MovieChat Forums > Odds Against Tomorrow Discussion > Much more than the cliche' social/race i...

Much more than the cliche' social/race issue theme..

posted 8 years ago by soulcombinetics
1 reply | jump to latest

Hey people.

This is by far one of my favorite films ever, at least Black and White films. I just had a question for everyone. I get that it's about race, hatred and the bigotry that Ryan spews at Belafonte, thus causing the turmoil..

BUT, after so many viewings of this film,(and i watch it at least once a year) I came to understand the there's so much more to it than the social aspect of it.

To me there was a greater theme to it. What was more powerful and moving to me was the utter desperation that these three, slightly generationally-spaced, different men dealt with. They all direly needed money, and seemed to not have many ways to get it. That is what eventually moved me the most after really watching the film continually over the years. I really felt that my god, they were also so hell-bent upon getting some money, that they had to take a chance on Burke's scheme.. I sincerely believed that there was no other way out for these characters.

anyone?

[–] liscarkat (19420) a year ago

True. The race stuff is standard issue for the time, nothing special. It's the story of these three desperate guys' hopes and eventual doom that is the most powerful. The locations, cinematography, dialogue, music, and everything else about it are perfect. Robert Wise was one hell of a director, and would be well-remembered even if he'd retired before taking on the dancing delinquents and singing nuns.