“I think I know what I’m talking about.”
I just watched Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth with my daughter (remarkable because there aren’t many grown up movies you can watch with a 7 year-old these days). We both liked it. Afterwards, I did a quick search and found this very interesting link at Frog in a Well. In it, Alan Baumler offers insights into the movie, Pearl Buck herself, and other things.
If I get the chance over the weekend I’ll write more about my impressions of the movie. Have any of you seen it? It’s definitely worth a watch.
Btw, I do recommend Frog in a Well if you are interested in Chinese history.
Ken Carroll
You talking about the original version — the one with Paul Muni and Luise Ranier? Great movie. It’s a shame so few people remember Muni; his range makes DeNiro look like a high-schooler reading off cue-cards. (”I’m about as Chinese as Herbert Hoover!”) The fact that “The Good Earth” didn’t win best picture is ameliorated by the fact that the one that did (”The Life Of Emile Zola”) … starred Paul Muni as well.
Someone sent me this link to an article on Peal Buck which you may find interesting.
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/in....._id=178660
To my shame, I’d not heard of her until I recieved this. I have now ordered The Good Earth and will be reading it as soon as it arrives.
Ken
What a great find “Frog in the Well” Thanks do you have more like this ?
Mike in Jubei
Ken,
Read “The Good Earth” in my teens…made me want to go to China some day. I haven’t seen a movie from her book…will see if I can get hold of a copy. The “Frog in the Well’ links to songs are great too.
FDW,
Yes, I’m talking about the original movie.
Ken