Gentleman's Agreement (1947)

Please don't spend money on this.

Fresh and Exciting

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I don't know if this counts as a spoiler, but this movie has one of THE sexiest moments in film. When Gregory Peck and Dorothy Maguire get up to dance, he holds out his arms to her, in a gentlemanly, Gregory Peck sort of way, and she steps all the way to him, body to body. WOW! And when, just before that at the table, she looks at him with calm, searching eyes, that seem to see him for the man he really is, on and off screen. Zounds. I've read reviews of Dorothy Maguire's work that rate her as one of the most under-appreciated actresses of her time, and I think this movie proves it. If Atticus Finch's wife had been alive in "To Kill A Mockingbird", she would have been perfect in the role.

Just two years after Kazan's feature-film debut (and the end of WWII) came this firecracker which became up to that point his most successful film (although A Tree Grows In Brooklyn and Boomerang would also garner Oscar nominations), and it's ironic that so shortly after a great war was won, mainly against racism and the killing of Jews overseas, Gregory Peck's Schuyler Green, in undercover work for an expose to satiate his new, New York City boss, discovers rampant anti-Semitism uncomfortably much closer to home. I love John Garfield's work, rather late in his short career, in the supporting role of Dave Goldman (he should have received an Oscar nomination as well). The film was very successful, taking in three trophies for eight tries altogether (for Best Director, Picture and Supporting Actress--Celeste Holm), and its ending--stressing that forgiveness and tolerance are possible (when Green returns home and forgives his wife)--is very important, though he chose the wrong woman...

A reporter (Gregory Peck) pretends to be Jewish in order to cover a story on anti-Semitism, and personally discovers the true depths of bigotry and hatred.Looking back, this film may seem a little bit over the top at times. But it likely is not terribly exaggerated. Even now (2015) being Jewish means something. The prejudice may not be quite as strong, and I don't know if "restricted" hotels still exist, but the subtle dislike has certainly not gone away.What makes this film extra good is the timing, not long after World War II. Sometimes we (America) likes to say we were heroes who saved the Jewish people from the Holocaust. But, this is not really true, and even if it was, it does not mean the Americans were not prejudice in the 1940s.

Philip Green (Gregory Peck) is a widow with a son Tommy (Dean Stockwell). He is lured to a magazine to write a series on anti-Semitism by publisher John Minify (Albert Dekker). The publisher's niece Kathy Lacy (Dorothy McGuire) had suggested the idea in the first place. He is uncertain until he tries to explain it to his son. After his mother's near death experience, he realizes that he can't understand any experience unless he experience it himself. He comes up with a way to tackle the issue. He pretends to be Jewish to experience real racism.The subject was edgy for its time. Director Elia Kazan brings his skills to this movie early in his career. Gregory Peck is the personification of honor and goodness. He is perfect for the role. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the idea. Before that, the movie is a little bit slow. While the obvious racism is easy, it's the personal subtle racism that is more interesting. All the colors are painted. It isn't about ignorant backwoods rednecks. It is about all forms that is pervasive in everyday's life and no person is immune. And it has to be noted for its iconic status.