3. The Grapes of Wrath
Considered to be one of the best American movies of all time, as well as one of the five greatest American novels (again, from John Steinbeck), John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath doesn't merely exist in the Depression. The Grapes of Wrath embodies the struggle of The Great Depression at its very core as it follows the misfortunes of the Joad family across a barren Dust Bowl in the 1930s.They are on their way to California, a place of hope. This melodic tale floats on performances from Henry Fonda, first and foremost as Tom Joad, and Jane Darwell as Ma Joad. A moving and beautiful portrait of a tragic family in a tragic time.