TCM Pick O’ The Day: Monday, January 12th
by John Nolte
7:15am PST – The Good Earth (1937) – Epic adaptation of the Pearl Buck classic about Chinese farmers battling the elements. Cast: Walter Connolly , Tilly Losch , Paul Muni , Luise Rainer Dir: Sidney Franklin BW-138 mins, TV-PG
Not to take anything away from James Dean, but there’s a certain amount of injustice at work in the fact that Dean, who only starred in three films (all of them superb), is better known than Paul Muni, an Oscar winner who dominated the prestige picture throughout the 1930s.
While it’s been reported that Muni’s career was cut short after a contract dispute with Jack Warner ended his relationship with Warner Brothers, that shouldn’t matter because the great actor’s body of work is still made up of at least 4 outright masterpieces: Scarface (1932), I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932), The Life of Emile Zola (1937), and tomorrow’s pick, an emotionally rich and sweeping epic adapted from the Pulitzer-winning Pearl S. Buck novel of the same name.
The story opens on the wedding day of Wang Lung (Muni). It’s an arranged marriage with a freed slave, O-Lan, and Wang’s main concern is that she’ll be homely. She’s not. She’s Luise Rainer (whose work here would win her the first of two Best Actress Best Female Actor Oscars in a row). Over the next decade or so they raise a family and suffer through terrible famine and war, but it’s only when Wang becomes prominent and wealthy that real unhappiness sets in.
Filmed at MGM and executive produced by wunderkind Irving Thalberg, The Good Earth lacks nothing in budgetery sweep and scope, but seventy years on it remains compelling and grand entertainment because in all the spectacle the intimacy is never lost.
The Good Earth is only a historical epic until you look closer. At heart you’ll find nothing more complicated than a love story between a peasant farmer and a kitchen slave.
Keep an eye out for the locust attack. The special-effect of the locust swarm appearing in the sky and closing in on Wang’s farm was achieved by pouring coffee grounds into water, and it looks more convincing than any CGI shot could.
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11 Comments
I think Muni’s biggest mistake was living a long life with a successful stage career, when everyone knows dying young in a stupid accident is the real key to pop-culture immortality.
Just watched Scarface (with the kids). Muni was not worried about being pretty and appealing. And that’s a good thing.
I love this book, but I have never seen the movie. I’ll have to check it out.
This is a great film, although it should be pointed out that white people look even less like Asians than they do American Indians.
John,
Don’t forget “The Valient” (I’m sure you haven’t), his first biggie and first nomination. And what a voice this cat had, right? Back when guys could do it all and would.
Can you imagine a man so kick ass that WB gave him script approval way back then? What balls of steel. Then he basically forced the studio to make a pic about Louis Pasteur and won the Oscar. Got milk?
Carry on. Your friend, RLC
I’ve only seen Muni in Scarface, and he was very impressive. I’ve read The Good Earth several times, and actually got to hear Buck lecture once.
In the book, O-Lan was homely – very homely, but strong and resourceful.
Wang Lung doesn’t realize her worth till she is dead.
Muni did a great film called “Juarez”,about France’s attempt to take over Mexico in the 1860’s.It had a wonderful cast:Brian Ahearn as Maximilian,Bette Davis as the Empress Carlotta,and Claude Rains as Napoleon III
It’s true that Muni and Rainer don’t look particularly Chinese but they’re convincing in their roles. I AM Chinese, and I don’t have any trouble suspending disbelief and buying into their characters. (Of course, there are Chinese actors in the movie too.) And in the book, O-Lan isn’t homely. She’s not a great beauty, but her looks are well enough that Wang Lung is satisfied when he first sees her.
John, I really appreciate this aspect of the site. I thoroughly enjoy TCM and am glad you’re bringing these great old films to more notice.
Definitely a great film and how cool is it that TCM showed this as part of Luise Rainer’s 99th birthday celebration (believe it or not, folks, she’s still alive).
Muni – definitely underrated and under appreciated. I’ve liked every film I’ve seen him in: Angel On My Shoulder, Juarez, Bordertown, Scarface, The Good Earth and especially I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang….in fact, I think I’m going to break out my “Fugitive” DVD after submitting this comment.
Thanks again, John, for highlighting these great TCM classics.
Your site is the best one!
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