Outline Template for Classic Film Research Essay (sample Thesis statement and sample topic sentence starters*) *These are only suggestions and include several choices for some paragraphs. Words and sentence structures can be revised as needed to fit the chosen film. Level C is optional; you may also add more letters if needed. I. Introduction Thesis: The classic film Title of Filmremains revered by viewers even today due its iconic and memorable characters, innovative film techniques, and timeless theme of ________________. II. The film portrays the … The film starts with… The story begins with… A. 1. 2. B. 1. 2. C. 1. 2. III. A/The central character in the film is ________________. A. 1. 2. B. 1. 2. C. 1. 2. IV. Another important character, portrayed by _____________________, plays a key role in the film. A. 1. 2. B. 1. 2. C. 1. 2. V. The message of this film was enhanced by the expert use of a specific film technique. A. 1. 2. B. 1. 2. C. 1. 2. VI. A specific film technique was also creatively used to … A. 1. 2 B. 1. 2. C. 1. 2. VII. The primary theme that this film conveyed was concise statement of theme. The central message that this film conveyed was concise statement of theme. A. 1. 2. B. 1. 2. C. 1. 2. VIII. Audiences of all ages will enjoy watching Title of Film .The memorable film … Film Essay Draft The Grapes of Wrath Film Analysis The Grapes of Wrath is a very unique film, which was produced in 1940. Directed by John Ford, the movie is an excellent interpretation of John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel of the same name. The most appealing thing about this film is the great illustration of the tough years the American families were facing and how most of them stayed together to succeed through it all. The ideological journey of the hero, Tom Joad is portrayed by the great actor Henry Fonda. Fonda does an excellent job at interpreting a good guy who has a revelation about justice. The classic film “The Grapes of Wrath” remains admired by viewers even today due to its timeless theme of family bonding in difficult times, iconic and memorable characters and bitter setting. The Grapes of Wrath does an outstanding job at portraying the life of a typical American family during The Great Depression.The Great Depression was the deepest and the longest lasting economic crisis in the United States. Many families were losing their properties, due to high unemployment. This is perfectly interpreted in the film when the main characters, the Joads have to move to California because they lost their house due to crop failure. Throughout the film, there is a deep feeling of poverty, which was the main outcome of the Great Depression. The main characters in this film are powerfully developed through various methods of characterization, each of which contributes to the ove.

1. Outline Template for Classic Film Research Essay
(sample Thesis statement and sample topic sentence starters*)
*These are only suggestions and include several choices for
some paragraphs. Words and sentence structures can be revised
as needed to fit the chosen film. Level C is optional; you may
also add more letters if needed.
I. Introduction
Thesis: The classic film Title of Filmremains revered by
viewers even today due its iconic and memorable characters,
innovative film techniques, and timeless theme of
________________.
II. The film portrays the …
The film starts with…
The story begins with…
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
III. A/The central character in the film is ________________.
A.

2. 1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
IV. Another important character, portrayed by
_____________________, plays a key role in the film.
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
V. The message of this film was enhanced by the expert use of a
specific film technique.
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
VI. A specific film technique was also creatively used to …

3. A.
1.
2
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
VII. The primary theme that this film conveyed was concise
statement of theme.
The central message that this film conveyed was concise
statement of theme.
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
VIII. Audiences of all ages will enjoy watching Title of Film
.The memorable film …
Film Essay Draft
The Grapes of Wrath Film Analysis

