The Sea of Grass *** (1947, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Melvyn Douglas, Robert Walker) – Classic Movie Review 3858

Based on Conrad Richter’s 1936 novel, director Elia Kazan’s 1947 black and white Western The Sea of Grass represents an effective change of pace for the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn star team. But years later Kazan disowned it: ‘It’s the only picture I’ve ever made that I’m ashamed of. Don’t see it.’

Spencer Tracy plays Colonel James ‘Jim’ B Brewton, a tough New Mexico cattleman, and Katharine Hepburn plays his caring wife Lutie. Coming to Salt Fork, New Mexico, Lutie finds her new husband has a reputation as a tyrant who uses force to keep homesteaders off the government-owned land he uses to graze his cattle – the ‘Sea of Grass’.

With the marriage in difficulty, Lutie is driven into the arms of old Bruce Chamberlain (Melvyn Douglas). Only appearing an hour and a half into the movie, Robert Walker co-stars as the couple’s alienated illegitimate son, Brock.

Despite the strong acting, the film’s marvellous look in Harry Stradling Sr’s cinematography and a busy story in the screenplay by Marguerite Roberts and Vincent Lawrence, the critics and public didn’t warm to it. And, of their nine films together, it remains one of the stars’ least known and regarded movies.

The really chilly and stately direction by Kazan makes for an ambitious, arty sort movie that remains interesting but just doesn’t have the passion or popular touch. However, despite tepid reviews and Kazan discouraging people from seeing it, it was a mild box office success, earning MGM a profit of $742,000 on a budget of $2,349,000,

Also in the cast are Phyllis Thaxter as Sara Beth Brewton, Edgar Buchanan as Jeff, the cook on Brewton Ranch, Harry Carey Sr as Doc J Reid, Ruth Nelson, William ‘Bill’ Phillips, Robert Armstrong, James Bell, Robert Barrat, Charles Trowbridge, Russell Hicks, Trevor Bardette, Morris Ankrum, Eddie Acuff, Henry Adams, Erville Alderson, Myrtle Anderson, Stanley Andrews and Frank Austin.

MGM originally planned to star Myrna Loy opposite Tracy.

MGM decided most the film was to be shot against a process screen backdrop to use their ‘sea of grass’ stock footage, upsetting Kazan, who planned to film on location. He also disapproved of the costumes, particularly those for Hepburn.

The Sea of Grass is directed by Elia Kazan, runs 131 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Marguerite Roberts and Vincent Lawrence, based on the novel by Conrad Richter, shot in black and white by Harry Stradling Sr, produced by Pandro S Berman, scored by Herbert Stothart, and designed by Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3858

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