Overview
A poignant tale of love and hardship set against the backdrop of rural China.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- sincere
- melancholic
- sweeping
- classic cinema evening
- historical drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's grand production, absorbing sincerity, literary fidelity, and especially Luise Rainer's performance, while some found its later portion banal or overextended.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Wang and O-Lan's fortunes rise and fall with the farm, harvests, and changing access to land.
Wang and O-Lan's relationship begins as an arranged union and is tested by poverty, prosperity, and Lotus's arrival.
Declining fortunes, lean times, and displacement-like hardship complicate the farmer family's cohesion.
The film expands a farmer family's intimate struggles into a broad, richly produced historical setting.
Films like The Good Earth, and why
The Magnificent Ambersons
period rural drama centered on marriage, family survival, and social change
Gone with the Wind
literary historical romance with sweeping family conflict and acclaimed performances
How Green Was My Valley
classic Hollywood period drama depicting hardship, ambition, and enduring family bonds
Movie Details
- Director
- Sidney Franklin
- Release Date
- 1937-06-02
- Runtime
- 139 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (81)
Cast
- Paul Muni
- Luise Rainer
- Walter Connolly
- Tilly Losch
- Charley Grapewin
- Jessie Ralph
- Soo Yong
- Keye Luke
- Roland Lui
- Suzanna Kim
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Good Earth about?
- A sweeping classic Hollywood drama follows a Chinese farming couple whose marriage and family endure poverty, prosperity, and temptation.
- What is The Good Earth like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Good Earth as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Good Earth violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Good Earth.
- What did critics think of The Good Earth?
- Critics broadly praised the film's grand production, absorbing sincerity, literary fidelity, and especially Luise Rainer's performance, while some found its later portion banal or overextended.
- Which films are like The Good Earth?
- Films with a similar feel include The Magnificent Ambersons, Gone with the Wind, and How Green Was My Valley.
- How long is The Good Earth?
- The Good Earth runs 139 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Good Earth?
- In United States, The Good Earth is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
