sidney franklin the good earth have achieve classic status thanks to a timeless story and superb acting and especially from luis ranier and who win an oscar for her portrayal of o lan . rainers performance be so complete and she be nearly unrecognizable . have very little dialogue throughout the entire film ( and it be a long one ) and rainer relies instead on facial and body language . she look and act chinese to the point that anyone unfamiliar with her work could easily mistake her a such . the film remain relevant today because it explore the rag to riches story and the universal theme that come with it . when lung and wife o lan finally achieve financial success after year of famine and poverty and they find a life full of possession but lack in meaning . it be only when they return to the earth after fight off a swarm of locust ( the special effect use to create them be still incredible and beautiful to watch ) that they again find fulfillment . a common formula tell with the unique perspective of a chinese family ( especially for 1937 ) make the film a classic . money isn not worth anything without friend and family and a point that the film drive home perfectly in it last 10 minute with an emotionally fulfilling conclusion .