Gentleman's Agreement

Gentleman’s Agreement

1947


I am so sorry in advance, but unfortunately this entry is going to have a more serious tone. Minus this. Can someone build me a time machine? I have to travel back in time and meet Gregory Peck. Because I have to marry him. I know this may mess up some space time continuum, but who cares? I love him!

Gentleman’s Agreement is a story about a reporter, Skylar, or Phil, Green (Gregory Peck) who goes undercover as a Jew to write an article on anti-Semitism. As we go on his eight week journey with him, we see what Jews had to put up with due to prejudice. He was denied jobs, kicked out of hotels, even his own son was beaten up, all because he simply was a Jew, not a Gentile. He learned from other Jews they were told that jobs were already full when they really weren’t. Jewish doctors who were perfectly fine physicians were not given recommendations. This is all of the prejudice and bigotry that the “mixed up” people who can’t see past someone’s religion threw into the world.

But really, that’s not what the movie was about. The movie is about standing up for a cause you believe in, and how you stand up for said cause. Phil completely threw himself into his search for justice in anti-Semitism filled New York City. He explained it all to his young son, he never gave up on his article even after it got difficult, and he even correct his own friends when they were showing a prejudice attitude. In contrast to this, we have Kathy, his girlfriend lover fiancée type person thing. She is very against anti-Semitism. She is. She swears. But Phil does not believe her because she does nothing to stop it. She even goes as far to say she is glad she is born Christian.

But honestly she really isn’t. She is just your typical nice person who doesn’t really want to stir up trouble more than there is to fight something she does believe is wrong. Phil tells her if you aren’t fighting something you are just helping it along.

As I watched this, I wondered, how many of us are Kathy? Are we content to just not laugh at a racist joke, just like Kathy did not do? Why don’t we stand up for what we believe in, be it racisms or whatever? This principle doesn’t just apply to this particular subject. If we don’t learn to be bold and fight out loud for what we believe in then we really are fighting for the other side. Do we want that? Are we Kathys, or are we Phils?

Okay, I hopped off my soapbox now. As for the quality of this movie it was pretty good. Gregory Peck is my newest love. He handled this role well and pulled it off with a grace and reality that still seems fresh today, even though it is over sixty years old. He was nominated for Best Actor, but LOST! I don’t understand how this is even possible! Ugh. Now I am angry. The writing in this movie was very well done and was nominated for Best Screenplay. More nominations and no wins. But it won Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Picture so take that! Ha!

As for the supporting cast, they were just fine. Kathy (Dorothy McGuire) I didn’t like only because I didn’t like her character at all. The little boy who plays Tommy, his son, was adorable. But my favorite actor in this movie was Celeste Holm who played Anne, the fashion writer in the same magazine where Phil works. Anne is simply amazing, as she completely speaks her mind and delivers a great Kathy vs Phil speech in the end. For her wonderful splendid amazing efforts Celeste won Best Supporting Actress. It was well earned too.

In all, I really loved this movie. I think everyone can learn something from it. Remember, are you a Kathy, or are you going to strive to be a Phil even though it’s hard?