Gentleman's Agreement

There was a time when Hollywood studio executives left the sending of messages to Western Union…unless, of course, they wanted an Oscar; then they laid it on good and thick. An Academy Award winner for Best Picture and Best Director, Elia Kazan's landmark film was a prestige project all the way, with a screenplay by playwright Moss Hart based on Laura Z. Hobson's sensational bestseller, and while the film seems somewhat dated and preachy today, it remains a potent look at both blatant and subtler forms of anti-Semitism. Gregory Peck stars as Phil Green, a magazine writer who poses as a Jew for an article he's writing and experiences firsthand the outrages and injustices of being denied entrance at a fancy hotel, or having his son (11-year-old Dean Stockwell) picked on by bigoted schoolyard bullies. But the film also digs deeper to indict "the nice people" who help anti-Semitism along, including Phil's own girlfriend (Dorothy McGuire), who betrays her politically incorrect nature. Scene-stealer (and Oscar-winner) Celeste Holm shines as a straight-shooting, decidedly unprejudiced coworker, while John Garfield is also excellent as Phil's Jewish friend, who has an understandable chip on his shoulder (it is the gentleman's agreement of the title that denies him housing). This handsomely restored "Studio Classics" edition DVD includes no-nonsense commentary by critic Richard Schickel, with participation by June Havoc (who costars as a secretary hiding her own Jewish heritage), and Holm, who has some surprisingly unflattering things to say about Peck. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)[Blu-ray Review—Feb. 12, 2013—Fox, 118 min., not rated, $24.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1947's Gentleman's Agreement boasts a fine transfer and a DTS-HD mono soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary (by costars June Havoc and Celeste Holm, and film critic Richard Schickel), a "Hollywood Backstories" production featurette (25 min.), two classic "Fox Movietone News" reels (3 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a biting Hollywood classic makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]