... If it would, we're admitting that anti-semitism is a dominant problem in today's society, and if it wouldn't, we're arguing that such appalling bigotry is the preserve of a lunatic fringe who're ridiculed by the reasonable majority.
How do you feel?
This is where the magic happens... and by "magic", I mean nothing.
I was glad to see this question here. I watched GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT again last night and came away thinking it one of the few older films that *could* be successfully remade. This is because antisemitism is still all around us, but it's on the internet rather than in country clubs. Antisemitism is becoming more and more "mainstream." Just witness the explosion of antisemitic remarks on internet message boards following the Bernie Madoff scandal. Or look at all the antisemitic comments on Youtube. Or what about the TV show "What Would You Do"? Just last November it did a show on antisemitism among "everyday" people. The kind of "casual" antisemitism GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT investigates is all too common today.
The film would have to be updated -- a new script would have to be written -- but I think GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT can and should be remade (as good as the original was).
I'm not sure who could best play the part of Phil Green, but watching it last night it suddenly flashed across my mind that Adrien Brody would be a very good choice for the role of Dave Goldman (the John Garfield character)!
Interesting choice re: Adrien Brody... That's something I would be intrigued to see!
Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me
[deleted]
It's certainly an intriguing idea...
Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me
While bigotry towards Semitism still exists, there are many anti-discrimination laws against it. The film wouldn't have the same impact in a contemporary setting.
A parallel theme was in the book "Black Like Me" by journalist John Howard Griffin, 1961.
Basically, a Caucasian American who tainted his skin dark to pretend he's a black American in order to observe discrimination by others. To chronicle the different attitudes people showed according to his skin tone."
"If music be the food of love, play on" - William Shakespeare
I didn't know about the book you mention. Interesting...
Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me
I know that anti-Semitism still exists, so a remake with a new script could work.
However, I immediately thought that this would be a good basis for a remake with the lead character pretending to be gay and raising a son on his own. That would probably resonate more today. It might also fix the issues I had with the main romance, which seemed rather forced to me.
Interesting...
Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me
Yes, it work well today. The examples might have to be different, but it would work, given that anti-semitism exists today.
shareDo you have any idea in what way you would update the examples?
Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me
Instead of the scenario where people with a certain name are automatically rejected for a job, change this to a more subtle situation where people of a certain name are denied a promotion to a key job.
In general change the obvious to a case of more subtle discrimination.
I'd like to see a reimagining with anti-Semitism replaced by homophobia.
shareI was thinking about doing it with homophobia too.
What if, instead of pretending to be Jewish, a character pretends to be Muslim? That is very topical for modern times and I think a lot of people have prejudices towards Muslims, subtle and overt.
Definitely all fertile grounds for material!
"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"
Anti-semitism is alive and well today in the black community, which is quite ironic considering that Jews have always treated blacks with respect and have been in the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.
I would argue that the Civil Rights Act was actually a bad thing for the black community, but that is another subject altogether.
The biggest form of bigotry in America currently is the hatred and bias that the Left harbors for conservatives and conservative, traditional values. And yes, there have been some films made about this subject.
I don't believe in such sweeping generalisations - or trying to assign the blame for a problem at the door of one particular group.
I suppose that would depend what you mean by 'bias'. I am not American, but then, I am not conservative, either. My position is that everybody is entitled to believe as they wish, but that they should not try and impose this belief and way of life upon others, in the guise of 'tradition'... I am pro-choice, in all senses of the phrase. I don't like being dictated to. Live your life, by all means, as long as you don't try to tell others how to live theirs.
"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"