Google Ads
Login | Sign Up

Gentleman's Agreement Overview:

Gentleman's Agreement (1947) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by Elia Kazan and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Laura Z. Hobson published in 1947.

SYNOPSIS

The best of the few Hollywood treatments of anti-Semitism. Peck gives the right gravity to his role of a magazine reporter who comes to understand in a personal way the barriers imposed by prejudice when, to add depth to his magazine feature, he takes on a Jewish identity. Hart wrote the script, based on the novel by Laura Z. Hobson.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1947 --- Ceremony Number 20 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorGregory PeckNominated
Best ActressDorothy McGuireNominated
Best Supporting ActressCeleste HolmWon
Best Supporting ActressAnne RevereNominated
Best DirectorElia KazanWon
Best Film EditingHarmon JonesNominated
Best Picture20th Century-FoxWon
Best WritingMoss HartNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Gentleman's Agreement BlogHub Articles:

No article for Gentleman's Agreement at this time. Submit yours here.

Gentleman's Agreement Quotes:

Phil Green: I've been saying I'm Jewish, and it works.
Dave Goldman: Why, you crazy fool! It's working?
Phil Green: It works too well. I've been having my nose rubbed in it, and I don't like the smell.
Dave Goldman: You're not insulated yet, Phil. The impact must be quite a business on you.
Phil Green: You mean you get indifferent to it in time?
Dave Goldman: No, but you're concentrating a lifetime into a few weeks. You're not changing the facts, you're just making them hurt more.
Resort Clerk: In answer to your question, do you follow the Hebrew religion yourself, or do you just want to make sure?
Phil Green: I've asked a simple question, and I'd like a simple answer.
Resort Clerk: Well, we have a very high-class clientele, and, well...
Phil Green: Then you do restrict your guests to Gentiles?
Resort Clerk: Well, I would hardly say that, and in any event, there seems to have been some mistake because we don't have a single free room in the entire hotel.
Tommy Green: Don't you ever think of what to write yourself?
Mrs. Green: You know something, Phil? I suddenly want to live to be very old. Very. I want to be around to see what happens. The world is stirring in very strange ways. Maybe this is the century for it. Maybe that's why it's so troubled. Other centuries had their driving forces. What will ours have been when men look back? Maybe it won't be the American century after all... or the Russian century or the atomic century. Wouldn't it be wonderful... if it turned out to be everybody's century... when people all over the world - free people - found a way to live together? I'd like to be around to see some of that... even the beginning. I may stick around for quite a while.
Phil Green: Some people hate Catholics, some people hate Jews.
Tommy Green: And no one hates us because we're Americans.
See More Quotes from Gentleman's Agreement
Gentleman's Agreement Facts
Studio bosses - most of whom were Jewish themselves - urged Elia Kazan not to make the film.
Producer Darryl F. Zanuck sought legal advice regarding the naming of the three anti-Semitic political figures. When told there was only a small risk of libel, Zanuck - who wasn't Jewish - replied, "Let them sue us. They won't dare, and if they do, nothing would make me more happy than to appear personally as a witness or defendant at the trial." As it turned out, Sen. Bilbo died before the film's release, Rep. Rankin lost in his campaign to succeed Bilbo (but remained in Congress), and Gerald L.K. Smith filed a lawsuit that ultimately failed.
When other studio chiefs, who were mostly Jewish, heard about the making of this film, they asked the producer not to make it. They feared its theme of anti-Semitism would simply stir up a hornet's nest and preferred to deal with the problem quietly. Not only did production continue, but a scene was subsequently included that mirrored that confrontation.
Shooting started in late May 1947 and took 3 months. The film opened in November of that year to overwhelming critical favor.
Celeste Holm is on record as saying that she found Gregory Peck to be no fun to work with.
See More Facts about Gentleman's Agreement >>