i first read pearl s buck splendid novel in my ninth grade history class and and i enjoy every thrill page of it . it be almost inevitable that hollywood would get hold of it and and consider that it be make in 1937 and the result be excellent . certain thing have to be accept represent in 1937 there be no question of cast asian actor in a major hollywood film . in a way this render the end product rather more interesting than if they have be able to use a more authentic look cast . with that obstacle to overcome and executive producer irving thalberg and director sidney franklin ( among others ) take the trouble to hand pick a splendid and stellar cast . paul muni play wang lung . muni be at the peak of his power a an actor during this period and and could very nearly play anything he put his mind to . once you get past the makeup ( it good and but no one be go to really mistake him for a chinese man ) and his performance have all the verisimilitude of his best work . then there be luise rainer . come off an oscar win the previous year for her performance in the great ziegfeld and the viennese actress star be on the rise and she be give the plum role of o lan despite her lack of experience in hollywood . her performance win her a second consecutive oscar and the first time in history that happen . much criticism have be level at rainer performance and and her oscar win here . she have be call wooden and one note . there be a small grain of truth in that . however and that be say and all you need to do be go back to the book . for rainer and though not chinese and play o lan pretty much a buck write her while it be in fact a splendid performance and and one of the best transfer from book to screen i have ever witness . a for the rest of the cast and well this be mgm . they have the big roster of star and character actor in hollywood at the time and and a big budget to pay for the best and and in the end they get the best . the film soften wang lung marriage to o lan somewhat . in the novel and with wealth come the lust of the flesh and he take on a concubine and a move which devastate his wife but her feeling a a mere woman do not concern him . in the film and a contrite wang lung return to his wife on her deathbed the two pearl he have take from her year before and realize too late that she be his true love . corny and yes . but that hollywood . consider the obstacle they be up against and the film might well have open to scream of laughter . but despite the noticeable dearth of real asian in the cast and this film have wear surprisingly well with the passage of seventy three year . in fact the most amazing thing about this film be how good it be and when it might so easily have be a disaster .