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The Good Earth
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790793085
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Subtitled, NTSC
ISBN: 0790793083
Item Dimensions: 100
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled),
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
MPN: 66926
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: January 31, 2006
Running Time: 138 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: August 06, 1937
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Editorial Review:
MGM's status as the "class" studio was fully engaged when production chief Irving Thalberg took on this expensive, serious adaptation of Pearl Buck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. A smooth entertainment with a stiff portion of this-is-good-for-you seriousness, The Good Earth epitomizes Thalberg's idea of Art, which was also the prevailing idea of the period he dominated in Hollywood. The story follows Wang Lung (Paul Muni), a humble farmer, who makes an arranged marriage to a slave, O-Lan (Luise Rainer). The couple's great struggle is to procure--and then, against withering odds, keep--a piece of land, ownership of which makes the difference between self-determination and near-slavery. The film's physical production is truly eye-filling, with location shooting in China providing exterior shots and backdrops (and blending seamlessly with the footage shot in the U.S.). No wonder the great cinematographer Karl Freund won an Oscar for the photography, which includes an awesomely staged locust plague.
Also copping an Oscar was Luise Rainer for best actress--her second consecutive award, after The Great Ziegfeld. Rainer's underplayed portrait of self-effacing stoicism is a contrast to Muni's broader performance, although in some odd way he's exactly right for his role. Caucasian actors play the main characters (Walter Connolly is the family's bothersome, and tiresome, know-it-all uncle), with Asian actors--including Keye Luke--filling out the supporting parts. The blend of sobriety and hokum is vintage Thalberg, and this is the one MGM movie with an onscreen dedication to the young dynamo; he died during production, age 37. --Robert Horton
First came marriage an arranged union of peasant farmer Wang Lung (Paul Muni) and kitchen slave O-Lan (Luise Rainer). Then through poverty and wealth family and betrayal war and pestilence came love. From Pearl S. Buck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Good Earth combines Wang and O-Lan's story with a sweeping saga of China in upheaval. Muni and Rainer had both won 1936 Academy Awards and Rainer repeated here with another Best Actress Oscar. The film also won for Best Cinematography - with camerawork most powerfully on display in the astonishing locust-plague sequence. Producer Irving Thalberg known for combining literary prestige with commercial success died during the production and the film isdedicated to him.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/CLASSIC UPC: 012569692626 Manufacturer No: 66926
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Classic film from the 40's
A great, epic film from the novel by Pearl Buck. Wonderful acting by Louise Rainer, who won a best actress Oscar for her performance. Paul Muni as simple Chinese farmer also gives a great performance. And listen for the exceptional score by MGM's star composer, Herbert Stothart. One highlight is an amazing, full scale locust invasion, shot with great skill by cinematographer Karl Freund, who also got an Oscar for his work in this film.
Rating:  - fun but fiction
don't watch it if you want to watch a movie faithful to the book, but if you like old movies, it's a classic
Rating: - The Good Earth
If you're looking for some kind of analysis on the plot and that kind of stuff, you're in the wrong place. Let's begin...
It's weird to watch a black & white movie with all the HDTV and special effects going on right now but sometimes it can be relaxing in a way too. I had just finished reading the book and loved it so much I had to have the movie as well. I was not disappointed. It is a great movie and I'm glad I purchased it.
Rating: - The Good Earth - A great film.
Such a rare film of this era that follows the book so closely. A few variations but understandable. Top acting and delightful to watch. A real golden oldie.
Rating: - History comes to life in this powerful film
I saw this film after I read "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck so I was cynical. The book was so rich that I couldn't imagine a film that could capture the depth of the written story. Not so. This film is a gem. It documents the life of one family during the revolutionary changes in China during the beginning of the 20th century. It looks at the struggles and triumphs with a personal, sensitive eye while following the general, sweeping changes in China with honesty and detailed objectivity. ... Read More
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