The Grapes of Wrath

Easily the most iconic piece of art to ever come out of The Great Depression besides the photograph Migrant Mother. The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of Joad family as they travel west to California to seek new opportunities and a chance at survival. The film did not shy away from the harsh living conditions of The Great Depression making it all the better for it.

Production

Directed by John Ford

Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, Nunnally Johnson

Screenplay by Nunnally Johnson

Based on The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Starring Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Shirley Mills, John Qualen, Eddie Quillan

Music by Alfred Newman

Cinematography by Gregg Toland

Edited by Robert L. Simpson

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by 20th Century Fox

Release date: January 24, 1940 (United States)

Running time: 129 minutes

Country: United States

Language: English

Budget: $800,000

Box office: $2.5 million (rentals)