Henry Fonda a Hollywood Movie Legend

Henry Fonda Movie Career

Henry Fonda’s career spanned five decades, with his last film being "On Golden Pond" in 1981, which earned him his only Academy Award. He was nominated for an Oscar five times but did not win until he was in his 60s. His first Oscar nomination was for 1939’s “The Long Voyage Home,” in which he appeared alongside John Ford. Ford was one of three directors who often cast Fonda in lead roles. The others were John Huston and Elia Kazan, with whom Fonda worked on two films about the House Un-American Activities Committee’s investigation into Communist influence in Hollywood in the 1950s.

Henry Fonda Movies: “The Grapes of Wrath”

The Grapes of Wrath is a 1940 novel about the Great Depression-era migration of Dust Bowl families from Oklahoma to California. The film was based on John Ford’s 1939 movie made for Fox Studios as part of their “Ford” series. Ford also directed the 1940 movie for MGM as part of their “Franchise” series that included films directed by W.S. Van Dyke, Sam Wood, and others. Henry Fonda played Tom Joad, the main character of the novel, a former Okie who leads his family in the migration. The novel and movie are both highly political works. Franklin Roosevelt saw the movie and praised it as “the most important picture of our times.”

Henry Fonda Movies: “Twelve Angry Men”

Twelve Angry Men is a 1957 drama about a jury deliberating the guilt of a teenager accused of murdering his father. It was written by Reginald Rose and directed by Sidney Lumet in his debut film. Henry Fonda plays a juror who is the lone holdout against a guilty verdict. The film is notable for taking place almost entirely in one room. Today it is often shown in high school English classes as a study of how society’s preconceptions affect the way people see each other. Henry Fonda won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this performance, making him the only actor to win an Oscar for a film directed by Sidney Lumet. The other actors nominated for Best Actor in 1957 were Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, James Mason, and Paul Newman.

Henry Fonda Movies: “Once Upon a Time in the West”

Once Upon a Time in the West is a 1968 film about a ruthless criminal who arrives in a new town in the American West and finds himself up against a mysterious woman. It was the last film directed by the Italian director Sergio Leone, who had already made The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and other classic spaghetti westerns. Henry Fonda played Frank, the ruthless villain. The movie was visually stunning and featured a haunting score by Ennio Morricone. It was highly controversial in its day because it broke one of the accepted rules of the western film genre. Namely, the good guy always wins.

Henry Fonda Movies: "On Golden Pond"

On Golden Pond is a 1981 drama about an aging couple who visit their grown children at their summer home on a lake. The movie earned Henry Fonda an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Fonda’s character is the father, Norman, and his co-star is Katharine Hepburn, playing the mother. The film was written by Ernest Thompson, who also directed and whose other films include The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Fonda also starred in the 1951 film "The Grapes of Wrath", which was based on the John Steinbeck novel of the same name. Henry Fonda plays the role of Tom Joad, the main character of the novel, a former Okie who leads his family in the migration.

Conclusion

Henry Fonda was an understated, subtle actor who often played characters that were the opposite: strong and outspoken men with deeply felt principles. His stoic performance as Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath" is his most famous role, but he also had memorable roles in several other Henry Fonda movies. Fonda was born in 1918 to Norwegian immigrants in the small town of Omemee, Wisconsin. He left for New York at age 20 to become an actor, returning home periodically to work on the family farm. His first movie role was a bit part as a sailor in 1935’s “Alice Adams.” By 1940 he had appeared in 18 films but none of them were lead roles. His big break came as Frank Tomer in MGM’s "The Return of Frank Fonda", a film that was not well-received but did give Fonda a chance to show his acting skills.