Few films could be more All-American. Few films are made about poverty without that sense of cloying pity that tells you the producer was going for an Oscar even before they made the film. I finalllly got around to watching this classic last night, and (though generally repressed) starting sobbing during the Diner scene. And, surprisingly, the film is fun, interesting, not a drag at all. Well worth an evening.

BTW, it inspired the famous Bruce Springsteen song.