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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Film Version Of The Immortal Pearl S. Buck Novel, August 12, 2004
The work of Nobel Prize winning authoress Pearl S. Buck, had already been filmed in MGM's stunning 1937 epic "The Good Earth" which still remains one of the greatest classics of the 1930's. This large scale 1944 effort "Dragon Seed", by MGM from another Buck novel is less well known but is just as absorbing a story and tells a riverting story of human courage, hardship and sacrifice in the face of war, in this case the Japanese invasion of China in the lead up to World War 2. Every effort was made by MGM to do this great novel justice and the completed result is a superb motion picture that deserves to be better remembered. It boasts first rate direction, emotionally charged acting by a large cast of caucasian and asian actors, and really superb cinematography that is in the same league with that employed in the earlier "The Good Earth". "Dragon Seed", encompasses a large topic in the Japanese invasion of China and its effect on the native Chinese population and yet still manages to make it a very human story about people's struggles to protect their loved ones and the land they cherish.
The "Dragon Seed", of the title refers to the new generations that appear to revitalise China and despite the losses one generation suffers through war there is always a renewal of human spirit when the new "seed", grows and matures like a field of life giving rice. Such an analogy is perfect for "Dragon Seed", as the story focuses on the family of Ling Tan (Walter Huston), a prosperous farmer in rural China during the 1930's. Life in his valley follows the same uneventful routine year after year and mainstream events rarely touch their day to day existence. We are introduced to his family in soul of the earth wife (Aline MacMahon) his three very different sons, Loa Ta (Robert Brice), La Er (Turhan Bey) and La San (Hurd Hatfield) and extended family memebers Third Cousin (Henry Travers)his wife (Agnes Moorehead) and Wu Lien (Akim Tamiroff). All have their own personalities and none is more perplexing for the family than Jade (Katharine Hepburn) the non conformist wife of Lao Er. She doesn't see her role as that of servant to her husband and she expresses a desire to learn to read, an action unheard of among the women of the valley. This life however is disturbed forever first by the rumblings of the far off Japanese invasion of coastal China and then directly when the invading army moves into their valley and immediately begin the destruction of everything Ling Tan and his family hold sacred. Wu Lien the most devious family member collaborates with the Japanese army and assures a rich life for his family which unfortunately he eventually pays dearly for. The increasing atrocities arouse nationalistic feelings in all of Ling Tan's sons with the former peace loving Loa San becoming a sadistic killer on a par with the Japanese. Ling Tan sees his property overun and family members including daughter in law Orchid (Frances Rafferty), brutally raped and murdered by the soldiers. Two grandchildren also are casualities when famine causes widespread starvation. Despite the tragedy there are some isolated moments of happiness when Jade finally gives birth to another long awaited grandson. The farmers begin a "scorched earth" tactic where they destroy everything including their homes and crops to hopefully starve the Japamese out. Lao Er and Jade leave their child with Ling Tan and his wife and join the resistance movement as guerilla fighters thus moving away forever from the innocent life they knew before. At the stories conclusion a moment of great significance occurs when for the first time in his long life Ling Tan leaves his ancestral home where his family have toiled for generations, to help grow food for the forces in free China.
In its long running time "Dragon Seed", manages to include alot of story and character development. It illustrates vividly the harsh realities of foreign invasion and the tragedy it brings to life in general. MGM made this film one of their major productions for 1944 and while it was impossible to film in China, they recreated a stunning rural China in California just as they did for "The Good earth", in 1937. The recreation of the paddy fields, farm equipment and houses are expertly done and Cedric Gibbons' interior designs are some of his best work in a legendary career as MGM's top set creator. The performances in "Dragon Seed" are on a par with the excellence achieved in the earlier "The Good Earth". Katharine Hepburn had one of her more unusual roles in this production but her non conformist character of Jade in alot of ways reflects her own individual character as a very unique woman for her times. The cast abounds with talented performers from acting legends Henry Travers as the wise old third cousin, to a splendid Agnes Moorehead as his hateful bitter wife, and of course Akim Tamiroff in a marvellous performance as the traitorous Wu Lien. The cinematography is first class here and the scenes of the invading armies destruction of the villages and the overhead appearance of the "mysterious metal birds" (planes) that tell of conflict to come are stunningly achieved. The creation of the asian makeup for the main actors is fascinating and while it varies in success from actor to actor it really is a supreme creation of the MGM makeup artist's skills. Providing a stirring off screen narration of the changing course of events is Lionel Barrymore who infuses his observations with very human and individual elements in between the events that were affecting all of China as a nation.
