dragging herself across the dirt road toward neighbor Luv(Ward Bond), who is unhappily married to her 12 year old sister, Pearl. Yet, later, she seems almost normal, running across fields, and even says a few words. In the book, she is characterized as having a large cleft lip, so why she is an old maid at 23. If the screen writers didn't like this characterization, I think I would have made her a deaf mute, in anticipation of the later "Johnny Belinda". Some men might even prefer such a wife(ho,ho). Evidently, the screenplay differs in quite a few details from the book, a summary of which I have read. For one thing, the ending is quite different. It's upbeat in the film. In the book, they are about to lose their farm when they are burned up in a house fire, and grandma is run over by the reckless driving of their son, Dude. Since they didn't seem to have any meaningful future, perhaps this ending is offered as a blessing in disguise. In the book, it's ironic that Jeeter and his wife are fixated on how their corpse will look and be treated, then they burn up in a fire.I thought William Tracy did an excellent job in his characterization of Dude, although some seem to think his frequent mania was overacting.Dana Andrews, as Captain Tim, ends up the hero, in paying the rent on the Lester's farm and giving them some money for planting materials, until they hopefully can sell a crop and get back on their feet. There is no Captain Tim in the book. Good luck. Their land is characterized as 'worn out'.I've read that it was the intention of the screen writers to create a film that was fun, yet not especially demeaning to the 'hillbillies'. Some think they succeeded, others don't.

bkoganbing Tobacco Road as was written by Erskine Caldwell and dramatized on Broadway for 8 years was brought to the screen by 20th Century Fox in a considerably altered state. It was thought of probably by Darryl Zanuck as a great property for John Ford seeing what he did with The Grapes Of Wrath.The Grapes Of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a great piece of social commentary, an immortal work whether in print or on the big or small screen. Ford kept the spirit of Steinbeck's work completely intact and got a well deserved Best Director Oscar. In this one because Caldwell's Jeeters are not quite as noble as the Joads of The Grapes Of Wrath, they're not prototype rural proletarians. The changes took a lot of the drama and commentary and left the film not too far above the Weaver Family films and Ma and Pa Kettle.Charley Grapewin and Bessie Patterson are Mr.&Mrs. Jeeter Lester and Jeeter is a guy determined to get by doing as little as possible. The whole family has his spirit. He's married most of his children off. One of the daughters in serious trouble of being an old maid at 23 and that was Gene Tierney if you can believe that. Her character in the book and play has a cleft palate and you can understand why she's not married off. Here she's just gorgeous Gene Tierney and a crucial element is missing.There's another daughter Pearl whom we never see, but who's married to the loutish Ward Bond. She keeps running off and Bond just doesn't get it. Here he's just rustic lout, I suspect that the 13 year old Pearl figures she can do a whole lot better. That one I'm sure the Code was breathing hot and heavy over 20th Century Fox.There's another physically deformed character and that's Marjorie Rambeau who has in the book a nose like a pig's snout. Grapewin palms off his 16 year old son as a new husband for Rambeau to get his hands on the insurance money her old husband left her. William Tracy as the kid who's no prize figures she's experienced and eager even if she's a psalm singer which she is.The rough house comedy that typifies many a Ford film is funny, but hardly in the spirit of what Caldwell was writing. In the end I have to say that the film is not good John Ford, though he's done worse.

kenjha After a bank purchases the land, a family of hillbillies faces eviction if it can't come up with the rent. Based on a Caldwell novel that in turn became a stage play, this is very broad comedy that rarely rises above the level of The Three Stooges. Grapewin plays a lazy farmer who has so many children that he and his wife can't keep track of them. Tracy is horribly over-the-top as one of the grown children living at home. Tierney is third billed as Tracy's useless sister but barely has a line of dialog. Rambeau does OK as a neighbor. Andrews plays the only character who has some dignity. Every once in a while Ford came up with a real clunker, and this is one of them.