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
According to "The Films of Katharine Hepburn", MGM had reels of stock footage of prairie, so the majority of the film was shot against a process screen showing this 'sea of grass' stock footage. Despite the talent involved in the film, Kazan was reported so embarrassed by it that he urged people not to see it.[citation needed]
Plot summary
Hepburn plays a woman from St. Louis moving to New Mexico to marry a rancher (Tracy), who relies on violence to encourage others to use the government-owned range. The conflict between them is only worsened by her fidelity.
