The Sea of Grass (1947)

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Passed
2h 3min
Drama, Western
25 Apr 1947 (USA)
Movie

6.3 (2,439)

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On America's frontier, a St. Louis woman marries a New Mexico cattleman who is seen as a tyrant by the locals.

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writers:

Stars:

Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Still of Spencer Tracy (I), Melvyn Douglas, Trevor Bardette and Robert Barrat in The Sea of Grass (1947)

Still of Robert Walker (I) in The Sea of Grass (1947)

Still of Spencer Tracy (I) and Robert Walker (I) in The Sea of Grass (1947)

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36 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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	Spencer Tracy	...	Col. James B. 'Jim' Brewton
	Katharine Hepburn	...	Lutie Cameron Brewton
	Robert Walker	...	Brock Brewton
	Melvyn Douglas	...	Brice Chamberlain
	Phyllis Thaxter	...	Sara Beth Brewton
	Edgar Buchanan	...	Jeff - Cook
	Harry Carey	...	Doc J. Reid
	Ruth Nelson	...	Selina Hall - Sam Hall's Wife
	William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Banty - Brewton Ranch Hand (as Wm. 'Bill' Phillips)
	Robert Armstrong	...	Floyd McCurtin
	James Bell	...	Sam Hall
	Robert Barrat	...	Judge Seth White
	Charles Trowbridge	...	George Cameron
	Russell Hicks	...	Maj. Dell Harney
	Trevor Bardette	...	Andy Boggs
	Morris Ankrum	...	A.J. Crane
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Eddie Acuff	...	Cattleman (uncredited)
	Henry Adams	...	Gambler (uncredited)
	Erville Alderson	...	First Station Agent (uncredited)
	Myrtle Anderson	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Stanley Andrews	...	Bill the Sheriff (uncredited)
	Frank Austin	...	Second Station Agent (uncredited)
	Polly Bailey	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Frank Baker	...	Juror (uncredited)
	Dick Baron	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
	Jack Baxley	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Vangie Beilby	...	Old Townswoman (uncredited)
	Joseph E. Bernard	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Margaret Bert	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Robert Bice	...	Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
	Barbara Billingsley	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
	Whit Bissell	...	Ted - the Clerk (uncredited)
	Chet Brandenburg	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Joe Brockman	...	Cattleman (uncredited)
	Buck Bucko	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Marietta Canty	...	Rachael (uncredited)
	Nora Cecil	...	Mrs. Ryan - Nurse (uncredited)
	William Challee	...	Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
	Wheaton Chambers	...	Dean (uncredited)
	Ruth Cherrington	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Naomi Childers	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Gertrude Chorre	...	Brewton's Indian Nurse (uncredited)
	Davison Clark	...	Cattleman (uncredited)
	Gene Coogan	...	Cowhand (uncredited)
	Joseph Crehan	...	Colorado Sen. Grew (uncredited)
	Sidney D'Albrook	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Frank Darien	...	Minister (uncredited)
	Jack Davis	...	Jury Foreman (uncredited)
	Vernon Dent	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
	Helen Dickson	...	Piano Player Spectator (uncredited)
	Mike Donovan	...	Nester (uncredited)
	Franz Dorfler	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Budd Fine	...	Brakeman (uncredited)
	Douglas Fowley	...	Joe Horton (uncredited)
	Slim Gaut	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Fred Gilman	...	Cattleman (uncredited)
	Ann Gowland	...	Sarah Beth - Age 2 (uncredited)
	Fred Graham	...	Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)
	Jesse Graves	...	Luke (uncredited)
	Frank Hagney	...	Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)
	Chuck Hamilton	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	John Hamilton	...	Forrest Hamilton (uncredited)
	Jimmy Hawkins	...	Brock - Age 5 (uncredited)
	June Hedin	...	Sarah Beth - Age 11 (uncredited)
	Pat Henry	...	Brock - Age 1 (uncredited)
	Earle Hodgins	...	Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
	Stuart Holmes	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	William Holmes	...	Gambler (uncredited)
	George Huggins	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Bob Ingersoll	...	Station Loafer (uncredited)
	Dick Johnstone	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Jack Kenny	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Rose Langdon	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Paul Langton	...	Young Doctor (uncredited)
	Larry Lathrop	...	Messenger (uncredited)
	Nolan Leary	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Ralph Littlefield	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Leota Lorraine	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	George Magrill	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Robert Malcolm	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Chief Many Treaties	...	Indian (uncredited)
	Mickey Martin	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
	Kermit Maynard	...	Station Loafer (uncredited)
	Charles McAvoy	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Charles Middleton	...	Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
	Robert Milasch	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Howard M. Mitchell	...	Railroad Conductor (uncredited) (voice)
	Skeets Noyes	...	Beady-Eyed Man (uncredited)
	Carol Nugent	...	Sarah Beth - Age 7 (uncredited)
	James O'Rear	...	Piano Tuner (uncredited)
	Norman Ollestad	...	Brock - Age 8 (uncredited)
	J.L. Palmer	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Tex Parker	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Frank Pharr	...	Station Loafer (uncredited)
	Lee Phelps	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Obed 'Dad' Pickard	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Bernice Pilot	...	Maid (uncredited)
	Paul Ravel	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	George Reed	...	Uncle Nat (uncredited)
	John Rice	...	Cowboy (uncredited)
	Dick Rich	...	Loud-Mouthed Salt Fork Townsman (uncredited)
	Duncan Richardson	...	Brock - Age 3 (uncredited)
	Buddy Roosevelt	...	Ike Randall - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
	Gene Roth	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Dick Rush	...	Cattleman (uncredited)
	Sam Savitsky	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Phil Schumacher	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Allen D. Sewall	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Irving Smith	...	Black Servant (uncredited)
	Patty Smith	...	Sarah Beth - Age 4 (uncredited)
	Tom Smith	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Ray Spiker	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Wyndham Standing	...	Gambler (uncredited)
	Jack Stoney	...	Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)
	Glenn Strange	...	Bill Roach - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
	Brick Sullivan	...	Cowhand (uncredited)
	Henry Sylvester	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Forrest Taylor	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Ray Teal	...	Cattleman (uncredited)
	Laura Treadwell	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	William Van Vleck	...	Nester (uncredited)
	Dorothy Vaughan	...	Mrs. Hodges (uncredited)
	John Vosper	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
	Eddy Waller	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Dan White	...	Wake - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
	Guy Wilkerson	...	Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
	Chalky Williams	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Bill Wolfe	...	Homesteader (uncredited)
	Rocky Woods	...	Cattleman (uncredited)
	Hank Worden	...	Bill - Salt Fork Townsman (uncredited)

