Daisy Kenyon, (released in 1947) featuring Joan Crawford, Henry Fonda and Dana Andrews

If you are looking for an adult well grounded romance, then Daisy Kenyon is the best film for you. It is a love triangle between well grounded adults who have to make tough choices in life. Daisy Kenyon is a magazine illustrator, who has an affair with Dan O' Mara, a well to do lawyer. Dan is married to lovely but sadistic Lucille whose father owns the law firm Dan works in. Lucille treats her children badly, especially the younger one. All her rage is so channelized on the little one, that it borders on child abuse. Dan being a dandy takes Daisy also for granted and keeps breaking up dates with her for work trips.
Daisy meets Peter Lapham, a discharged soldier who is disillusioned with love after the death of his wife Susy. Soon in Dan's absence Daisy goes on dates with Peter who falls hopelessly in love with her. In a drunken stage Peter reveals that he loves her and she is the only thing which sustains him after Susy. Daisy, still upset with Dan accepts his proposal for marriage. Dan on his return from a a business trip finds Daisy married with Peter and is angry. He reveals to Daisy that he had gone to defend a Japanese American war hero whose land has been confiscated by the authorities. With such heroics, Daisy is unsure whether she is still in love with Dan and is unable to declare her love for Peter.



Peter on the other hand is unsure about Daisy's feelings and feels that she does not care for him. Dan on the other hand accidentally meets Daisy and understands that he loves her. When Daisy refuses, he tries to force himself on her and is dissuaded by the entry of her room-mate. On reaching home, Dan realizing his feelings for Daisy, and telephones her to apologize. This is overheard by Lucille who in her anger presses for divorce. She asks for custody of the children which Dan refuses, upon which Lucille signs up Daisy as a co-respondent in the divorce case. Lucille unleashes all her rage on Daisy and her lawyer dissects all the aspect of her relationship with Dan. Dan is not able to face this humiliation of Daisy. He calls Peter for a one to one meeting and asks him to sign the divorce paper. Peter is ready to sign it if Daisy would give her consent because he just wants her to be happy.
Daisy drives to the Cape to sort out her feelings and his followed by Peter and Dan. In her panic she skids and has a minor accident. This forces her to understand her feelings for Peter and his goodness. She goes to Dan and ask him to fulfill his duty towards his children and embraces Peter. A very feel good movie which tells you that true love is there at all corners in your life.

Twelve angry men (released in 1947) starring Henry Fonda, a gripping drama set in a jury room

12 Angry Men is a courtroom drama adapted from the tele-play of the same name by Reginald Rose. It was directed by Sidney Lumet and is the only film co-produced by Henry Fonda. It tells the story of a jury, made of twelve men, who has to find a defendant guilty or not guilty and also come up with the appropriate sentencing. This entire 96 minutes of the movie takes place in the jury room adjoining the court room. So ultimately this movie utilizes only one set and is said to have been shot with a very low budget.
This jury of twelve men has to deliberate whether the defendant, a slum boy, is guilty of killing his father. The two witnesses are one old man and a lady across the street. The boy has a very weak alibi and there are considerable number of witnesses who heard cries or saw him checking the wound. The most interesting part of this movie is the fact that almost all the characters are unnamed except for the two jurors, at the end. At first, all the jurors except juror No. 8 vote for a guilty verdict. Since American law states that for a criminal offense, all the jurors should give a unanimous verdict, or it may result in a mistrial.



At the insistence of juror No. 8, the others start examining the evidence again and soon start having doubts. Soon juror No. 9 switches sides, and votes with No. 8 resulting in a stalemate. Soon other dissenting voices crop up as they further examine the evidences. Juror Nos 5, 6 and 11 also vote with No. 8 and No.9. These deliberations tire No. 7, who just takes their side to get it over with.
Soon the personality clashes wand psychological conflicts come up to the surface. Angry exchanges and outbursts also undermine the process. Juror number one is so consumed by racial hatred that he just thinks the boy guilty because of his Hispanic origin. The last jury member, No. 3, confesses that his own past would have colored his actions. No. 3 has a running feud with his son, who had raised his hand on the father for trying to mend his ways. These deliberations bring forth the buried feelings to the fore and he breaks down and cries. Juror No: 3 takes out the photograph of him and his son and tears it apart and votes for the “not guilty” verdict. Juror No.8 comforts him and slowly a consensus is build among the members.
The jury gives the verdict of “Not Guilty” and the defendant is acquitted. At the end of the movie, juror No. 8 and juror No. 9, who have become friends exchange pleasantries and names. This movie was not a big box office success, but is considered as a classic. It is preserved in the US National Film Registry as a very culturally, nationally and aesthetically significant film. It did not win any Oscars even though it was nominated for 3 categories, best picture, best director, and best screenplay. It won the Golden Bean award at the 7th international Berlin film festival.

