Dragon Seed (1944)

42% of users liked it
(1,044 ratings)

This lavish, 145-minute cinemadaptation of the Pearl Buck best-seller Dragon Seed was intended by MGM as a followup to the studio's successful film version of Buck's The Good Earth. In true Hollywood fashion, the Chinese protagonists are all played by Caucasian actors, with fascinating if not always… More This lavish, 145-minute cinemadaptation of the Pearl Buck best-seller Dragon Seed was intended by MGM as a followup to the studio's successful film version of Buck's The Good Earth. In true Hollywood fashion, the Chinese protagonists are all played by Caucasian actors, with fascinating if not always convincing results. When a peaceful Chinese village is invaded by the Japanese prior to WW2, the men elect to adopt a peaceful, don't-rock-the-boat attitude towards their conquerors-and it is understood that the women will stoically acquiesce as well. But Jade (Katharine Hepburn), a headstrong young woman, intends to stand up to the Japanese whether her husband Lao Er (Turhan Bey) approves or not. She even goes so far as to learn to read and to handle a weapon, so that she may properly equipped for both psychological and physical combat. Jade's attitude spreads to the rest of the village, convincing even the staunchest of male traditional that the Japanese can be defeated only by offering a strong united front-male and female. Alas, there are a few Quislings in their midst, notably avaricious merchant Wu Lien (Akim Tamiroff), who learns all too late the terrible cost of collaboration. While it seems odd to see so many non-Orientals-Walter Huston, Agnes Moorehead, Hurd Hatfield, J. Carroll Naish-in the major roles, Dragon Seed manages to retain its power and entertainment value even 50 years after the fact (Incidentally, there are a few genuine Chinese in the cast-most of them playing Japanese!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Agnes Moorehead, Akim Tamiroff
Written By: Marguerite Roberts, Jane Murfin
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1944 Wide
On DVD: May 29, 2007

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Quite moving, strong drama featuring Kate Hepburn.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of MGM's worst melodramas of the 40s and a low point in the career of Hepburn, here miscast as a young and alert Chinese woman. Propaganda picture was made to please the government (and its Chinese allies) but by today's standards it's racist.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
That Caucasian actors are cast in the primary Oriental roles greatly detracts from the film's authenticity.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Katharine Hepburn as an oriental? You've been warned.

Cast

            Katharine Hepburn as Jade

            Walter Huston as Ling Tan

            Aline MacMahon as Mrs. Ling Tan

            Akim Tamiroff as Wu Lien

            Turhan Bey as Lao Er

            J. Carrol Naish as Japanese Kitchen Overseer

            Agnes Moorehead as Third Cousin's Wife

            Hurd Hatfield as Lao San

            Henry Travers as Third Cousin

            Robert Bice as Lao Ta

            Robert Lewis as Capt. Sato

            Frances Rafferty as Orchid

            Jacqueline de Wit as Mrs. Wu Lien

            Clarence Lung as Fourth Cousin

            Paul E. Burns as Neighbor Shen

            Anna Demetrio as Wu Sao

            Philip Ahn as Leader of City People

            Lionel Barrymore as Narrator

            Claire Du Brey as Hysterical Woman

            Benson Fong as Student

            Lee Tung Foo as Innkeeper

            Roland Got as Speaker with Movies

            Alex Havier as Japanese Soldier

            Ted Hecht as Maj. Yohagi

            Al Hill as Japanese Officer

            Keye Luke
            
            Charles Lung as Japanese Diplomat

            Leonard Mudie as Old Peddler

            Jay Novello as Japanese Soldier

            Frank Puglia as Old Clerk

            Leonard Strong as Japanese Official

            Philip Van Zandt as Japanese Guard

            Abner Biberman as Capt. Yasuda

            Robbie Lee as Young Farmer
See full cast