Directed by

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Elia Kazan

Written by

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Marguerite Roberts	...	(screenplay) and
Vincent Lawrence	...	(screenplay)

Conrad Richter	...	(novel "The Sea of Grass")

Edward E. Paramore Jr.	...	(contributor to screenplay) (uncredited)

Produced by

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Pandro S. Berman

...

producer

Music by

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Herbert Stothart

Cinematography by

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Harry Stradling Sr.

...

director of photography (as Harry Stradling)

Editing by

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Robert Kern

...

(as Robert J. Kern)

Art Direction by

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Cedric Gibbons
Paul Groesse

Set Decoration by

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Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by

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Walter Plunkett
Valles	...	(costumes: men)

Makeup Department

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Jack Dawn	...	makeup creator
Sydney Guilaroff	...	hair styles creator

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Richard Rosson	...	second unit director (uncredited)
Sid Sidman	...	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Mildred Griffiths	...	associate set decorator
William H. Cunningham	...	greensman (uncredited)
Clarence J. Falk	...	greens supervisor (uncredited)
Frank Wesselhoff	...	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Douglas Shearer

...

recording director

Special Effects by

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A. Arnold Gillespie	...	special effects
Warren Newcombe	...	special effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Irene	...	costume supervisor
Eugene Joseff	...	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

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Alberto Colombo	...	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Hugo Frey	...	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Albert Sendrey	...	orchestrator (uncredited)
David Snell	...	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Carl 'Major' Roup

...

script clerk (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (United States) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Finland) (theatrical)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Italy) (theatrical)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Norway) (theatrical)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1948) (France) (theatrical) (35 and 16mm)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (West Germany) (theatrical)
MGM Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (VHS)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Spain) (theatrical)
HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
Warner Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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MGM Home Entertainment (VHS package design)
Turner Entertainment (VHS package design)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	This western begins with St. Louis resident Lutie Cameron (Katharine Hepburn) marrying New Mexico cattleman Col. James B. 'Jim' Brewton (Spencer Tracy) after a short courtship. 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. Lutie, has difficulty reconciling her husband's beliefs and passions with her own. Written by kzmckeown Plot Summary
Plot Keywords	four-word-title marriage courtroom telegram wedding-preparation See All (141) »
Taglines	Spencer Tracy. Cattle baron . . ruthless, rugged! Katharine Hepburn. Fiery . . . fascinating gal from St. Louis! Robert Walker. Gun-shooting and gambling fool! Melvyn Douglas. He knew women! Soft words, Soft looks! See more »
Genres	Drama Western
Parents Guide	Add content advisory for parents »
Certification	Argentina:Atp Australia:PG Finland:S France:Tous publics Japan:G Norway:16 United Kingdom:A United Kingdom:PG (video rating) United States:Passed (National Board of Review) United States:Approved (, adult audience) United States:TV-PG (TV rating) West Germany:16 (f)

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Le maître de la prairie (France) Mar de hierba (Spain) To parastratima mias miteras (Greece) Mar de hierba (Mexico) Mora trava (Yugoslavia, Croatian title) See more »
Runtime	123 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Filming Locations	Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget

$2,349,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia	This film was very successful at the box office, earning MGM a profit of $742,000 ($10.2M in 2023) according to studio records. This was the most profitable of all the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn MGM films. See more »
Goofs	When Col. Brewton returns home from his trip after the blizzard died down, he is wearing a winter coat which is fully buttoned up right before he enters the house. But when he enters the house and is greeted by Lutie, the top coat button is unbuttoned. See more »
Movie Connections	Featured in Katharine Hepburn: All About Me (1993). See more »
Crazy Credits	Card at beginning: This story takes place for the most part against the background of the sea of grass - that vast grazing empire which once covered the western part of north America from the great plains to the rocky mountains, and beyond. See more »
Quotes	Brice Chamberlain: Why do women insist on loving men for what they want them to be instead of what they are? See more »

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