The good earth (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The good earth |
| Original title | The Good Earth |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1937 |
| length | 138 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Sidney Franklin |
| script |
Talbot Jennings Tess Slesinger Claudine West |
| production |
Irving Thalberg Albert Lewin / MGM |
| music |
Herbert Stothart Edward Ward |
| camera | Karl friend |
| cut | Basil Wrangell |
| occupation | |
| |
The good earth (original title: The Good Earth ) is an American film by Sidney Franklin from 1937. The literary model was the novel of the same name by Pearl S. Buck .
action
The film tells the story of the poor Chinese farmer Wang Lung, who, together with his wife O-Lan, a former slave, experiences hunger and hardship, as well as economic and social advancement. The film plot largely corresponds to that of the novel.
For details see: The good earth (novel).
Background, production and theatrical release
Irving Thalberg , production manager at MGM , who had previously produced numerous films in the Far Eastern milieu, began planning for The Good Earth soon after the book was published (1931), which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 . China's image in the United States had gradually improved since the establishment of the republic (1912), and since the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War (1937), which had already been announced in the early 1930s, the country enjoyed the special sympathy of the American public. In terms of film history, Die Gute Erde marked the beginning of a loving, differentiated view of China and the Chinese people, which until then had always been the subject of racist , stereotypical depictions in Hollywood .
The two main roles of the film were cast with white actors, in accordance with the Hollywood customs of the time. Born in Austria , Paul Muni became famous in 1932 for his leading roles in Scarface and Hunt for James A. Since Muni was contractually bound to Warner Bros. , MGM had to "borrow" Clark Gable and Leslie Howard to the rival company in return for its commitment . Luise Rainer had won the Oscar for best leading actress in 1936 with her leading role in the MGM film The Great Ziegfeld .
Like the author of the book, Pearl S. Buck, production manager Irving Thalberg was initially interested in a cast with Chinese leading actors. However, this plan was soon abandoned. Anna May Wong , the most prominent actress of Chinese origin in the country, had hoped in vain for an offer for the role of O-Lan, but was only invited to test recordings for the role of the concubine Lotus, which was ultimately cast by Tilly Losch, a native of Austria has been. It is not clear whether Thalberg Wong did not want to give this role or whether she refused it herself. With the Korean-American actor Philip Ahn, for example, a highly talented Asian actor would have been available for the male lead; However, Ahn had to be content with the supporting role of a captain in the revolutionary army. The well-known Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa , who had already appeared in many American films, was also not considered. Responsible for the fact that the main roles were cast by white actors is likely to be the casting assistant Albert Lewin , who was known for using Asian actors only for "atmospheric" additions, but not for important roles.
The 44-year-old Sidney Franklin was selected as the director, who had staged successful melodramas such as Smilin 'Through (1932) and The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934) for the MGM and who had given the company in 1940 (with Ninotschka ) and 1943 (with Mrs. Miniver ) should bring two Oscars for best film. The cameraman Karl Freund , who emigrated from Germany in 1929, had made important films such as The Last Man (1924) and Metropolis (1927) in his home country and, in Hollywood, among others, The Lady of the Camellias (1936, with Greta Garbo ).
The shooting for The Good Earth took place in Chatsworth, California and in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles and China City . Outdoor recordings made in China, which were made under the direction of George W. Hill for a completely different film, but were then not required, were also used. After trick specialists had initially tried unsuccessfully to create authentic-looking images of a locust plague, the opportunity finally arose to take pictures of a real swarm of locusts near Cedar City, Utah .
The film premiered on January 29, 1937 in Los Angeles. MGM took over the rental. Commercially and artistically, it was considered a major success. The company MGM / UA Home Entertainment later took over the distribution of the video version.
Reviews
“An ethically and aesthetically impressively realized, unpretentious family drama. The film opens a glimpse into the mentality of the Asians, but gets a certain artificiality through the casting of the main roles with European actors. "
"Impressive film epic about the fate of a farming family in China before the communist seizure of power."
Awards
The good earth won prizes for the best leading actress (Luise Rainer) and the best camera (Karl Freund) at the Academy Awards in 1938. The film itself, director Sidney Franklin and film editor Basil Wrangell received a nomination.
literature
- Thomas Parschik: A novel, a film and the image of the Chinese . In: Das Blättchen , 20th year, No. 8 from April 10, 2017
- Pearl S. Buck: The good earth. Roman (OT: The good earth ). dtv, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-423-13207-8
Web links
- The Good Earth in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The good earth on filmfreakcentral.net (English)
- The good earth on cinema.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ The good earth. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed February 9, 2019 .
- ↑ Ev. Munich Press Association, Review No. 107/1950.