The movie Cinderella Man illustrates some of the common hardships among Americans in the 1930s as they went through the Great Depression. The severity of the depression, unemployment, relief systems, family struggles, and the radio are some of the topics and difficulties, faced by Americans at the time, that are addressed by the movie. Along with these struggles came strong emotions, such as, desperation, worry, frustration, and the feeling of helplessness and failure.

                Desperation and some of the severities of the depression were shown through the problems in Jimmy’s family, beginning with Jimmy losing his boxing job because of his broken hand. Jimmy pleads with one of his employers asking “what am I supposed to bring home to my family?” Unemployment was one of the main things that drove the depression. Jimmy’s unemployment sets off a chain of problems faced by his family. Being unable to pay the bills, their house’s electricity is cut off. This starts the concern for the children’s welfare, and the mother sends them off to live with other family members. Families were often split up due to unemployment.  Losing his kids really sets Jimmy’s desperation and frustration in motion. Jimmy finally gives in and signs up for state loans and goes to his former employers for any money they can lend to help him out. Public relief systems, such as breadlines, and even State governments were not equipped to deal with the amount of people in need of help. Jimmy needing assistance just to keep his family together took a toll on his pride. Feelings of self failure and helplessness often affected men of the time; they stuck to the belief that the fact that they were jobless was solely the result of personal failure. However some did believe that the government was to blame, like Jimmy’s work partner, Mike. When Jimmy’s wife goes to Joe’s apartment, Joe’s wife says, “They worry that they fail us”. This is another way the movie illustrates the feelings of the men, from the wife’s perspective. Worry is expressed by Jimmy’s wife when he gets back into boxing because of the fear of losing her husband but Jimmy’s persistence to provide for his family keeps on.  When Jimmy has his comeback in boxing, the radio brings the community together to listen to his fights being broadcasted. In the end, the importance of the radio to families was illustrated when Jimmy’s family gathers around the radio to hear and celebrate his big win.