Tortilla Flat is about as opposite a story from The Grapes of Wrath that it's hard to believe they come from the same author, John Steinbeck. Close to him is the always dependable Henry O'Neill as the local parish priest. Morgan, who's called the Pirate in this film, got an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor and he's the best one in the film. He even tries to bilk simple hermit Frank Morgan out of his savings. Tracy has no intention of changing his ways. Of course the prospect of kanoodling with Hedy Lamarr is enough to make any man straighten out, even get a haircut. Garfield has to mend his ways before he's got any chance with her. Garfield also has his eye on Hedy Lamarr who works in a cannery and for a husband, much as she likes Garfield, doesn't want a shiftless loafer for a life partner. Garfield inherits a couple of houses courtesy of his late grandfather and Tracy and his friends move in to free load. And the Costello of this story is of all people John Garfield. Their leader Pilon played by Spencer Tracy works this whole bunch as ruthlessly as Abbott regularly did to Costello. The group of paisanos that John Steinbeck created is as shiftless and lazy a group as you will find anywhere. I'm not sure of the appeal of this story either in the book or in the film.
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