Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
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78% of critics liked it
(32 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(5,106 ratings)
Adapted by Moss Hart from the novel by Laura Z. Hobson, this film stars Gregory Peck as recently widowed journalist Phil Green. With a growing son (Dean Stockwell) to support, Green is receptive to the invitation of magazine publisher John Minify (Albert Dekker) to write a series of hard-hitting… More Adapted by Moss Hart from the novel by Laura Z. Hobson, this film stars Gregory Peck as recently widowed journalist Phil Green. With a growing son (Dean Stockwell) to support, Green is receptive to the invitation of magazine publisher John Minify (Albert Dekker) to write a series of hard-hitting articles on the scourge of anti-Semitism. In order to glean his information first hand, Green decides to pose as a Jew. As the weeks go by, Green experiences all manner of prejudice, the most insidious being the subtle, "gentleman's agreement" form of bigotry wherein anti-Jewish sentiments are merely taken for granted. Green's pose takes a toll on his budding romance with Minify's niece Kathy (Dorothy McGuire), who comes to realize by her own example that even those who insist that they harbor no anti-Semitic feelings are also capable of prejudice. Watching from the sidelines is Green's lifelong Jewish friend Dave (John Garfield, in what may be his best performance), who despite his inherent rage over the iniquities of racism has learned to be philosophical about the failings of his fellow man-but not to the extent that he's willing to give up the fight against blind hatred. Though warned by several Jewish film moguls that to produce the film would merely "make trouble," 20th Century-Fox chieftan Daryl F. Zanuck (who was not himself Jewish) saw the project through to its conclusion. The wisdom of Zanuck's decision was proven when Gentleman's Agreement not only made a fortune for Fox, but also won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan) and Best Supporting Actress (Celeste Holm). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Elia Kazan
- Written By
- Moss Hart
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Classics
- In Theaters
- Nov 11, 1947 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Ty Burr, Entertainment Weekly
Agreement was tame, cautious stuff even back then.
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Robert Hatch, The New Republic
By dispassionate critical standards, Gentleman's Agreement is not a success. It is a tract rather than a play and it has the crusader's shortcomings.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
The movie is as powerful today as when it captured the Best Picture Oscar a few years after Hitler's genocide ended in Europe.
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, TIME Magazine
Gentleman's Agreement is an important experiment, honestly approached and successfully brought off.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
It looks pretty timorous now.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Gregory Peck
as Phil Green
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Dorothy McGuire
as Kathy Lacey
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John Garfield
as Dave Goldman
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Celeste Holm
as Anne Dettrey
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June Havoc
as Miss Wales
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Dean Stockwell
as Tommy Green
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Anne Revere
as Mrs. Green
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Wilton Graff
as Maitre d'
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Albert Dekker
as John Minify
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Sam Jaffe
as Prof. Lieberman
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Curt Conway
as Bert McAnny
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Morgan Farley
as Clerk
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Nicholas Joy
as Dr. Craigle
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Victor Kilian
as Olsen
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Kathleen Lockhart
as Mrs. Minify
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Louise Lorimer
as Miss Miller
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Howard Negley
as Tingler
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John Newland
as Bill
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Roy Roberts
as Mr. Calkins Hotel Manager
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Ransom Sherman
as Bill Payson
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Harold Vermilyea
as Jordan Personnel Manager
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Robert Warwick
as Weisman
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Frank Wilcox
as Harry
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Jane Wyatt
as Jane Lacey
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Olive Carey
as 1st woman
- Olive Deering
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Virginia Gregg
as 3rd Woman
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Mauritz Hugo
as Columnist
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Robert Karnes
as 1st Ex-GI in restaurant
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Marion Marshall
as Guest
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Jesse White
as Elevator Starter
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Gene Nelson
as 2nd Ex-G.I
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Jane Green
as 2nd woman
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Marilyn Monk
as Receptionist
- Ransom M. Sherman
