SCREEN-L Archives

May 1994

SCREEN-L@LISTSERV.UA.EDU

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
"Mary C. Kalfatovic" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 28 May 1994 02:54:23 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (17 lines)
I have never seen Elia Kazan's black-woman-passing-for-white drama PINKY
but I did recently see Kazan's WASP pretending to be Jewish drama
GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT.  Protestant Ivy-League type Gregory Peck is a
magazine reporter who tells people he is Jewish in order to feel what it's
like to be discriminated against.  Though clearly well intentioned, the
movie seems a bit phoney even by 1947 standards (though it won the Best
Picture Oscar).  By 1994 standards the movie is laughable.  Indeed, I
enjoyed it mostly for reasons the filmmmakers never intended (Gregory
Peck's pompous acting not least among them).  It is interesting to note
the condescending attitude Kazan takes toward Jews even though he was
Jewish himself.  The basic message of the movie is that bigotry is wrong
but a clear secondary message is that Jews are OK as long as they are fully
assimilated into the predominant culture.  A recent movie called SCHOOL
TIES is a variation on GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT
 
Mary Kalfatovic

ATOM RSS1 RSS2