The Sea of Grass (1947)
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20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
50% of users liked it
(128 ratings)
Usually associated with erudite, urbane comedies, the legendary screen team of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy goes intensely dramatic in the expensive western Sea of Grass. Tracy plays cattle baron Colonel James Brewton, who staunchly opposes opening the western frontier to homesteaders.… More Usually associated with erudite, urbane comedies, the legendary screen team of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy goes intensely dramatic in the expensive western Sea of Grass. Tracy plays cattle baron Colonel James Brewton, who staunchly opposes opening the western frontier to homesteaders. Standing steadfastly beside Brewton-at least at the beginning--is his headstrong wife Lutie (Hepburn). Eventually disillusioned by the stern implacability of her husband, Lutie leaves Brewton and goes off to Denver, where she falls in love with liberal attorney Brice Chamberlain (Melvyn Douglas), the champion of the homesteaders' cause. Upon giving birth to Chamberlain's son, Lutie confesses her indiscretion to Brewton, who takes the news with commendable restraint, even offering to accept the baby as his own. Unfortunately, the Brewtons' standing in the community is weakened by the revelation of Lutie's infidelity, causing her to leave her husband for a second time. Years later, Lutie's grown-up boy Brock (Robert Walker) drifts to the wrong side of the law, leading to his death at the hands of a posse. Though it hardly seems possible under the circumstances, Brewton and Lutie are at long last reconciled through the intervention of their daughter Sara Beth (Phyllis Thaxter). Elaborately produced in the traditional MGM manner and adroitly directed by Elia Kazan, Sea of Grass is still one of the lesser Tracy-Hepburns. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Elia Kazan
- Written By
- Conrad Richter, Marguerite Roberts
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Apr 25, 1947 Wide
- On DVD
- Oct 23, 1991
Critic Reviews
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Shirley O'Hara, The New Republic
It seems wasteful to let two such good, attractive actors wander through a lavish production like thoroughbred somnambulists.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
To the credit of Elia Kazan, it must be said that his direction has pace, but the writers and others have betrayed him.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Film is loaded with very superior acting and spectacular imaginative photography.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
At 131 minutes, this sprawling western was long on talk and short on action.
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, Film4
Kazan had only made one previous film, and the stilted melodrama reflects the director's inexperience as he failed to get more than adequate performances from the two leads, whom he felt intimidated by.
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Cast
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Spencer Tracy
as Col. Jim Brewton
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Katharine Hepburn
as Lutie Cameron
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Robert Walker
as Brock Brewton
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Melvyn Douglas
as Brice Chamberlain
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Phyllis Thaxter
as Sara Beth Brewton
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Edgar Buchanan
as Jeff
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Harry Carey
as Doc Reid
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Ruth Nelson
as Selena Hall
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William 'Bill' Phillips
as Banty
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Robert Armstrong
as Floyd McCurtin
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Charles Trowbridge
as George Trowbridge
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Russell Hicks
as Maj. Harney
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Trevor Bardette
as Andy Boggs
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Morris Ankrum
as Crane
- Eddie Acuff
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Erville Alderson
as Station Agent
- Myrtle Anderson
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Stanley Andrews
as Sheriff
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Frank Austin
as Station Agent
- Polly Bailey
-
Dick Baron
as Newsboy
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Robert H. Barrat
as Judge White
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James Bell
as Sam Hall
- Joe Bernard
- Margaret Bert
- Robert Bice
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Marietta Canty
as Rachael
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Nora Cecil
as Nurse
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William Challee
as Deputy Sheriff
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Wheaton Chambers
as Dean
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Chief Many Treaties
as Indian
- Naomi Childers
- Davison Clark
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Joseph Crehan
as Sen. Graw
- Sidney D'Albrook
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Frank Darien
as Minister
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Vernon Dent
as Conductor
- Mike Pat Donovan
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Budd Fine
as Brakeman
- Fred Graham
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Jesse Graves
as Luke
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Frank S. Hagney
as Man
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John Hamilton
as Forrest Cochran
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Jim Hawkins
as Brock Age 5 1/2
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Pat Henry
as Brock Age 1
- Earl Hodgins
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Rose Langdon
as Woman
- Nolan Leary
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Leota Lorraine
as Bits
- George Magrill
- Robert Malcolm Young
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Mickey Martin
as Newsboy
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Charles B. Middleton
as Charley
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Howard Mitchell
as Conductor
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Carol Nugent
as Sarah Beth Age 7
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James O'Reare
as Piano Tuner
- Bernice Pilot
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George H. Reed
as Uncle Nat
- John Rice
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Duncan Richardson
as Brock Age 3
- Buddy Roosevelt
- Gene Roth
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Dick Rush
as Cattleman
- Wyndham Standing
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Glenn Strange
as Bill Roach
- Henry Sylvester
- Forrest Taylor
- Ray Teal
- Laura Treadwell
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Dorothy Vaughan
as Mrs. Hodges
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John Vosper
as Hotel Clerk
- Eddy Waller
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Dan White
as Ike Randall
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Guy Wilkerson
as Wake
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Hank Worden
as Cowhand
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Douglas Fowley
as Joe Horton
- Frank Pharr
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Ralph Littlefield
as Homesteader
- Henry Adams
- Vangie Beilby
- Ruth Cherrington
- Helen Dickson
- Charles McAvoy
- Jack Stoney
- Joe Brockman
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Gertrude Chorre
as Indian Nurse
- Fred Gilman
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Lawrence Lathrop
as Messenger
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Skeets Noyes
as Beady-Eyed Man
- Jasper Palmer
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Patty Smith
as Sarah Beth Age 4 1/2
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Jack Davis
as Foreman
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William Holmes
as Gambler
- Harry Carey Sr.
