Gentlemean's Agreement

 Daryl F. Zanuck decided to make a film version of Laura Hobson's novel "Gentlemean's Agreement" after being refused membership in the Los Angeles Country Club, because it was assumed (incorrectly) that he was Jewish. Before filming commenced, Samuel Goldwyn and other Jewish film executives approached Darryl Zanuck and asked him not to make the film, fearing it would "stir up trouble." They also warned that Hays Code enforcer Joseph Breen might not allow the film to pass the censors, as he had been known to make disparaging remarks about Jews. There was also concern that Dorothy McGuire's character being divorced would offend the National Legion of Decency.

The role of Phillip Green was first offered to Cary Grant, but he turned it down. Gregory Peck decided to accept the role, although his agent advised him to refuse, believing Peck would be endangering his career.

Peck did not get along with director Elia Kazan. Kazan told the press he was very disappointed with Peck's performance and the two men never worked together again.

In 1984, Peck claimed to have been misquoted in a 1967 interview in which he said Kazan was the wrong director for the film. The actor said, "That's a misunderstanding. I don't think there could have been a better director for the film. What I meant was that he and I didn't have a rapport; emotionally, we were not on the same wavelength. I don't think that I did my best work for him. If I worked with him now--as a mature man--I think I would give him everything he would want."

"Gentleman's Agreement" was one of Fox's highest-grossing movies of 1947. The political nature of the film, however, upset the House Un-American Activities Committee, with Kazan, Darryl Zanuck, John Garfield, and Anne Revere all being called to testify before the committee. Revere refused to testify and although Garfield appeared, he refused to "name names." Both were placed in the Red Channels of the Hollywood Blacklist. Garfield remained on the blacklist for a year, was called again to testify against his wife, and died of a heart attack at the age of 39 before his second hearing date.

Despite winning an Oscar for his direction, Kazan revealed in a later interview that he was never fond of this movie, feeling that it lacked passion on his part and he thought that the romance was too forced. However, when pushed on the question of its profound impact on a generation, he responded, "It worked. I feel that with all its limitations, it worked."

"Our whole task was to use a conventional form to force people to listen to ideas that were, at the time, unconventional. At the time of 'Gentleman's Agreement,' people weren't used to hearing these thoughts and feeling come out on the screen [...] All I did was try and make the message come across in a form that the middle class, whom I was accusing of anti-Semitism, would accept. They accept the story and thereby the guilt. Then hopefully they'll take on the responsibility for making things change [...] I'll make it so familiar to you that there won't be any way for you not to accept the guilt."