Using movies as a way of teaching a specific time period is an entertaining but often fictitious method to education. Especially, when Hollywood blockbusters like Gladiator (2000) are involved. However, some Hollywood pictures that do a sufficient job of showcasing a time in history. Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man, also starring Russell Crowe, is a rarity in the world of historical fiction film. While it is still not 100% factual, it does do a fantastic job of featuring the atmosphere of the early 1930’s. This atmosphere is best characterised by a fervent devotion to faith, the desperation of the unemployed, and the amazing resilience of the American people.
Throughout the film references to Braddock’s Catholicism are heavily impressed upon. He is likely, a devout catholic. Despite this, when Braddock hits rock bottom his response is that he is “all prayed out,” (Howard 2005). It is this line that elicits the most pity from the audience because people can empathise with giving up on something they believe in. The connection between Braddock’s lowest moment and his faith is a powerful statement about the status of religion at the time. Again the importance of faith is emphasised in the climax of the film. When Mae goes “to pray for Jim [Braddock]” she is surprised to find the church full of people doing the same
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The film hides many of the issues of the“roaring” 20’s mostly because they are not relevant to Braddock’s story. The film also favours a storybook “happily ever after” ending rather than addressing the lasting effects the depression America in the mid to late 1930’s for the same reason. Again to protect the integrity of the Braddock’s story, Roosevelt’s New deal is barely touched on and only mentioned in one scene. While this does take away from the film’s historical credibility as a whole it does not make the film useless for