IN DUBIOUS BATTLE

Set in the apple orchards of California Valley in the dirty '30s, Steinbeck's tale follows two young idealists from "The Party" who are appalled by the orchards' terrible working conditions and set out to organize the fruit pickers and inspire them rise "in dubious battle" against the landowners. Having arrived from out of town, Mac McLeod (James Franco) and Jim Nolan (Nat Wolff) are met with skepticism and some outright hostility when they first suggest unionizing. Most of the pickers simply want to work and get paid, even if they are being mercilessly exploited. Mac and Jim realize that their progress depends on convincing local elder Al Anderson (Vincent D'Onofrio). He's a hard nut, but could be won over after Mac helps his daughter-in-law, Lisa (Selena Gomez), when she goes into labour. The group takes on a life of its own - stronger than its individual members and more frightening. The strike is founded on Jim's tragic idealism - on the "courage never to submit or yield." Surrounding the two activists is a cast of eclectic characters with varying loyalties, among them the ruthless land and orchard owner (Robert Duvall), who is determined to crack down on any strike action. Published in 1936, the novel "In Dubious Battle" is considered the first major work of Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Steinbeck.