The Great Depression has a fluctuating end point for many areas of the country, but we all know it began back in 1929. Naturally, this period of great financial turmoil in the country lends itself to cinema.
There have been a great number of films set in Depression-era America, including the release of John Hillcoat’s Lawless this week. It is a time in America where Hollywood can display human pain, anguish and strife in a way and in an era everyone can recognize.
Here are the ten best films set during The Great Depression. These are pictures whose narrative directly concerns society at the time.
10. Of Mice and Men
No, not the original 1939 film starring Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr. This is the 1992 remake from Gary Sinise (who also directed) and John Malkovich.
As a film it is more succinct and infinitely more interesting than the original adaptation, as the relationship between George and his man-child brother, Lenny, feels more robust here. These two field workers - set adrift by the economic collapse - struggle to work enough to build themselves a farm. The relationship between Sinise and Malkovich is the heart and soul of this John Steinbeck adaptation.
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3 Comments
Call me crazy, but I think Road to Perdition should be at-least an honorable mention.
I considered Road to Perdition, but I didn’t really see it as a film directly involved with The Depression as others. I do think it’s a fantastic film though.
I wasn’t sure either, so I thought maybe honorable mention. I think it’s my favorite Sam Mendes film.