American Playhouse (TV Series) The Grapes of Wrath (1991) User Reviews

Beautifully rendered stage adaptation

[Kenn-15 · 9/10 · 26 April 2005]

This is a beautifully rendered stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel, created by Frank Galati and Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company and originally presented by PBS's Great Performances, directed for television by Kirk Browning. Gary Sinise and Lois Smith are terrific as Tom and Ma Joad and the entire cast makes incredible use of an almost-bare stage to create the world of the 1930s dust bowl. Notably, this production also restores the original (stunningly moving) ending of Steinbeck's novel, changed in the 1940 John Ford film for censorship reasons. Truly an ensemble piece, one only wishes it was available on home video -- ask Broadway Theatre Archive and/or Kultur DVD to make this one available, as they have so many other PBS Great Performances shows.

Much more faithful to the Steinbeck classic

[willsmith_gsv · 10/10 · 23 October 2008]

This version of The Grapes of Wrath is absolutely brilliant. It is more faithful to the Steinbeck classic than the 1940, while excellent, John Ford 20th Century Fox film. The Steppenwolf Theatre Company did an excellent job with this production, Gary Sinise and Lois Smith, in particular, giving fine and compelling performances. American Playhouse was wise to film it and present on PBS. If only they would now release it on DVD... Perhaps a writing/email campaign needs to started to Fnm Films, 20th Century Fox Television and Vanguard Films. I've contacted PBS and unfortunately, they seem to have lost the rights to the production and have no further information. Having this on DVD would be an excellent resource to educators as well as the general viewing public.