THE GOOD EARTH
US, 1937, 125 minutes, Black and White.
Paul Muni, Luise Rayner, Walter Connolly.
Directed by Sidney Franklin.
The Good Earth and Dragon Seed are two M.G.M. film versions of Pearl Buck novels. The first is superior to the second. It boasts a superb performance by Luise Rainer as the wife and yet another characterisation by Paul Muni. It traces the history of a Chinese family over two generations and the rise and decline of the hero coupled with the patience of his accepting wife. It reflects some of the atmosphere of China in the early decades of this century. The second film takes us into the period of Japanese invasions. The characterisations are not so strong, although the acting is good. It is a bit difficult to accept Katharine Hepburn as a Chinese heroine. Walter Huston and Aline Mc Mahon are her parents. There is more action in the latter film. There is more subtlety in the former. Both are interesting as some kind of illustration of Chinese life in the 20th. century, prior to the Communist Revolution.
1. The impact of the film? Entertainment? Portrait of society, human nature? International appeal? Prestige? The work of Pearl Buck’ and her portraits of China? The award-winning background of the writing? Transition to theatre? Adaptation to screen? Comparisons with later films as Dragonseed?
2. The re-creation of China in Hollywood: location photography, sets and decor. make-up? The use of sepia tone for tint? Musical score?
3. The impact of the stars and their reputations? Louise Rayner and her Oscars? Insight into China for American audiences? American attitudes towards China at the time? Subsequent attitudes?
4. The screenplay and its presentation of episodes as well as the development of the relationship? The background of the wedding day, the success of Wang. the storm and Wang's wealth. the family and famine, the transition to the city, the experience of deprivation. revolution, the return home and its ironies, Wang tiring of O- Lan. the sons growing up, the modernisation of China, the locust plague. O-Lan's death? The elements of family saga? The family representing the people of China? The blend of insight into human nature, politics, society, social change?
5. The portrait of Wang - Paul Muni and his screen presence, skill in interpretation? The waking up on his wedding day, youth, enthusiasm, home situation, laughter, the customs and the visits? Feeding the ox? The visit to the great house and the discovery of his wife? Her slave status? Giving her a peach? His joy, the party? His response to O-Lan? The status of the Chinese husband? His growing relationship with his wife? The influence of his father with his memories? The importance of his friend? The birth of the child? The saving of the crops and the melodrama of death and birth? His joy with the man-child? His skill in increasing his possessions? The buying of the land? The contrast with his lazy uncle? The impact of his prospering? His return to the great house? The suddenness of the famine? Eating earth, the hostility of the neighbours, the death of the ox? The denunciation by his uncle? The decision to leave for the city and follow the train of migrants? The impact of seeing the train? The inability to get work in the city? The death of the neighbour and his taking the place? Begging? His reaction against the stealing of the meat? His being caught up in the revolution and not understanding it? O- Lan and the pearls and the jewels? His giving her the pearls - and later wanting them? His acquiring land? Employing his friend? The buying of the great house and the change in his lifestyle? His infatuation with Lotus? The sons growing up? The well-educated son, the son infatuated by Lotus? His disowning him? His ignoring of O-Lan? The coming of the locusts and his following his son's advice? The desperate saving of the crops? The wedding celebration, O-Lan's dying and the pearls? A portrait of an ordinary man, a man of honour, ambition, able to be corrupted, forgetting his past, betraying his love, receiving the fidelity of his wife?
6. Luise Rainer’s presence and portrait of O-Lan? Her work as a slave, her freedom, the eating of the peach, cooking at the wedding, her shyness, serving her father-in-law, her husband? Her pregnancy and the work in the fields? Giving birth to the child? Presenting the child at the great house? Not wanting slaves? Her refusal to sell the land? Her understanding of the famine and her revulsion of slavery? Her taking charge in the city, the father-in-law and the child begging? Her being resourceful? Being caught in the crowds, the pearls, being saved from execution? Success on return from the city? The children growing up? The retarded daughter? The rejection by Wang and his devotion to Lotus? Experiencing the pain and living with it? Her concern for her sons? The plague? Her dying and her fidelity to her husband? Her dying with peace and joy?
7. The old father and the traditions, cantankerous, symbolising old China? His living through the fortunes of his son and daughter-in-law? His support of O-Lan? in his old days? The uncle and his laziness, pressures and denunciations? His wife?
8. The sons and their origins, experience in the city, the older brother and his learning and application of it during the crisis? The younger brother and his infatuation with Lotus? His being caught and rejected by his father? The retarded daughter?
9. Wang's friend and his working for Wang, their clashes, his being hurt by Wang? The final reconciliation?
10. Life on the farm: the house itself, meals, hospitality, crops, storms, famines, starvation and eating of the earth, the locusts and their effect? The detailed scene of work in the fields? The special effects for the crops growing, the attack of the locusts?
11. The contrast with life in the city, the train ride, begging, slavery, work, the stealing of mat, the revolution, the executions?
12. An entertaining saga? Sympathies and involvement? Understanding another culture?
