The Great Depression Exposed In The Film The Cinderella Man

The true story of James J. Braddock’s boxing career as depicted in the film The Cinderella Man pays a major tribute to the hard working, loyal and honest man struggling to make ends meet during one of the United States most trying times: The Great Depression. The Great Depression was era known for people who were starving, stealing, and corruption. Braddock is the epitome of a hero as he fought against said evils while simultaneously fighting against some of the top ranking boxers of his time. While the most obvious theme of the film is that of the class barrier between Braddock and the other boxers, there are also conventions such as the depiction of obedience as well as examples of typical gender roles that were present in the common families

Braddock, “The Cinderella Man,” was one to become one of the most remembered yet surprising sports legends in history. During the early1930’s, the washed up ex-prizefighter was seemingly just as beaten up, broken down and quite out of luck as much of the rest of the American population who had completely hit rock bottom. His whole career seemed to be finished, and he was unable to pay the bills. The only thing that truly mattered to him, was his family who were in danger due to the times of The Great Depression, which had pushed him to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love for his family, honor and an incredible dose of true grit, he had an impossible dream that he had yet to know would come true. In a last chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became a legendary athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, Braddock rocketed through the ranks, until this underdog chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight champ of the world, the unstoppable Max Baer, renowned for having killed two men in the ring. The movie lives up to the title “The Cinderella Man” because it really does become a Cinderella story to him

For example Joey’s wife says to Braddock’s wife Mae “We have to wait for them to fix everything (Ron Howard).” And “Every day they feel like they are failing us (Ron Howard).” She gets the idea in the minds of the audience that it was quite difficult to live life sailing smoothly, and that the women were quite dependent on the men and their ability to make money to help their families survive. Gender roles are still quite present today, but not near as prevalent. Rosie, Mae and James’ daughter says “Momma why can’t I go to school? Is it because I'm a girl (Ron Howard)?” For Rosie to have that idea in her head, its obvious that day and age represented a time period of boys and men being more heavily in charge and privileged than women were. When Mae goes and talks to Joey about making James his “personal punching bag” (Ron Howard), Joey looks at Mae and says “She looks good wearing the pants.” (Ron Howard) meaning she's taking charge when she asks him to go get some crackers for herself and Mae. It is the common saying that “they wears the pants in the family” meaning she's playing the man’s role. Joey Obviously states that (even jokingly) because he knows that’s the man’s job, is to “wear the