this film be an interesting take by hollywood on the novel by of the same name by pearl s. buck . while some today might think it be rife with racial stereotype and for the time the very idea of chinese protagonist be progressive in and of itself . i find that the white actor play chinese be not as bad a i expect and that it wasn not the asian equivalent of blackface . back then there be not really any asian actor in america ( not even george takei be act ) and rainer do a good job with her part . it wasn not the great performance i have ever see but for old school pre method act it be nice . the locust scene be very well shot and contain convince special effect . i wonder that the timing of the release during the great depression sort of turn this film into an allegory . especially the political upheaval bewilder the peasant farmer and how them seem to be leave behind by all of it . the film have some parallel to the john ford style and but i think the eastern influence affect it as well . if this have be an western family and the locust would have win at the end and punish the farmer for his pride and lust and and gluttony . however here he learn his lesson and then win .