Mister Roberts (Released in 1955) starring Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon and William Powell

Mister Roberts is a comedy – drama, which was adapted from the book written by Thomas Heggan based on his experiences aboard USS Virgo in the South Pacific during world war II. It is also adapted as a broadway play. Mister Roberts was nominated for 4 Oscars, winning Jack Lemmon an Oscar for the best supporting actor.
The film takes place aboard an American Naval Cargo ship during World War II in the south pacific. The ship supplies the essentials to the US naval fleet engaged in combat in the South Pacific and is commanded by Captain Morton, a dictatorial officer who does not give any leeway for the crew but has a spotless record of delivering the goods on schedule. Because of his oppressive behaviour, the crew despises him. Mister Robers or Lt JG Douglas Robert, the second-in-command, is a genial man and has an excellent relationship with the crew. He is the only one who is able to manage the crew and make them do the needfull and, without the Captain's knowledge, gives some freedom to the crew members. But his heart is set for a transfer to the combat areas. Captain Morton refuses his requests because, he knows that Roberts is the only one who can manage the crew.



Morton bags all the credit for managing the crew and is presented with a palm tree by an Admiral. This much despised tree is kept on the bridge of the ship in a dirt filled bucket. For the crew it is a symbol of subjugation. Ultimately Roberts, tired of the oppression, supercedes Captain Morton and requests for crew liberty. Morton, after heated discussion, grants a small vacation in lieu of Roberts not pushing for a transfer. Roberts agrees and the crew goes for a vacation. But this liberty comes at a great cost with the crew members indulging in arson, stealing and other disruptive activities. Things go from worse to worst, with the military police surrounds the ship to prevent the crew from going ashore. Captain Morton yells at Roberts, which further depresses him.
As the world war is ending Roberts finds himself very far from the combat zone and his dream of engaging in combat slipping away. He gets very depressed. Yet one day, inspired by a radio speech, he tosses the Captains palm tree overboard. The incensed Captain transfers Roberts and elevates the mild-mannered Ensign Pulver, to his position and oppresses the crew as before.
Things change when Mr. Roberts' letter arrives for Pulver where he describes combat in Okinawa and his excitement to a part of it. This is followed by another letter From Pulver's friend who is posted at the same front as Roberts informing him about his death in combat. This breaks Pulver's pleasant demeanor and energizes him to fight for his rights. An inspired Pulver confronts the captain and asks for the liberty of the crew and symbolically throws his palm tree overboard. Captain Morton realizes his mistake and understands his reign of terror is now over.

Yours, Mine and Ours (released in 1968) starring Lucille ball and Henry Fonda - romance between people with large families

This movie was an inspiration from a real life fairy tale romance between two widowers, Fran Beardsley and Helen North who combine their families of ten and eight children respectively to live happily ever after.
Frank Beardsley (played by Henry Fonda) is a Roman Catholic Naval officer who is assigned shore duty as a project officer to develop a standard equipment in all aircraft carriers nicknamed the “meatball”. Helen North played by Lucille ball is a Roman Catholic nurse whose husband tragically dies in a naval accident. Frank Beardsley brings his distraught daughter to her hospital for treatment and Helen comforts her. She remarks that the lack of maternal guidance is responsible for her depression and this gets the both parents talking. Both Frank and Helen hit it off and go on dates with out disclosing the fact that they are bringing up big families all on their own.
They try to call off their relationship on learning about their respective children. But with the intervention of their friend chief warrant officer Darell Harrison, they start dating again and began contemplating marriage. Frank runs his house as a tight ship and has all rules in place. But when Helen visits them his elder sons, Mike, Greg and Rusty mix vodka in her drink to make her behave in an wild and embarrassing manner. Soon their game is up when Frank chances upon their trick and an angry Frank announces his decision to marry Helen.



The children from both sides are against this union and regard each household suspiciously. There are many misunderstandings and tiffs which threatens to break up Helen and Frank. But they all come together when they come to know about Helen's pregnancy and support each other. The elder Beardsley children guide and form a role model for the North children. Another storm brews in the mean time with a mean minded teacher taunting Phillip North to change his surname to Beardsley. The North children are aghast and refuse Franks decision for cross adoption. But the arrival of their small baby brother Joseph John Beardsley unites them again with all of them agreeing for adoption under a common name.
The film ends with Mike Beardsley moving out of the house fully grown up to attend the camp for joining the marines. This movie was a true life adaption of Helen Beardsley's book “who gets the Drum stick?”. In fact the movie was so entertaining that Frank Beardsley is said to have remarked that the movie was a better story than truth.
On release the movie was not received well by the critics but was a hit at the box office. It collected so much profits that Lucille ball who never anticipated such a large collection never made a tax shelter for herself. This resulted in the dwindling of her share of profits.
A feel good movie, it is a fore runner and inspiration for many shows like The Brady Bunch and was remade in 2005 with Dennis Quaid and Renee Russo. It still remains a hit in the DVD circuit.