Any viewing of "Dragon Seed", I find is an emotionally charged experience. The universal effects of war displayed here really could be an examination of any wartime conflict that everyday people find themselves involved in. The value of family loyalty and sacrifice for the better good of those one loves is a theme often examined by Pearl S. Buck in her novels and "Dragon Seed", is no exception. I dont think you could fail to be moved by this great war time story and I find more to appreciate and cherish from this film with each screening. I highly recommend you seek out this outstanding film from MGM's heyday and allow yourself to be swept away by the amazing saga that unfolds.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW! Excellent movie!, August 27, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Dragon Seed [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I really don't understand the review beneath mine. Such a one as that gives no justice to a movie so great as this one. My review will be divided into two paragraphs, the first, a basic paragraph with no spoilers, and the second, a paragraph which will have spoilers but will not spoil the movie (i mean i can watch the movie twice and enjoy it more the 2nd time around!) *no spoilers! *The movie does not fill the roles of every (or even many) of the characters with Chinese actors/actresses. At first this may seem to degrade the quality of the movie, but it is only a first impression. And plus the actors play their roles VERY well! If you have read the book, you will find this movie to be loyal to the book throughout most of the plot. Only small and minor events in the book are shortened or excluded in the movie. Only one part of the movie is entirely different, and to any fan of the book it is noticable! The scenerary of the movie is excellent. It is sooo excellent that I can't even tell whether it was actaully shot in China (though I doubt it was as the time of the movies' making it would have been quite a hard task with WWII still occuring; this all the harder with the very intent of the movie! ) The movie has wonderful special effects that are all the more appreciable concidering the creation of the movie in 1944. The only complaint, which is small anyways, is that some parts of the movie are spoken in low whispers so that the TV must be set with a higher than normal volume level. But as I said, this is no HUGE problem. In conclusion, the movie has good actors, a wonderful plot, excellent photagraphy/special effects, and is worth buying. *spoilerwarning! *This paragraph has quite a number of spoilers. I only wish to describe in this paragraph specifically the major differences between the book and the movie (therefore, this paragraph is useless to anyone who has not read the book). First of all, in the book Ling Tan had a young daughter that had a major role later in the plot. She does not exist in the movie and so her role does not either. Also, though it WAS mentioned, the place of safe haven in Nanking (of course this is the city outside of which Ling Tan lived!) was never actually used to house Ling Tan's wife, Orchid, Wu Lien's wife, and the children (which is a shame because a BEAUTIFUL scene occured there!). Therefore, Orchid dies in a way different than the book. The fate of Wu Lien is different too. The manner in which Jade secretly goes to the city to do harm to her "conquerors" is different, but only slightly (major one is that she doesn't disquise herself!) Ling Tan's fourth cousin dies differently. Also, the scholar, Ling Tan's kinsmen, does not continually go to Wu Lien to give news, take money, steal the radio, and finally submit to opium; none of that happens in the movie. The last minor difference is that Ling Tan's youngest son does not pursue the woman that Ling Tan's youngest daughter (who as you remember doesn't exist) found for Ling San and also Ling Tan's oldest son does not find another woman after Orchid. Up until this, the story and book are very similar, matching nearly all of the themes; even much of the actual wording is quoted in the movie....that is awesome! But the major change is the very ending. I really don't want to spoil THIS part, so i won't mention how, but it is entirely different from the book and from what Ling Tan would ever think of doing! I think, and you may agree, that this part of the movie was done differently to spread enemy propaganda; remember, this movie was made in 1944, one year before the war with Japan was over, and long before the public had any knowledge of its ending! These changes are both good for they saved time and clearafied things, but bad because many parts of the book were worth keeping and making known to everyone! But i love this movie!
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN UNDERRATED GREAT FILM, August 4, 2004
This review is from: Dragon Seed [VHS] (VHS Tape)
First let me say I am not a Katharine Hepburn fan. This is only one of two movies where I can take her. (The other is Stage Door). Perhaps its because she's playing a character part....a chinese one at that, though not a visually convincing one....
The story and production values of this fine film are top notch and the story is captivating and arresting. The finest scene in this great motion picture (from MGM), is Hepburn pouring poison into the duck soup towards the end.
The acting is superb, Hepburn is at her best (without mannerisms and twittering), the cinematography is excellent, the music score is haunting and this is one of the most underrated gems of the classic films. I am very hard to please so trust on this one......It is great!
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