What Is The Theme Of Cinderella Man And The Great Depression

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Ron Howard’s film Cinderella Man tells the real-life story of James Braddock and his family before and during the Great Depression. The film begins with his first light heavyweight championship during the Roaring 20s, and then fast-forwards to his Great Depression, when he struggles with a broken right hand and eventually loses his right to box after too many losses against minor opponents. Braddock then tries to find work on the docks but only succeeds some of the time, and even has to resort to begging and filing for government relief to pay his bills. However, just as he thinks he is done boxing, the commission asks Jimmy to take up one fight to fill in for another fighter in the heavyweight boxing championships. To everyone’s surprise, Braddock, once known as the “Bulldog of Bergen,” knocks out his …show more content…

Cinderella Man also does a good job of showing the real-life conditions and struggles of the 1930s. Some of the challenges of the Depression that are in the film include the fear of not being able to care for children, the difficulty of finding a small job, and the rough life for people in Hoovervilles. Ron Howard also produced the movie in such a way that the viewers could also get a sense of common household struggles during the 1930s, especially the lack of income and the inability to pay for even the essentials like heat, electricity, food, and medicine. However, these common household struggles subside for the Braddock family as Jimmy rises again in the ring. Overall, this film is a classic comeback story, not only in James’s boxing career but also in his life in general as he is able to support his family and regain their trust once again. The comeback story is a classic American film and literary theme, seeming to suggest the resilience of the American

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