Jane Fonda’s favourite Henry Fonda movies: “His choice of films was significant”
Nepotism has been a popular topic of discussion for many years, especially within Hollywood. The industry runs on connections, and many actors have managed to get their foot in the door through familial links, as was the case for Jane Fonda. While many ‘nepo babies’ certainly express a lack of talent, this can’t be said for Fonda, who quickly became a successful and iconic star in her own right, proving herself to be a wildly talented actor.
Born to Henry Fonda, the actor’s first role was opposite Anthony Perkins in Tall Story, a romantic comedy in which she played one of the leads. While the movie was not a hit, Fonda continued to land roles that would eventually give her success. She appeared alongside Alain Delon in the French movie Joy House, generated controversy for her nude scene in Circle of Love, and cemented herself as a sex symbol with Barbarella. Alongside roles in Barefoot in the Park, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? and Klute, Fonda became a Hollywood star.
She has often pushed boundaries when picking roles, unafraid to pick an erotically charged project or one with considerable political themes. During the 1970s, Fonda starred in an adaptation of the feminist play A Doll’s House and Jean-Luc Godard and Jean-Pierre Gorin’s Marxist drama Tout Va Bien, further establishing herself as an actor interested in using her work to promote her beliefs, which were being increasingly informed by the feminist and anti-war movements.
However, if it wasn’t for her father, Fonda might not have found herself so naturally interested in politics and social justice. Talking to Numero, she revealed her favourite movies that her father starred in, all of which got her interested in activism. When asked where her interest in politics came from, she replied, “From my father, Henry,” before listing some of his movies that shaped her perspective on the world.
The first is 12 Angry Men, directed by Sidney Lumet. Released in 1957, the movie is highly acclaimed due to its stunning performances and tightly executed script. Fonda played the eighth juror, an architect with an interest in seeking justice, a performance that was widely praised. He even produced the movie, too, taking an active role in bringing the legal drama to life.
His daughter also selected The Grapes of Wrath, an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s landmark novel of the same name. Set during The Great Depression, the John Ford-directed movie saw Fonda play the main character, Tom Joad, part of a family who moved from Oklahoma to California. The movie highlighted how tough the era was for many people who had little money or stable homes, and Fonda’s performance was, unsurprisingly, terrific.
The western film The Ox-Bow Incident, directed by William A Wellman, was Fonda’s other pick of one of her favourites that her father starred in. The movie follows justice-seeking men, one of whom is played by Fonda, as they try to catch the men who murdered a rancher.
“He often chose films about justice,” Fonda explained. “He didn’t talk about it, but he was touched by those roles more than others, and I could feel that. Whenever I’m asked where my activist side comes from, it’s clearly because I’m my father’s daughter. He wasn’t militant, but his choice of films was significant”.
