The Good Earth

(1937)

138 minutes

Classic / Drama / Epic

Written by Pearl S. Buck

Directed by Sidney Franklin and Victor Fleming

Cast:

Paul Muni as Wang Lung
Luise Rainer as O-Lan  
Walter Connolly as Wang  
Yong Soo as Aunt
Keye Luke as Elder Son
Roland Lui as Younger Son
Suzanna Kim as Little Fool 
Ching Wa Lee as Ching
Harold Huber as Cousin
Olaf Hytten as Liu 
William Law as the gateman
Mary Wong as Little Bride
Tilly Losch as Lotus
Charley Grapewin as Old Father
Jessie Ralph as Cuckoo

The film begins with Wang Lung's wedding day and from there centers on his ups and downs. His future wife, O-Lan, is a slave at the House of Hwang, but their fortune starts to decline and Wang Lung begins to work hard in order to buy land from them.  The couple have two sons and two daughters. Their first daughter becomes mentally handicapped due to the famine. O-Lan kills her second daughter after she is born in order for her not to live through these difficult times. They travel to a large city in the south to find work. Before they leave, they sell everything to Wang Lung's destructive uncle, except for their land and house which he wanted to purchase for lesser value. The family finds a train that takes people to the south for a fare. 

In the south, the family feels different compared to everyone else. Even the way they speak there is different. They begin to sit outside and beg people for anything, while Wang Lung looks for work. He unwillingly joins a gang who steals from a rich man's house. With the jewels that are given to him by the owner, he leaves the south and returns home with his family where he now has servants working for him to maintain his land.

Luise Rainer won the Academy Award as Best Actress.

The Good Earth was nominated for a total of five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.