Golden Harvest

A surprisingly entertaining and thought provoking drama. Its likeable cast, realistic script and lively direction make what could have been a dry, worthy depression story into a really engaging, personable and thoroughly enjoyable picture.

It's unusual to get such a strong campaigning social justice picture from Paramount rather than from Warner Brothers. Because Paramount considered their audience to be more sophisticated than Warner's might explain why the story feels a little less simplistic and naive than similar films from 1933 often were. It doesn't just rely on the usual trick of pulling at the heart strings and also the rich folk - and even the banks aren't painted as typical evil monsters. Although it clearly and emotionally puts you on the side of the farmers, it presents a balanced view - a realistic view.

The two brothers: one growing the wheat and one speculating on it in the stock market are both presented equally and realistically. There's not a good one and a bad one - refreshingly for a black and white film, they're not simply black and white. Their believable performances make the story come alive.

Although Richard Arlen and Chester Morris were never superstar A listers, they demonstrate in this that given good roles with good direction they could be absolutely perfect. Also perfect is Genevieve Tobin - she doesn't have to do much in this film, she's just perfect anyway!

As depression movies go, focusing on the plight of farmers makes a pleasant change from the usual struggles in the city approach. It's such an interesting subject that after watching this, for background you'll find yourself googling FDR's Agricultural Adjustment Act. FDR's ideas certainly helped massively but as shown in the somewhat similar GRAPES OF WRATH a few years later, it wasn't corruption proof. Writer, Nina Wilcox-Putnam must have been proud to have written something like this which actually helped changed history.

Most bizarre fact about this is that it was author Nina Wilcox-Putnam's follow up to The Mummy!

Chris--snob/ashamed of roots Walt--stayed on farm

Taken in context, "Golden Harvest" is a great look at the 1930s. At that time, farmers were abandoning the land to move to cities and the Depression took its toll on the farmers who remained and worked the land.

The story is about two brothers who grew up on the farm. Walt (Richard Arlen) loves farming and can imagine himself doing nothing else...and so on the farm he remained through the story. Chris (Chester Morris) on the other hand longs for something else and soon moves to Chicago to try his hand at working the commodities market. With his background as a farmer, he's got a bit of an edge on his competition. However, at times, Chris makes a ton of money when the farmers are in dire trouble and prices are at their lowest. Eventually, Walt and Chris work together to try to create a stronger market for wheat...that way they'll both win...if it works.

The story of farming and the like may not sound that interesting, but it is a nice history lesson and the film has some excellent performances. Not exactly a must-see, but a very good film and one worth your time.