Reply #45: thanks for the welcome. [View All]

[iemitsu]

i first saw the film as a kid (not in 1941) when it was shown on television. i have since used it with students while examining the great depression. i have a copy in VHS. i'm sure the film can be rented.
the theme is the struggle to decide between making a film like the grapes of wrath or like a busby berkeley production. one the honest truth (but depressing) the other a distraction.
joel mccrea dresses as a bum and rides the rails to discover what being unemployed is really like. he is knocked out and robbed of his wallet so can't prove his real identity and is forced to really live the life of one down on his luck.
the film is well done.