Gentleman's Agreement (1947) 20th Century Fox Director: Elia Kazan Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck Cast: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield, Celeste Holm, Anne Revere. Awards ceremony: -20th Academy Awards: March 20, 1948. Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California. Other films nominated for Best Motion Picture this year: -The Bishop's Wife. -Crossfire. -Great Expectations. -Miracle On 34th Street. Plot summary: Gregory Peck is a magazine writer living in New York with his mother and young son after his wife's death. When he is assigned a piece to write an article all about antisemitism by his editor Peck's character realises that he doesn't have the first clue on how to do so. He secretly decides to declare himself Jewish and then watches the behaviours of everybody around him. Peck soon discovers how differently he is treated by others, including a doctor, a hotel manager, restaurant patrons and his secretary. Even his own son gets bullied and called names. After experiencing all of the negative responses from 'ordinary' people he is able to write his article with great success. Standout scene: There are many but my pick is the conversation at the breakfast table between Gregory Peck and his son where Peck has to explain to the young boy the meaning of antisemitism. Powerful scene. Facts: -The 20th Academy Awards. -Nominated for 8 Academy Awards, it won 3: Best Film, Best Director (Elia Kazan), Best Supporting Actress (Celeste Holm). -The first Best Picture winner to feature the use of the word "nigger". Personal opinion: Emotional, evocative, powerful and controversial. It's not the type of film that is designed for you to enjoy, but rather one to appreciate. The down side is about 60% of it is utterly compelling and just brilliant but it's the other 40% that is waffle and filler which is a shame. The consistency is lacking a little bit in-between the great moments. When it's good it's brilliant but when it's not it's just above average. The film goes a long way in exposing the racist and intolerable attitudes of people and for that point alone it delivers in style. I still can't get over the whole elevator behind a cupboard door thing! Did it deserve the Oscar? Questionable. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET was one of the films that lost out in the category and it's tough to compare that film with GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT. I think MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET is very slightly the better film. After the film was over I asked my 15 year-old daughter her thoughts on whether it should have won the Best Picture Oscar over the film I thought was the more-worthy contender, Miracle On 34th Street and although she loves that film Emily said that "[Gentleman's Agreement] is an important film that needs to be seen and win the Best Picture therefore giving it the bigger exposure that is deserves." When I heard that comment I literally agreed with her. So YES, Gentleman's Agreement DID deserve the Oscar. 7½/10

Review date: 21 February 2025