FAMOUS NOVEL AT THE STATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1940, Page 3

FAMOUS NOVEL AT THE STATE.

"THE GRAPES OF WRATH" TO-DAY. A deep. stirring, human appeal draws audiences to the very heights of film entertainment in Darryl F. Zanuck s production of "The Grapes of Wrath," John Steinbeck's fearless novel. This 201h Century-Fox film, which _ at its world premiere achieved the biggest opening attendance in the entire history of New York's 22-year-old Rivoli Theatre, begins to-day at the State^ Theatre. Under Academy Award- winning John Ford s direction the Joads come to life with all the warmth, vitality and rugged humour that characterised Steinbeck's widelyacclaimed novel. Both the spirit and the letter of the hook have been followed with extraordinary exactness by the associate producer, Nunnally Johnson, who wrote the screen play. Tom Joad, who is played by Henry Fonda, remains the courageous "figure Steinbeck created. To follow his adventures on the screen is an experience no movie-goer should miss. Jane Darwell's performance as Ma Joad, makes it impossible to believe that Steinbeck did not have her in mind when he created this indomitable Oklahoma mother. Jane carries her audience in the palm of her hand while she laughs and cries, scolds her brood, and defies the forces which would tear her family apart. John Carradine and Charley Grapewin have important parts. Box plans are at Gilmour's, land and estate agents.