Film Review: Gentleman’s Agreement

About Gentleman's Agreement (1947)Elia Kazan’s Oscar-winning conscience-raiser was the first Hollywood film to take anti-Semitism as its central theme. Journalist Phil Green (Gregory Peck) is researching a piece on discrimination against Jews. Dissatisfied with his efforts, Green decides to masquerade as a Jew in order to build up first-hand experience of prejudice. As well as Academy recognition for the film and director, Celeste Holm carried home an Oscar for her supporting role.

Starring: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield, Celeste Holm, Anne Revere

Directed by: Elia Kazan

Runtime: 118 minutes

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB

Review: Gentleman’s Agreement 

It’s not unreasonable to assume that if Jewish people come up in a conversation there will be mention of the Holocaust which is something none of us should ever forget. What may surprise many people, myself included here, is the prevalence of anti-Semitism in the aftermath of the Second World War, a theme at the heart of the Oscar-winning Gentleman’s Agreement. Now, I’m not naive to believe that anti-Semitism doesn’t exist today, sadly it is still alive, but what I didn’t expect was some of the realities thrown up by this particular film.

Widowed journalist, Philip Green (Gregory Peck), has recently moved to New York when he is handed his next article by publisher John Minify (Albert Dekker) about anti-Semitism. Green is initially unenthusiastic, believing there isn’t anything he can write about the subject that hasn’t been said already. Eventually Green hits on the idea of pretending to be a Jew for six months and assessing whether he is treated any differently by the American citizens. What Green discovers is nothing short of appalling.

Philip Green is a devoted father to his son Tommy (Dean Stockwell) and is helped by his mother (Anne Revere) as they try to settle into a new life in New York. Once given a new article Green is determined to write a compelling piece but struggles to find an approach in the early stages. He is somewhat distracted by a blossoming romance with Minify’s niece Kathy Lacey (Dorothy McGuire) who was responsible for the idea for Green’s article but her approach to anti-Semitism and prejudice in real life bring her into fierce conflict with Green just when it seems their relationship couldn’t be any stronger. Despite accepting the article, Green doesn’t find a way to tackle it until coming up with the idea of pretending he and his family are Jews. They are new to New York and the masquerade should be straightforward. Green changes his surname to Greenberg and immediately begins observing just how tolerant post-war American society is towards Jews.

What Philip witnesses is shocking to say the least. He has a secretary who only secured a job because she had changed her name having previously used her Jewish surname and never been successful. As soon as the name changed she had got a job! Philip tries to book into a hotel in another scene and is not made welcome even though he dresses smartly and speaks politely. An added element to the film is Philip’s friendship with Dave Goldman (John Garfield) who is a Jew he has known since childhood and also finds New York very unforgiving because of his background. Philip goes from a loving romance with Kathy to seemingly irrevocable distance between them. Kathy is not prejudiced herself against Jewish people but she doesn’t question it even though it is all around her and this proves too much for Philip to stand and he chooses to be on his own. His whole family becomes entangled in the pain of his assignment, especially his son who endures fierce bullying at school. By the time Philip reaches the end of his article he has more than enough material for a very shocking read but what of the strained relationships his work has brought about?

For a film made in 1947 this is surprisingly controversial and brave. While there is no violence against Jewish people the prejudice on screen it made somehow worse. I consider myself very open-minded so to watch people greet Philip with warm smiles and handshakes only to retreat when they learn he is a Jew was shocking to say the least. You would have expected that Jewish people had suffered enough with the Holocaust but it seems they had survived many awful battles in their lives only to be faced with so many more. While Gentleman’s Agreement may all fall into place in typical Hollywood style at the end it’s still worth seeing just to see the development of Philips’ character who becomes absorbed in his assignment and he is clearly on the side of Jewish and isn’t afraid to speak up against the prejudice they face.

Gentleman’s Agreement is a surprisingly shocking film for its age which boasts some good performances but at its core is the reality of the prolonged struggle of Jewish people in the aftermath of the Second World War where victory for the Allies should have been the end of suffering for everyone but sadly it never happened.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Gentleman’s Agreement | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave