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Gentlemen’s Agreement
by Duc Nguyen
One of the most controversial racial issue of our times is underlined in the theme of the film, “Gentlemen’s Agreement.” Anti-Semitism, the cause which Hitler used for the atrocity he forced upon many Jews and the root of many social segregation in this country was also the project theme of Schyler Green, played by Gregory Peck, a prolific journalist. Green’s move to New York city from California brought him to Smith’s Weekly, a magazine catered to the affluent in Manhattan. Upon accepting his post at Smith’s Weekly, the publisher assigned Green with a tough, new project. He would be writing a series about anti-Semitism.
Green, an all-American type, was faced with a tough question when his son asked him “What does anti-Semitism means?” Although he tried to explain to his son, he felt that the question was not clearly answered. He then tried to approach the subject with research and facts finding. However, the publisher denied his proposal and suggested a different take, “go straight to the source.” Schyler struggled with his project as he spent days and nights by the typewriter. The journalist came to a dead-end as he was searching for idea. He wanted to write to a Jewish and asked for help, but decided against it. Finally, a spark of inspiration came when he realized that in previous experience he had transformed himself into the subject of his writing. During a…
