James J. Braddock During The Great Depression

The Great Depression is seen as one of the most sorrowful and desolate times in the history of the United States. This time was the longest period of recession ever seen by this nation so far. It lasted from 1929 to 1939, over ten years of complete confusion and despondency within the people. Many Americans were affected greatly by this tragic time and sacrificed much of their lives so that they and their families may have the chance to live. This act of desperation can be seen throughout the movie, The Cinderella Man, where a professional boxer, Jim Braddock, becomes crippled by the depression, both economically and spiritually. The observer can see this through the explicit cinematography of the movie and depiction of the Great

Life in the 1920’s was drastically different from life in the Great Depression. In the 20’s life was amazing. Wealth was being spread and the parties never stopped. It was all over when the stock market crashed in 1929. Banks closed and everyone lost their money. The movie Cinderella Man showed how life changed for boxer James Braddock. He was a famous boxer during the twenties. The movie showed the struggles he went through when the Depression hit. He lost his job and barely made it by. Cinderella Man shows James Braddock being on top to being at rock bottom. He was forced to go on public assistance to provide for his family. Cinderella Man showed how life changed from the 20s to the Great Depression and how the New Deal helped people

The great depression was a terrible time for many families in the United States. After the economic boost of the 1920’s, many people spent their many on stocks and credit. Everything went wrong after the stock market crash on October 29. 1929. People lost the money they had in banks when they panicked and tried to get all their money out at the same time. The banks didn’t have enough money to give back.The Braddock family suffered economic hardship, emotional distress and family unity during the great depression. The Braddock family had trouble with finding money, paying bills, keeping it together- both their emotions and family.

This movie is based on the time period of the 1930’s. The Great Depression was in action during this time period. According to history.com, more than fifteen million Americans were unemployed after the stock market crash of October 29, 1929. President Hoover was in office at the time and didn’t do much to overcome the predicament. Hoover announced that we would need “patience and self-reliance” to overcome this. In 1932 the crime rate in Washington was at its all-time high and parole board had the most applicants it has ever had according to Professor Carl Murchison. Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that unemployment drove people to want to end their lives during the Great Depression. During that time in King county, there was 190 suicides and even more suicide attempts. People felt that the was no escaping this financial struggle and thought the only way out of it was to end their lives. There was also an increase in robberies. People would steal money from their own workplace. People would take money from graves, burry people alive and take their jewelry, you name it. With the economy being at its lowest point, people were taking or getting money wherever they could.

The economical and societal conditions and their changes during the film had a dramatic affect on the story. The movie starts off with James J. Braddock, in the twenties which was a great economical time, and it shows when he comes home, with a

James J. Braddock once said, " I have to believe that once things are bad, I have to change them". The movie Cinderella Man is about Braddock rising from a poor, unsuccessful boxer to the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. The historical background to his life and career was during the same time period as the Great Depression. James Braddock was not always the boxer he is now known to be, in the 1920’s he had lost one third of his fights and people referred to him as a “bum” which is the lowest name you could label a boxer at the time. Despite a broken hand and the hatred the crowd brought upon him, Braddock never hesitated to do his best on the rink. However, when the

The journal article begins by introducing an African American couple who resided in Russellville, Kentucky. James Wright held an occupation as a corn cutter while his wife Gladys worked as a cook in a white home. The time span of their journey occurred at the beginning of the great depression all the way through World War II. Seeking better employment opportunities, James traveled to Louisville. Although, his first couple trips were in vain. His resilience and determination eventually lead to a job working for International Harvester. During an era of many trials and tribulations, James found a way to support himself and his family by migrating from a rural to an urban area. By sharing this anecdote the author establishes a mood of hardship

Papa Jack is a great book to read for any history student or sports fan, because in vivid detail it describes the life of a boxer in and outside the ring. Roberts talks about Johnson 's numerous run ins with the law, his fights and how he would treat people he came across. Roberts describes the type of people Johnson attracted because of his fame. Many of the women

James Braddock, likewise, was an exceptional boxer and made a good income before the unfortunate and unexpected Great Depression hit. Braddock’s prosperity at the beginning of the film mirrored life during the Roaring Twenties and provided examples of the lifestyle and economic success of families in the Nineteen Twenties.

I believe that the way the filmmakers changed the character of Jim Braddock is very realistic. Although it did not properly represent the real Jim Braddock's character after the witnessing the in-ring death of his opponent, I feel it is still ethical. As filmmakers they had the creative choices to change the based on real life character of Jim Braddock to get across the story they wanted. In this case, they wanted to get across the struggles he, as well as many others, faced during the 1930s. Although he was not as broken over the in ring death as in real life, he still appears to be broken over what he say in real life, like his kids going without food and heat, the horrors of Hoovervilles and mass graves. By the filmmakers having Braddock more invested over what he saw in real life rather than in the ring, he is more relatable and gets across the story of majority of average American citizens in the 1930s rather than the story of a

The movie, My Man Godfrey, directed by Gregory La Cava easily situates itself into the era of the Greatest Generation. My Man Godfrey was releases during the middle of the Great Depression. Not only was the film released during the Great Depression, but it was set during the same era as well. While there are many instances that clearly tie My Man Godfrey to the Great Depression, the issues surrounding the economics and social classes are key players in this connection.

Cecchetti, Stephen G. "Understanding the Great Depression: Lessons for Current Policy ." Monetary Economics (1997): 1-26.

One specific example of true representation is the scenes at the docks where men line up at the fences begging to be chosen to work for one day’s salary. Another scene that accurately shows the Depression Era is the scene of the families in the huge lines for relief money. The lines stretched out the door and down the street and the charities and relief centers would often run out of money before everyone was helped. The viewer feels Braddock’s embarrassment as he waits in line to borrow money from the relief center, and then has to visit

The classic film Gold Diggers Of 1933 is based in the era of the Great Depression, the aftermath of World War I which lasted from 1929 to 1939 thus the result to World War II. The Great Depression occurred during the time when films were evolving and becoming hits, but made it hard for film producers and companies since money was tight, unless you were rich and born into wealth like Brad Roberts in the film, who could easily just loan the money to the film makers. The time period and film go hand in hand as it relates to the time where life was tough in America and money wasn’t a easy thing to have access at all times. Clearly the film Gold Diggers Of 1933 indicates the time period of American life and The Great Depression

The 1920s seemed to promise a future of a new and wonderful way of life for America and its citizens . Modern science, evolving cultural norms, industrialization, and even jazz music heralded exciting opportunities and a future that only pointed up toward a better life. However, cracks in the facade started to show, and beginning with the stock market crash of 1929 the wealth of the country, and with it the hopes and expectations of its people, began to slip away. The Great Depression left a quarter of the population unemployed and much of the rest destitute and uncertain of what the future held. Wealth vanished, people took their money out of banks, and plans were put on hold. The most significant way in which the Great Depression affected Americans’ everyday lives was through poverty because it tore relationships apart and damaged the spirit of society while unexpectedly bringing families together in unity.