I didn't know what to expect when I popped this movie into the VCR except that I knew that Paul Muni was one of the premier actors of that generation, having enjoyed his performances in the lives of Emile Zola and Louis Pasteur and the original Scarface, director Howard Hawks' tour-de-force on organized crime. As far as the story, I assumed a pretty tame kind of family story about China. Boy, was I wrong!

Based on the novel by Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth concerns a family of Chinese farmers headed by Wang Lung (Muni). Wang is a bachelor about to be married. He lives with his father (Charley Grapewin) and neer-do-well uncle (Walter Connolly) in their modest farm village in North China. Both of these supporting actors are very fine character actors and provide many moments of sparkling humor and pathos.

The real story begins when Wang goes to the "Great House" to get his bride from the "Ancient One." Neither Wang nor his bride has ever met until that moment. Wang purchases a few peaches and shares them with O-Lan, (Luise Rainer) as they trudge home burdened with her worldly possessions. The characterizations are set in concrete the minute Wang casts a peach pit aside and O-Lan stoops into the gutter to pick it up, saying, "A tree will grow from this seed." So Wang is established as careless and O-Lan is thoughtful and caring - and their performances bear this out as the film progresses.

O-Lan proves to be the model wife as she works side by side with Wang Lung in the fields and prepares meals and keeps house for Wang and his father.

The life of a farmer is always at the mercy of the elements and Wang is very careful with his religious observances, begging the gods to be merciful and to prosper him. The weather decides to rain during harvest time, which will ruin the crops. Despite her pregnancy, O-Lan helps Wang save the harvest and bears her first child that night. Since most of the other farmers' crops were ruined, Wang has a windfall and a huge amount of cash that he spends to buy a field, his first.

The years prosper Wang and he soon has five fields and three children - almost unimaginable wealth based on his humble beginnings. Alas, the weather is uncooperative and a drought such as has not been seen in years descends on the area. After seemingly years of parched conditions the family decides to migrate south to the city. They will retain the land at O-Lan's gentle insistence.

In the city, they are no better off than at home. In fact, they are trapped in the middle of the republican revolution and O-Lan is almost shot as a looter. She does, however, find a sackful of jewels that enables the family to return to the village even more prosperous than before.

Back in the village, prosperity and the elements combine to almost ruin the family and it is only through O-Lan's saintly perseverance that life goes on in some semblance of order. By the time Wang comes to his senses, O-Lan's health is fading fast and he is torn by his realization of his misspent life when all he ever wanted was there by his side all the time.

The Good Earth is a superior piece of filmmaking in all senses of the word. The story, instead of being trite is engaging and extremely moving. Direction, by Sidney Franklin and Victor Fleming (uncredited), is superb and does a textbook job of putting the tale in visual form. This film was from the golden age of MGM and is the only one where I can say that producer Irving Thalberg, the father of the MGM studio system, received an on-screen credit. Thalberg was the fellow that power producers --- David O. Selznick and Darryl F. Zanuck patterned themselves after - much more hands on and in control than the producers of today. Sets and costuming were superb and makes you feel as if you are really in China. Special effects are the best I have seen from the pre-Computer Generated Graphics era, flat amazing. You will believe a plague of locusts descended on the set when you see that scene.

Photography, by Karl Freund, and film editing by Basil Wrangell is impeccable; putting the directors' vision on film. Original music by Herbert Stothart punctuates the story and maintains the pace throughout.

Finally, the acting is magnificent. Paul Muni, as always, is a fine choice for Wang Lung. Muni, a stage actor had broad mannerisms, facial expressions, and gestures to convey emotions from the stage. Some have accused him of hammy-ness but I believe the body language adds to his performance and the viewer's enjoyment. Charley Grapewin, Walter Connolly, and the rest of the supporting cast suit their roles to a T, as befits an MGM Golden Age production. The real jewel in the crown is Luise Rainer as the gentle and meek spirited O-lan who plays her role with just the right nuances to avoid falling into a cliché and was able to win a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar for her efforts.

The Good Earth will appeal to all ages and all persuasions of film buff. You must see it!




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening