This western begins with St. Louis resident Lutie Cameron (Katharine Hepburn) marrying New Mexico cattleman Col. James B. Yet this may not prove to be the safer choice. Download The Sea of Grass Study Guide Subscribe Now On the day of Lutie’s arrival, two of the colonel’s cowhands are being tried for shooting at a homesteader on the Brewton range. 'Jim' Brewton (Spencer Tracy) after a short courtship. She stood and turned, and the world whirled. She continues to struggle in Brewton's world. Written by Description For their fourth onscreen outing together, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy moved away from the screwball comedy and delivered incredibly heart-felt performances in this western drama … [6] He also did not like the costumes, which he did not get to see until late in the process. Richter has written many other books including "Early Americana," a collection of short stories, "The Sea of Grass," a book about crooked politicians and cattlemen, and "The Light in the Forest," a book about the kidnapping of a white boy by Native Americans. In private, Brock confesses to his sister that he could not stand a trial because it would bring up the reason for the fight, and humiliate their father. However, it does have its flaws that shouldn’t be ignored. The true story of a prosecutor's fight to prove the innocence of a man accused of a notorious murder. The novel is set in New Mexico in the late 19th century and concerns the often violent clashes between the pioneering ranchers, whose cattle range freely His pregnant wife goes into the fierce storm to help him inside and loses her baby. Lutie goes alone to Denver where she and lawyer Chamberlain conceive a son Brock whom Jim later accepts with resignation. Chamberlain tries to get her to fight for Brock's custody so they can run away together as a family, but Lutie says that she does not love him enough to marry him. Sara Beth visits her mother in her hotel room, warning her against trying to see Brewton and stirring up more trouble. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Turtle grass. Lutie, has difficulty reconciling her husband's beliefs and passions with her own. He will preside over land disputes, which increase as the government encourages homesteading. The Sea of Grass (DVD) : Brewton's cattle empire includes a million acres of grazing land. He runs his cattle on government-owned land, and opposes homesteaders because he believes the Great Plains do not get enough rain to sustain farming. please … Although it received mostly tepid critical reviews, the movie was the most commercially successful of all the Hepburn-Tracy MGM films, making $3,150,000 in the US and Canada and $1,539,000 overseas. According to The Films of Katharine Hepburn, MGM had thousands of reels of footage of prairie. Was this review helpful to you? [6] She returns after two years in a futile attempt to reconnect with them, who no longer recognize her. However, such "gray" characters are tough to bond with or care about, so I can understand why the film makers generally avoided this. The Sea of Grass Synopsis: This western begins with St. Louis resident Lutie Cameron (Katharine Hepburn) marrying New Mexico cattleman Col. James B. Fearful for his wheat crop, knowing its destruction would spell the ruin of his farm, the man goes out of the house with his rifle, planning to scare off the cattle. Directed by (1) Writing credits (4) Cast (129) Produced by (1) Music by (1) Cinematography by (1) Film Editing by (1) Art Direction by (2) Set Decoration by (1) Costume Design by (2) Makeup Department (2) Second Unit Director or Assistant Director (2) When she arrives in "Salt Fork, NM" she finds that her new husband is considered by the locals to be a tyrant who uses force to keep homesteaders off the government owned land he uses for grazing his cattle--the so-called Sea of Grass. Having read in the newspaper that Brock was on the run, Lutie returns by train to Salt Fork. A number of environmental parameters are critical to whether seagrass will grow and persist. When Lutie learns of the incident, she rides quickly out to the settlers' house, but they refuse to see her. She has had a short courtship with a cattle rancher of New Mexico. The two have a discreet affair, and Lutie decides to return to Brewton. Lutie confesses her struggles to adapt to her new home and her husband's emotional distance. The Sea of Grass is a rousing tale of adventure where we are again immersed in Stack's imaginary empire which only gains more and more depth with each volume. In fact, this location feels more like a glorified backdrop. Struggles bring them closer together. was a smash with critics and received a few critics awards, Gentleman’s Agreement was a hit on the industry circuit as it locked up eight Oscar nominations. Brewton tells Lutie that he had warned her the settlers faced severe challenges. THE SEA OF GRASS is thought by some to be one of the classics of Western fiction. Whereas Boomerang! Conrad Richter's word painting of New Mexico at the end of the cowboy era is chock full of delightful metaphors and imagery. Jim Brewton's cattle empire includes a million acres of grazing land that he withholds from neighboring farmers. Pat is a women's sports sensation unless her fiancé is around. The common name “turtle grass” refers to green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) that graze on large fields of this seagrass. Search for "The Sea of Grass" on Amazon.com, Title: Steve receives conflicting reports and tales that make him question what the truth about the hero is. