You are here:

The Pride of Jesse Hallam

Name: The Pride of Jesse Hallam
Director: Gary Nelson
Released: 1981
Duration: 105 min

Representation Score

3.7/10

Limited

1981

Director

Gary Nelson

Runtime

105 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film primarily functions as a character study centered on the deconstruction of the 'stable patriarch.' It avoids traditional clichés of the competent provider, instead focusing on the consequences of individualistic pursuits over domestic stability. While the film lacks diverse representation regarding race and sexual orientation, it offers a nuanced exploration of moral relativism. The protagonist's journey challenges the sanctity of the nuclear family and traditional societal obligations. Ultimately, the work provides a nuanced look at how personal ability to act and systemic vulnerabilities, such as illiteracy and healthcare needs, shape a person's identity against institutional structures.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Pride of Jesse Hallam have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The story centers around the protagonist's personal struggles and his family dynamics.

How does The Pride of Jesse Hallam portray gender?

Fair

The film deconstructs the traditional patriarchal role by exploring the tension between domestic expectations and the protagonist's pursuit of individual identity after abandoning household duties.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Pride of Jesse Hallam?

Minimal

Set in the 1940s, the film depicts a largely homogeneous social landscape. There are no significant racial or ethnic minority characters in the central plot.

How does The Pride of Jesse Hallam represent religion and culture?

Good

The film challenges Western domestic institutions by prioritizing individual meaning over family preservation. It critiques settled, capitalist-driven domesticity through a nomadic, existentialist perspective.

Does The Pride of Jesse Hallam include disability representation?

Fair

The plot addresses the systemic challenges of illiteracy and the need for medical care for the protagonist's daughter. It highlights how educational and physical vulnerabilities intersect with socioeconomic status.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional patriarchal roles by deconstructing the concept of the stable family provider.
Offers a nuanced exploration of individual autonomy versus societal and domestic obligations.
Provides insight into the intersection of socioeconomic status, illiteracy, and healthcare access.

Limited or Absent

Lacks significant representation of racial or ethnic minority characters within the narrative.
Contains no LGBTQ+ characters or themes addressing non-straight-centered identities.
The homogeneous social landscape limits the scope of cultural diversity presented.

Official Synopsis

Jesse Hallum sells the family farm to see that his daughter receives the medical care she needs at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The big city challenges him, though, especially when his illiteracy is exposed.

How are these scores produced? →