• Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Marriage Drama, Period Film
• Themes: Cattle Ranchers, Crumbling Marriages, Extramarital Affairs
• Director: Elia Kazan
• Main Cast: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Walker, Melvyn Douglas, Phyllis Thaxter
• Release Year: 1947
• Country: US
• Run Time: 133 minutes

Plot

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, All Movie Guide

Review

Before making 1951's cultural landmark A Streetcar Named Desire, Elia Kazan gained notoriety for stage work and such small-scale, socially relevant pictures as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Gentleman's Agreement (1947), and the Spencer Tracy-Katherine Hepburn vehicle Sea of Grass (1947). Though the couple was best known for their comic work with director George Cukor -- State of the Union (1948), Adam's Rib (1949) -- they took their chances on this more political family drama. Working from Conrad Richter's novel, Kazan explores the familiar ranchers-versus-farmers theme, but the movie veers away from predictable Western conventions. Instead, the setting is used more as a backdrop to the film's central romantic relationship. Famed for his ability to elicit strong work from his performers, Kazan coaxes memorable turns from Tracy and Hepburn, as well as from supporting players Robert Walker and Melvyn Douglas. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Spencer Tracy - Col. Jim Brewton
• Katharine Hepburn - Lutie Cameron
• Robert Walker - Brock Brewton
• Melvyn Douglas - Brice Chamberlain
• Phyllis Thaxter - Sara Beth Brewton

Edgar Buchanan - Jeff; Harry Carey - Doc Reid; Ruth Nelson - Selena Hall; William "Bill" Phillips - Banty; Robert Armstrong - Floyd McCurtin; Charles Trowbridge - George Trowbridge; Russell Hicks - Maj. Harney; Trevor Bardette - Andy Boggs; Morris Ankrum - Crane; Eddie Acuff; Erville Alderson - Station Agent; Myrtle Anderson; Stanley Andrews - Sheriff; Frank Austin - Station Agent; Polly Bailey; Dick Baron - Newsboy; Robert H. Barrat - Judge White; James Bell - Sam Hall; Joe Bernard; Margaret Bert; Robert Bice; Marietta Canty - Rachael; Nora Cecil - Nurse; William Challee - Deputy Sheriff; Wheaton Chambers - Dean; Chief Many Treaties - Indian; Naomi Childers; Davison Clark; Joseph Crehan - Sen. Graw; Sidney D'Albrook; Frank Darien - Minister; Vernon Dent - Conductor; Mike Pat Donovan; Budd Fine - Brakeman; Fred Graham; Jesse Graves - Luke; Frank S. Hagney - Man; John Hamilton - Forrest Cochran; Jim Hawkins - Brock, Age 5 1/2; Pat Henry - Brock, Age 1; Earl Hodgins; Rose Langdon - Woman; Nolan Leary; Leota Lorraine - Bits; George Magrill; Robert Malcolm; Mickey Martin - Newsboy; Charles B. Middleton - Charley; Howard Mitchell - Conductor; Carol Nugent - Sarah Beth, Age 7; James O'Reare - Piano Tuner; Bernice Pilot; George H. Reed - Uncle Nat; John Rice; Duncan Richardson - Brock, Age 3; Buddy Roosevelt; Gene Roth; Dick Rush - Cattleman; Wyndham Standing; Glenn Strange - Bill Roach; Henry Sylvester; Forrest Taylor; Ray Teal; Laura Treadwell; Dorothy Vaughan - Mrs. Hodges; John Vosper - Hotel Clerk; Eddy Waller; Dan White - Ike Randall; Guy Wilkerson - Wake; Hank Worden - Cowhand; Douglas Fowley - Joe Horton; Frank Pharr; Ralph Littlefield - Homesteader; Henry Adams; Vangie Beilby; Ruth Cherrington; Helen Dickson; Charles McAvoy; Jack Stoney; Joe Brockman; Gertrude Chorre - Indian Nurse; Fred Gilman; Lawrence Lathrop - Messenger; Skeets Noyes - Beady-Eyed Man; Jasper Palmer; Patty Smith - Sarah Beth, Age 4 1/2; Jack Davis - Foreman; William Holmes - Gambler

Credit

Pandro S. Berman - Producer; Cedric Gibbons - Art Director; Arnold A. Gillespie - Special Effects; Paul Groesse - Art Director; Elia Kazan - Director; Robert J. Kern - Editor; Vincent Lawrence - Screenwriter; Warren Newcombe - Special Effects; Walter Plunkett - Costume Designer; Marguerite Roberts - Screenwriter; Herbert Stothart - Composer (Music Score); Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer; Jack Dawn - Makeup; Mildred Griffiths - Set Designer; Harry Stradling - Cinematographer; Conrad Richter - Book Author; Conrad M. Ritcher - Book Author

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