The Good Earth (1937) is a film about Chinese farmers who struggle to survive. It was adapted by Felix E. Feist (uncredited), Talbot Jennings, Tess Slesinger and Claudine West from the play by Donald Davis and Owen Davis, which was in itself based on the 1931 novel of the same name by Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck The film was directed by Sidney Franklin, Victor Fleming (uncredited) and Gustav Machaty (uncredited).
The film starred Paul Muni as Wang Lung. For her role as his wife O-Lan, Luise Rainer won an Academy Award for Best Actress. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Karl Freund. It was nominated for Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Picture.
The story of a farmer in China: a story of humility and bravery. His father gives Wang Lung a freed slave as wife. By diligence and frugality the two manage to enlarge their property. But then a famine forces them to leave their land and live in the town. However it turns out to be a blessing in disguise for them... Written by Tom Zoerner
Wang, a poor Chinese farmer, marries Olan, a slave from the 'Great House' and starts raising a family. When famine hits, Wang takes his family south to the city in search of work. Olan stays with him through hard times and revolution and helps get enough money to return the family to their northern farmlands. Wang becomes prosperous but his passions sway to a younger woman. The young woman's indiscretions with Wang's now grown up son cause a family rift but Olan remains steadfast. Then a new challenge arrives - a plague of locusts. Written by Gary Jackson
