THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA (1937)

A very old-fashioned biopic (sort of) about a French writer and his fight to save an army officer wrongly accused of treason. I found myself drawn in despite myself.

MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

If Frank Capra’s particular brand of idealistic American mythmaking feels dated today, that may be more our problem than his.

THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)

Camps of migrants, driven out of their homes by economic hardship, hated by the locals and oppressed by the police. It’s hard to be an Oklahoman.