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. He takes her to the courthouse, where she sees Brewton testifying against a settler who had tried to stake a claim to part of the government-owned land where Brewton runs his cattle. Once Brock is bailed out of jail, he returns home and confesses the incident to his father and sister. [3][4] It was directed by Elia Kazan and based on the 1936 novel of the same name by Conrad Richter. She peered through the long blades of grass, pushing herself upright. There is no little irony that a story based in New Mexico exclaiming the Great Plains are cattle country was using a backdrop that becomes part of the McKelvie National Forest. Drama, Certificate: Passed Jim is in love with the land more than Lutie, while she claims to love Jim but her betrayal is a hurdle that they cannot get over. Tracy plays cattle baron Colonel James Brewton, who staunchly opposes opening the western frontier … Turtle grass grows in extensive meadows throughout its range. It is an epic portrayal of the end of the cowboy era in the American Southwest on the Great Plains. Brewton believes that Chamberlain will decide in favor of settlers on "his" land. [2][7] This resulted in a profit to MGM of $742,000. She goes to Denver. Lutie, has difficulty reconciling her husband's beliefs and passions with her own. Turtle grass typically occurs from the low tide level to depths of approximately 30 feet (10 m) on sand and rubble-covered bottoms. Just before arriving, she learns that he has been killed. The Sea of Grass, novel by Conrad Richter, published in 1936, presenting in epic scope the conflicts in the settling of the American Southwest. As a novel, 75 years later, it … Bryce corresponds with her, keeping her abreast of the children. Movie Info Lutie Cameron (Katharine Hepburn) arrives in New Mexico, having married cattleman James Brewton (Spencer Tracy) after a short courtship. When pirates shut down the sea routes the legion officer and his two trusted companions are forced to join a caravan to make the slower journey north across the treacherous Sea of Grass. When Brewton enters the cabin, he finds his son fatally shot. (1947). Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Lutie struggles to understand Brewton's attraction to the forbidding prairie, but she tries to make the most of her new home. On his deathbed, he chides Brewton for driving Lutie away by his emotional distance. While the “sea of grass” is shown on screen, it isn’t as significant as the title would suggest. Inspired by real people and events, The Sea of Grass is the story of the Pawnee Nation, which was shaped by the land, animals, and plants of the Central Plains. This movie is tough to love. The problem is that all that poetic language crowds out the dialog and characterization. The Sea of Grass ... and his two trusted companions are forced to join a caravan to make the slower journey north across the treacherous Sea of Grass. It was directed by Elia Kazan and based on the 1936 novel of the same name by Conrad Richter. Kazan was reportedly displeased with the resulting film and discouraged people from seeing it.[5]. Certificate: Passed A light-skinned black woman falls in love with a white doctor, though he is unaware of her true race. The wife has an affair which produces a child, and she is ostracized from the community. Lutie gives birth to a daughter, Sara Beth. Lutie marries him and they have a daughter Sara. I found this novel quicker to absorb than The Fire Islands, having a background this go-round with the terminology. Journalist Steve O'Malley wants to write a biography of a national hero who died when his car ran off a bridge. Back at the ranch, Brewton takes her out to see the vast prairie. He is an emotionally constricted and yet over-indulgent father. Brock gets drawn into conflict and, when his opponent draws his pistol, Brock shoots him fatally in the stomach. Add the first question. In some ways this unlikability is good, as too often Hollywood films of the 30s and 40s present people in a "black/white" fashion and people who fall somewhere towards the middle are seldom seen. Meanwhile, the farmers watch helplessly as the sea of grass is exploited until it becomes a dust bowl. In Washington, D.C. during World War II, Jamie Rowan enters into a loveless marriage with scientist Pat Jamieson and becomes his assistant. The film stars Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Melvyn Douglas. After her return to Salt Fork, she gives birth to a boy, whom she names Brock. The film opens in St. Louis, Missouri, on Lutie Cameron's (Katharine Hepburn) wedding day. He says that if she testifies in court that Chamberlain is Brock's father, she could win custody of her son, but she would certainly lose custody of Sara Beth. Partly this is due to the setting of the film (nothing but grasslands as far as the eyes can see), but most of it is because the two main characters are so flawed and unlikable. Brewton warns her that the settlers will not last more than six months, due to some unforeseeable, but certain, circumstance. The sharp tips swayed back and forth, carving drunken calligraphy into the empty blue ocean of a sky. Later, it was made into a movie, directed by Elia Kazan and starring Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. Kazan was lucky in casting folks like Edgar Buchanan and Harry Carey who knew their way around a western. After the doctor's death, Chamberlain takes up the correspondence to tell Lutie about her children. 19 of 28 people found this review helpful. Brewton insists that Brock return to town and stand trial. When they stampede, he shoots and kills one of the cows; he also wounds one of Brewton's cowboys, who were trying to herd the cattle in the storm. On America's frontier, a St. Louis woman marries a New Mexico cattleman who is seen as a tyrant by the locals. He is visiting the settlers because he had helped them file their claim on the land. They reach 3 feet tall and tolerate harsh coastal winds, lean sandy soil and little water once established. 1947 Western movie directed by Elia Kazan, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Sea_of_Grass_(film)&oldid=1009179710, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 February 2021, at 04:33. During a great blizzard, the settlers are alarmed by the sound of Brewton's cattle near their house. The Sea of Grass (1947) Full Cast & Crew. "[6] However, the producers decided that the majority of the film would be shot against a process screen to use some of the existing "ten thousand feet" of 'sea of grass' stock footage, rather than sending the film crew on location. Her new shady manager Mike keeps them apart and develops feelings for her. They split with Jim getting full custody of both children and Lutie moves back in St Louis. As she dresses, she receives a telegram from her fiancé Col. Brewton (Spencer Tracy) telling her to board the train for New Mexico to marry him in the small town of Salt Fork. It is set in New Mexico in the late 19th century, and concerns the clash between rich ranchers, whose cattle run freely on government-owned land, a prairie "sea of grass", and the homesteaders or "nesters", who build fences and try to cultivate the soil for subsistence farming. 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