The Ox Bow incident (released in 1943) starring Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan

The Ox Bow incident tells the tale of mob fury and violence. It is a western which is adapted from the book by Walter Van Tilburg Clark by the same name. The Ox-Bow Incident was selected for preservation in the United states National Film Registry by the Library of congress and was nominated for the the Oscar for the Best motion picture. When it was released, it tanked at the box office but over the years it has achieved artistic success and is marked for the superb acting of its cast namely Henry Fonda as Gil carter and Dana Andrews as Donald Martin.
The movie opens with Gil Carter and Art Croft (Harry Morgan), two drifters riding in to the town of Bridgers Well. They find that the tension is simmering in the town because of certain incidents of Cattle rustling or the stealing of livestock. The two new strangers are initially suspected of being thieves, but later an uneasy calm prevails. Gil Carter mourning the loss of his girl friend tries to drown his sorrows in the bottle.



Amidst all this a rider comes in with news that a local rancher, Larry Kinkaid is murdered and his cattle has been raided. This enrages the men around and they gang together to form a posse to hunt the cattle rustlers. A local Judge tries to pacify them and tells them not to take law in to their own hands. But the furious mob egged on by Major Tetley, Farnley, Jenny Grier pay little heed to the judges words and go in search of the thieves. Gil and Art are forced to join to avoid further suspicion.
They meet 3 men sleeping near the Ox Bow Canyon with some cattle nearby. It is revealed during interrogation that they are Donald Martin, Juan Martinez an illiterate Mexican and a senile Alva Hardwicke. The furious mob decides that these men are cattle thieves and decided to hang them. Only Gil, Gerard Tetley and Davies support the men and ask for clemency. But the furious mob overpowers them. Davies even reads out an eloquent letter written by Martin to his wife, to support his claims. To make matters worse, Juan Martinez is found to be a gambler knowledgeable in many local languages and in possession of a gun with Kinkaid's name engraved on it. This enrages the posse which orders the killing with Gerald Tetley being forced by his father to be one of the executioners.
The victorious posse on their return gets the news from the sheriff about the real culprits being caught for the attack on Larry Kinkaid. The judge and the Sheriff condemn their actions and promises to bring them to justice. The posse returns to the saloon and drinks, with Davies reading out the sad letter of Donald Martin. Major Tetley filled with remorse is driven to suicide when his son screams at him for his devilish behavior. At the end of the film Art and Gil is deputed by Davies to deliver the letter to Donald Martin's widow and ride out of Bridges Well.

Grapes of Wrath (released in 1940) starring Henry Fonda - A great movie based on the book by John Steinbeck

Grapes of Wrath is a cult film in the era of motion pictures. This Oscar nominated movie has been adapted from John Steinbeck's novel of the same name which in turn has been a literary milestone in its own right. Grapes of Wrath has won Steinbeck the Pulitzer prize and the ultimate Nobel prize for literature. Even though nominated for eight categories, Grapes of Wrath had only won 2 Oscars, for the best director and the best supporting actress. But nobody can deny the social relevance of this amazing saga which depicts raw human emotions and travails.
Grapes of Wrath opens with Tom Joad on his way home, paroled from prison for homicide. He meets preacher Jim Casy who has seen so much of hardships that his faith is shaken. They reach Tom's homestead, which is deserted and repossessed by the lending authorities. Muley Graves, one of the neighbors takes Tom to his now destitute family living with their uncle John Joad. Joad's have lost everything in the dust bowl of Oklahoma and being impoverished are seduced by the advertisement about a promising life in California. Even though Tom Joad cannot leave Oklahoman due to parole restrictions, he risks the journey to California to find a better life.



So the Joad family of 12, along with Casy loads everybody into the old 1926 Hudson super six sedan and set out west on route 66 to California. But soon they realize that they are not the only ones making this journey, the route is filled with families in a similar predicament. Portents of bad news comes along with experienced travelers who warn them not to expect anything but hardships in California. The arduous journey takes a toll on the Joad's with grandpa Joad dying and has to be buried on the wayside and Connie Rivers, husband of Tom's pregnant sister Rose, deserting her.
The Joads on reaching California, enter their first transient migrant camp filled with jobless vagrants and laborers. They have a tough time finding a place to sleep and have a showdown with a group called the agitators. They move to another camp called Keene Ranch where situation is still more precarious. After a hard day of work they find that they still cannot afford food from the camp store. Soon they are attracted to unions and Tom and Casy try to attend meetings organized by a striking group of migrants. Here tragedy strikes as the group is discovered by the guards who attack the strikers. Casy is killed by one of the guards and Tom is wounded and inadvertently kills one of the guards in self defense. The Joad family hides Tom and they are able to slip away from Keene Ranch to reach the federally operated clean camp called Farm workers wheat patch camp.
Tom realizes that he must change the world and find a better deal for every worker. He leaves to join in a mission committed to social justice and the Joad family supports him. Ma Joad concludes that the hardships have made them tougher and nobody can wipe them out from this world. Grapes of Wrath has been in the list of the best films made in the 21st century. It has been well received by the critics and has been a discerning film for a student of the the craft of film making.