Tortilla Flat (film)

Tortilla Flat is a 1942 American romantic comedy film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield, Frank Morgan, Akim Tamiroff, and Sheldon Leonard based on the 1935 novel of the same name by John Steinbeck.[2] Frank Morgan received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his poignant portrayal of The Pirate.

Tortilla Flat
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVictor Fleming
Produced bySam Zimbalist
Screenplay byJohn Lee Mahin
Benjamin Glazer
Based onTortilla Flat
by John Steinbeck
StarringSpencer Tracy
Hedy Lamarr
John Garfield
Frank Morgan
Akim Tamiroff
Music byFrank Loesser
Franz Waxman
CinematographyKarl W. Freund
Edited byJames E. Newcom
Robert Kern
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • May 21, 1942 (1942-05-21) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,201,000[1]
Box office$2,611,000[1]

Plot

Danny inherits two houses in the central coastal area of California, so Pilon and his poor, idle friends move in. One of them, the Pirate, is saving money which Pilon endeavors to steal, until he discovers that it is being collected to purchase a golden candlestick which he intends to burn for St. Francis to honor the Pirate's dead dog. One of the houses burns down, so Danny allows his friends to move into the other house with him, and in gratitude Pilon tries to make life better for his friend. Things are fine at first until Danny's passion for a lovely girl causes him to actually go to work in a fishing business. A misunderstanding caused by Pilon about a vacuum cleaner Danny had bought for the girl, enrages Danny; he becomes drunk and a bit crazy. He almost dies in an accident while interrupting the girl at her work in a cannery, but through Pilon's prayers, is restored to health. He then marries his sweetheart with the promise that he will become a fisherman now that Pilon has found the money to buy a boat. The happy ending is quite different from the novel's ending in which Danny dies after a fall.

Cast

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $1,865,000 at the US and Canadian box office and $746,000 elsewhere, making the studio a profit of $542,000.[1][3]

Critical response

Film critic Bosley Crowther gave the film a positive review, writing that the film "is really a little idyll which turns its back on a workaday world...it is filled with solid humor and compassion—and that is pleasant, even for folks who have to work."[4]

Awards

Nominations

References
  1. The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. Tortilla Flat on IMDb
  3. "101 Pix Gross in Millions" Variety 6 Jan 1943 p 58
  4. Crowther, Bosley (May 22, 1942), "Review: Tortilla Flat", The New York Times, retrieved June 22, 2013.
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