flatland A screen adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1935 novel, the first readership and commercial success of a future Nobel Prize winner. The action takes place in the 20s in the Tartilla Flat area of the Californian city of Monterey, inhabited by Paisano - descendants of Spaniards, Indians and Mexicans. The main character, Pylon, performed by Spencer Tracy, is a crook and a crook, manipulating a bunch of his faithful drinking companions, impregnated with brains. Lying, deceiving, stealing, setting up people who believe him is like breathing for Pylon. But disrespect for law and morality does not mean immorality. Pylon has his own specific ideas about good and evil. Burn a friend's house for drunkenness. Helping a mad old man to collect money for a golden candlestick in fulfillment of the vow to save the dog is a holy thing. Moreover, Pylon is capable of even the highest degree of self-sacrifice for the sake of saving a friend - to go to work!
A funny, cute film from the life of the very bottom, filled with laughter, carefree fun, adventures and scams, proving that even in conditions of unbearable, impenetrable poverty, you can not lose greatness of spirit and find small joys.
The whole ensemble is selected very successfully - the characters live on the screen. The only dissonance is Hedy Lamarr in the small role of a cannery worker living in this hole. The actress is too beautiful and luxurious for the image of a rag.
7 out of 10