MovieChat Forums > Home of the Brave (1949) Discussion > What?

What?

posted 18 years ago by joekiddlouischama
8 replies | jump to latest

No messages for this groundbreaking film about the psychology of racism mixing with the psychology of war in a supposedly democratic quest?

[–] Mrs_Bundy 16 years ago

Perhaps it's just that this film has been superceded by far better films? I don't much care for the acting or the film's emphasis on Moss's personal neuroses, which allows Roffman and Purdy to conclude that Moss's problem "is as much his own fault as that of racist America". Moreover, the ending is much too glib for modern tastes and the soundtrack is simply atrocious.

[–] prettyD2368 16 years ago

This is a great movie and I think the above poster is an idiot.

[–] radrians 15 years ago

I completely agree that Home of the Brave is a cutting-edge movie for the time period it was released. Cold War America was sensitive to any criticism of the U.S. military as well as race issues. This was a time when Jim Crow and segregation were alive and well in America, north and south. I was 15 years old when I came across this film as part of the now-defunct Million Dollar Movie weekly showcase out of New York City. Great films were shown every day at the same time for a full week and I remember tuning in day after day to view this movie. This was back in the mid-1950s just before I became interested in girls and, hence, spent many hours viewing movies, particularly of the film noir genre. Because this film left such an impact on me, a few years ago I found a VHS version (the quality left much to be desired)on Amazon.com and purchased it. I don't believe it has been re-mastered on DVD. Too bad. It is the type of film one can bring out for viewing every few years and still enjoy the theme, the acting, and the moral lessions it provides.
Radrians

[–] lewis-51 8 years ago

I thought the acting was very good. It's a very impressive movie for 1949.

I agree that the sound track is often distracting, almost silly at times.

[–] I_have_a_brain_cloud 10 years ago

It is my understanding that the original play upon which this film is based--with the same title I think--was not about racism against Africa-Americans, but anti-semitism and homophobia. Now wouldn't that have been a groundbreaking movie in 1949? Perhaps it's time for a re-do that is true to the source.

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[–] activista 10 years ago

There was already a film done about anti-semitism starring Gregory Peck called GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT (1947)---still haven't seen it myself,though. HOME OF THE BRAVE is noteworthy,despite its ridiculous Hollywood ending, for showing that black folks fought in World War II---something you'd never know watching Hollywood films,anyway.

[–] andrewwjohnson 8 years ago

Although I've seen some excerpts from this movie last night was the first time I actually saw it and I've watched a lot of movies during my lifetime; after school when I was a kid, On TCM and other places. I may be wrong but the movie just didn't get many showings on TV so it's not likely to be discussed on this board.

As for the movie itself "Home of the Brave" was ground braking if for no other reason actually having an African American actor playing a central black character in a racial drama. "Pinky" was a movie about a light skinned black women played by a white actress. "Lost Boundaries" was about a light skinned black family passing for white played by white actors. "Intruder in the Dust" centered on a black charter, played by a black actor but most of the screen time was taken up by white characters.

It was also one of the first Hollywood to directly face racism. Until this movie was made the Hayes censorship office prohibited the use of the "N" word. While many might have mixed feeling about that dropping the rule allowed this movie to confront the true ugly and hurtful nature of racism.

As for the soundtrack that's a subjective question. In the case of "Home of the Brave" using spiritual "Sometime I Feel Like a Motherless Child seems to work.

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[–] mnoe 8 years ago

...There was already a film done about anti-semitism starring Gregory Peck called GENTLEMEN'S [sic] AGREEMENT (1947)....

Not only was Gentleman's Agreement released in 1947 to great acclaim, but so was Crossfire, which also addressed antisemitism in the U.S. (Incidentally, the theme of Crossfire's source material was homophobia, which was changed to antisemitism for the film.)

According to the notes compiled at the TCM site (which seems to be the source of every bit of information on IMDb's trivia page for the film):

The Variety review commented that the thematic switch was made because antisemitism had already been depicted in previous Hollywood films and was therefore in danger of being "overplayed."

You can see Hollywood's treatment of antisemitism investigated in the documentary Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies, and the American Dream, or in the book on which it is based, Neal Gabler's An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood. The moguls who ran the studios walked a self-imposed line.

Ironically, in light of the fear that two films in one year on antisemitism was overexposure, Home of the Brave turned out to be one of four major releases in 1949 which dealt with racism against black Americans.

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