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Die gute Erde

Original title: The Good Earth
  • 1937
  • 12
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
Paul Muni and Luise Rainer in Die gute Erde (1937)
Official Trailer
Play trailer4:18
2 Videos
47 Photos
DramaRomance

Although married Chinese farmers Wang and O-Lan initially experience success, their lives are complicated by declining fortunes and lean times, as well as the arrival of the beautiful young ... Read allAlthough married Chinese farmers Wang and O-Lan initially experience success, their lives are complicated by declining fortunes and lean times, as well as the arrival of the beautiful young Lotus.Although married Chinese farmers Wang and O-Lan initially experience success, their lives are complicated by declining fortunes and lean times, as well as the arrival of the beautiful young Lotus.

  • Directors
    • Sidney Franklin
    • Victor Fleming
    • Gustav Machatý
  • Writers
    • Talbot Jennings
    • Tess Slesinger
    • Claudine West
  • Stars
    • Paul Muni
    • Luise Rainer
    • Walter Connolly
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    5.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Sidney Franklin
      • Victor Fleming
      • Gustav Machatý
    • Writers
      • Talbot Jennings
      • Tess Slesinger
      • Claudine West
    • Stars
      • Paul Muni
      • Luise Rainer
      • Walter Connolly
    • 74User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Good Earth
    Trailer 4:18
    Watch The Good Earth
    Unsung Asian American Pacific Islander Heroes of Film History
    Clip 5:25
    Watch Unsung Asian American Pacific Islander Heroes of Film History

    Photos47

    Charley Grapewin and Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Walter Connolly and Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni and Luise Rainer in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Luise Rainer in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni in Die gute Erde (1937)
    Paul Muni and Luise Rainer in Die gute Erde (1937)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Muni
    Paul Muni
    • Wang
    Luise Rainer
    Luise Rainer
    • O-Lan
    Walter Connolly
    Walter Connolly
    • Uncle
    Tilly Losch
    Tilly Losch
    • Lotus
    Charley Grapewin
    Charley Grapewin
    • Old Father
    Jessie Ralph
    Jessie Ralph
    • Cuckoo
    Soo Yong
    Soo Yong
    • Aunt
    Keye Luke
    Keye Luke
    • Elder Son
    Suzanna Kim
    • Little Fool
    Ching Wah Lee
    Ching Wah Lee
    • Ching
    Harold Huber
    Harold Huber
    • Cousin
    Olaf Hytten
    Olaf Hytten
    • Liu - Grain Merchant
    William Law
    • Gateman
    Mary Wong
    • Little Bride
    Philip Ahn
    Philip Ahn
    • Revolutionary Army Captain
    • (uncredited)
    Philson Ahn
    • Man
    • (uncredited)
    Caroline Chew
    • Teahouse Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Mitzi Cummings
    • Chinese Girl
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Sidney Franklin
      • Victor Fleming(uncredited)
      • Gustav Machatý(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Talbot Jennings
      • Tess Slesinger
      • Claudine West
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Special effects experts were unable to produce an authentic-looking locust plague. Just as they were about to abandon the scene, they received word that a real locust plague was taking place several states away. A camera crew was rushed to the scene to capture it on film.
    • Goofs
      (at around 2h 5 mins) Wang Lung is walking through the locust storm in his wheat field. He picks up a few men who have fallen down into the thick pile of locusts. In frustration, Wang shouts "I said save the wheat! Save it!" At this moment, a man dressed in 1937-era American clothing walks across the scene from left to right, at the top third of the screen. He is wearing a white hat and appears to be smoking a cigarette or cigar held in his left hand.
    • Quotes

      Wang Lung: [must sell his land to feed his family but the buyers take advantage of him] Thieves! Thieves! And well you know I must sell.

      O-Lan: No! Not the land. We'll not sell the land. We'll keep it. We'll go south and when we return, we'll still have the land.

      Uncle: But I've arranged it. I brought these men here. You MUST sell!

      O-Lan: Is it your land? Did you buy it bit by bit? The land is our life... and it's better to go south... or die walking... than to give it to you for nothing.

    • Crazy credits
      Introduction played with opening credits: The soul of great nation is expressed in the life of its humblest people. In this simple story of a Chinese farmer may be found something of a the soul of China - its humility, its courage, its deep heritage from the past and its vast promise for the future.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dragon Seed (1944)

    User reviews74

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Wonderful movie, with stellar performances
    Let's eliminate any discussion about the use of non-Asian actors playing Asian roles. The movie is 67 years old. In 1937 studio chiefs believed that any actor could/should be able to play any role. Actors were under contracts, and did not always have a choice about what role they played. End of story.

    This is a truly great epic story of love, individual rights, class strata, and men/women issues. The centerpiece of the film is two brilliant performances by Luise Rainer and Paul Muni.

    Muni plays Wang, a Chinese farmer, who is about to take a wife (Rainer). From the start, he treats her with respect, during a time when women were looked on as little more than hired help. Without giving too much of the movie away, they go through the highs and lows of all relationships, and even though the story may take place in late 19th/early 20th century,the story and much of their feelings, seems credible.

    Other than the fact that the movie is about 5-10 minutes longer than it needs to be, and the performances of Charley Grapewin and Walter Connolly are typical 1930's cartoon characters, this is a really wonderful movie that, unfortunately, has become a victim of political correctness.

    9 out of 10
    helpful•40
    14
    • alfiefamily
    • May 5, 2004

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    FAQ23

    • How long is The Good Earth?Powered by Alexa
    • What is "The Good Earth" about?
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    • How does the movie end?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1949 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • arabuloku.com
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Good Earth
    • Filming locations
      • Cedar City, Utah, USA(backgrounds for locust sequence)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,800,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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