4. The Grapes of Wrath is a very unique film, which was produced
in 1940. Directed by John Ford, the movie is an excellent
interpretation of John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel of the same name.
The most appealing thing about this film is the great illustration
of the tough years the American families were facing and how
most of them stayed together to succeed through it all. The
ideological journey of the hero, Tom Joad is portrayed by the
great actor Henry Fonda. Fonda does an excellent job at
interpreting a good guy who has a revelation about justice. The
classic film “The Grapes of Wrath” remains admired by viewers
even today due to its timeless theme of family bonding in
difficult times, iconic and memorable characters and bitter
setting.
The Grapes of Wrath does an outstanding job at portraying the
life of a typical American family during The Great
Depression.The Great Depression was the deepest and the
longest lasting economic crisis in the United States. Many
families were losing their properties, due to high
unemployment. This is perfectly interpreted in the film when
the main characters, the Joads have to move to California
because they lost their house due to crop failure. Throughout
the film, there is a deep feeling of poverty, which was the main
outcome of the Great Depression.
The main characters in this film are powerfully developed
through various methods of characterization, each of which
contributes to the overall impact of the film and its central
theme. The Joad family overall are presented as the good people
whereas the government workers are presented as the bad ones.
“Tom Joad is one of the great American movie characters, so
pure and simple and simply there in the role that he puts it
over”(Ebert ). He is portrayed by Henry Fonda, as a tough man
who just got released from jail for committing a murder.
Beyond himself, he does show a genuine concern for his own
family, and beneath his hard exterior lies a human heart that is
capable of kindness. This is clearly expressed when he dictates
his life to fighting for justice and equality among the migrant

5. worker community. Another very significant character of this
film was Ma Joad interpreted by Jane Darwell. Ma joad is the
guiding force behind the family. She devotes herself to
protecting the unity of the family and this was clearly seen
when she stated, “All we got is the family unbroke” (The Best
Notes). Darwell did an incredible job at portraying her character
as she “worked in the movies for 50 years, never more
memorably than here, where she has the final word ("We'll go
on forever, Pa. 'Cause ... we're the people!")” (Ebert). Tom and
Ma Joad were the two most outstanding characters of this film.
The setting of The Grapes of Wrath also enhanced John
Ford’s central message about family unity. The film does an
excellent job at portraying the typical life of a dust bowl family
struggling to survive. During the Great Depression many
families lost their land because of the bad weather and
economic hardships. The opening scene of the movie shows
abandoned homes and dust swirling around. This scene conveys
to the audience what the landscape looked like. The Joads
struggles to get to California shows the many difficulties
families faced trying to move and find jobs. The discrimination
the Joad family faces, depicts the condition of the migrant
workers by giving the audience a presentation of these events.
Ford created a perfect world for the audience to believe and to
feel like they are part of it.
The primary theme that the Grapes of Wrath conveyed was
the family’s determination to stick together through the
struggles they were facing. Without each other, the Joads could
not deal with the loss of their land or survive the trip to
California. Their family unity is the most powerful weapon they
have against the cold world that surrounds them. The director
also conveyed his message to the audience by showing how
much they sacrificed just to get to a better place. One example
of this is when family is crossing the California desert Ma Joad
tells the members of the family that the grandma is sleeping
when she is really dead. The character of Tom Joad also
expresses unity because he wants to keep the family close. For

6. instance when he defends Casie when the officer kills him. He
sacrificed his liberty for his friend’s honor and pride. A movie
critic states that, “The Grapes Of Wrath is, above all other
things, a film about humanity. It’s about the poor and the rich,
the willful and the easily defeated” (Thompson). All in all, the
main idea of the film is clearly conveyed.
In conclusion, The Grapes of Wrath is a great movie,
which conveys a strong message. The film provides a realistic
view of the Great Depression. The actors’ enormous talent and
the well developed script enhance the filmmaker’s bold
message. Overall The Grapes of Wrath depicts the difficult time
many American families were facing during the Great
Depression. Nobody could have watched the film without
understanding its theme and feeling like they were part of the
film.
Works Cited
"Review: The Grapes Of Wrath (1940)." Bills Movie Emporium.
2013. Web. 27 May 2016.
The Grapes of Wrath Movie Review (1940) | Roger Ebert. All
Content. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.
The Grapes of Wrath: CHARACTER ANALYSIS / MA JOAD /
PA JOAD by John Steinbeck. The Grapes of Wrath:
CHARACTER ANALYSIS / MA JOAD / PA JOAD by John
Steinbeck. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016.