TORTILLA FLAT

US, 1942, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Spencer Tracy, John Garfield, Hedy Lamarr, Frank Morgan, Akim Tamiroff, Connie Gilchrist, John Qualen.
Directed by Victor Flemyng.

One of the several versions of Steinbeck novels made around 1940, for example Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, The Moon is Down. Later versions include The Red Pony and East of Eden.

This is the world of central California, Monterey and the enclosed world of the Spanish- Americans and their descendants. It is the world to Steinbeck and liked so very much by him. It is a microcosm of the foibles of human nature.

Spencer Tracy, with an accent similar to that of Captains Courageous for which he won an Oscar in 1937, is the leader of the group. John Garfield has a strong pleasant heroic role and Hedy Lamarr is the attractive heroine. Frank Morgan is engaging as the crazed religious man. Direction is by Victor Fleming with whom Tracy worked on many films including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Captains Courageous. Of particular appeal to Steinbeck fans.

1. The appeal of John Steinbeck’s work? his vision of America, the locations and atmosphere of Monterey and the area around it, the sense of place, of the people, their particular values within the framework of their small world? A satisfying version of Steinbeck's work?

2. The M.G.M. production values of the forties, black and white photography, style, studio and location work? In comparisons with other versions of Steinbeck's work? The contribution of Spencer Tracy?

3. The significance of the introduction to the place, to California, town and country, the range of people, the Spanish? Indian ancestry? The explanation of Tortilla Flat as being its own world? Audiences identifying with the world and the characters?

4. The introduction to Pilon: asleep, with his friend, the schemes for getting fish, the introduction to their way of life? Pilon and his influence in the town, relationship with his friends? The patterns of their life? Way of speaking?

5. Pilon and his wiles: as regards the fish the wine, the watch, Danny's inheritance, the house and the paying of the rent, the friendship with Dolores, with the fat wife? His manoeuvring people's lives, the havoc that he was beginning to wreak? St Francis and the prayer, the change with Danny, the pirate, the importance of the role of the priest? His realization of what he was doing to people? How interesting a character study?

6. The contrast with Danny as hero? The young man, jail, the inheritance, the house, his friends, the wine and song? The infatuation with Dolores? His visiting her and the growing friendship, the blossoming of love? His working for her? The importance of Pilon’s rumours and Danny’s reaction and Dolores’ reactions? The fight? The fight and the danger to Danny’s life? Pilon's prayer and Danny recovering? A contrasting portrait of a character?

7. The portrait of the friends and their attitudes, their various activities, generosity? The importance of their plan to steal the old man’s wealth? Yet their sentimental feelings towards one another?

8. The pirate and his personality, living alone, the friendship with Pilon and the others, the story, his trusting them, the promise to St. Francis and the way the candlesticks were visualized, trust and giving them the money? The vision and the religious tone that it was given? His happiness along with the friends in Tortilla Flat?

9. Dolores as heroine - her place in the town her work, the suitor, her growing in love and friendship with Danny, anger towards him, reaction to Pilon? The happy ending?

10. The neighbour, the ladies, the wine, the vacuum cleaner?

11. The questions about Danny’s house, the visit with the lawyers? The transition from the old ways of Tortilla Flat into the complexities of the modern world – towns, factories, the law? The contrast between old and new ways?

12. The contribution of the music, the singing and the tone of joviality amongst the men of Tortilla Flat?

13. Themes of men and women and their relationships, love and marriage, selfishness?

14. The change in characters and consequent action, the effect of harming other people's lives? As focused in Pilon and his effect on his friends, Danny and Dolores, the pirate?

15. The film embodying American sentiment? Sentimentality? Its impact in the forties, the contrast with its impact now? Insight into America?