Posted on 07/03/2013 8:16:56 AM PDT by SMARTY
John Gardner, in one of his books on writing fiction, rips Steinbeck apart. But even Gardner was apparently unaware that “The Grapes of Wrath” is a paint-by-numbers socrealist work - evil capitalists, noble, suffering workers, simpleminded plot, lofty ideals. The book was quickly translated into Russian and published there, as well in the other countries of the Soviet Block, and if memory serves, Steinbeck received something called the Stalin Literature Award for it.
That is not what we're talking about here.
The whole thing was used to sell Socialism/Communism.
Those things are not the answer.
It’s not only going to be remade for the big screen, but also repeated in real life...
Probably going to be a colorized version.
There is no mention, therein, as to any Russian literary award; but great detail as to Russian piracy of his books. A Russian publisher actually told Steinbeck about printing and selling 300,000 copies of "The Winter of Our Discontent" which "sold out in a week." That story is on page 930.
Happy reading!
I don’t read Steinbeck
Ouch. You know how to hurt a guy!
Where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise.
As I said about the Lone Ranger on another threat yesterday. FLOP!
He’s a Charles Durning inert kind of guy in a contorted role usually,, not sure but I don’t think he was ‘classically’ trained,, maybe more a 2nd City tV reject at besr, there were a lot of drunk obnoxious comedy players back then.
Self pity aside, farmers in some areas adapted or moved.
My daddy used to tell me about farming in the lake beds during the 30s in some lakes in Minniesoda.
Somehow he managed to survive and get married, bought a 160 acre farm (for what seems a small amount today), dairied a herd of cattle and farm critters and raised a few kids too,, and then WW2 hit the fan..
it was dry thru out the whole gitgo
You don’t even like the novel? It’s beautifully written.
Where does Spielberg rail against Capitalism?
GOW has far too much literary modernist touches to be Socialist Realism. It’s a rather sophisticated piece of work. Gorky it ain’t.
film it as Night of the Living Grapes of Wrath and add zombies and I’ll watch it. Otherwise no way.
Grapes of Wrath of Khan would draw in the Trekkies.
“Spielberg to work is mediocre and mundane skill as a film maker”
LOL
” The whole thing was used to sell Socialism/Communism.”
May not have worked so well at that. 40 years ago, a Polish scientist was visiting us. He related a lot of stories about the skepticism of Poles towards Marxism. One was about how the Soviets showed “TGOW” in high schools, as propaganda on how bad life was in the US. What impressed the Polish students was how the downtrodden Americans, when they lost their farm, loaded their belongings into THEIR OWN AUTOMOBILES and set out for California, WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK ANYONE’s PERMISSION.
In producing propaganda like “Grapes of Wrath.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.