THE BOY FROM OKLAHOMA
US, 1953, 88 minutes, Colour.
Will Rogers Jnr, Nancy Olson, Lon Chaney Jnr, Anthony Caruso, Wallace Ford, Merv Griffin.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
The Boy From Oklahoma is an amiable western. It has Warner Bros. production values of the '50s and is directed by Michael Curtiz, noted for his action and adventure films in the '30s, a series of dramas, including Mildred Pierce and Casablanca, in the '40s. During the '50s he moved to a group of musicals and comedies. He also directed the star, Will Rogers Jnr., in the story of his father, The Story of Will Rogers. Will Rogers Jnr has the amiable and laconic style of his father, the famous rope-twirling speaker of homespun wisdom.
The film is a murder mystery, not too difficult to solve, and uses the western conventions with tongue-in-cheek humour.
1. Entertaining comedy western? The murder mystery? The conventions of the western?
2. Production values: colour locations, the atmosphere of the West? Max Steiner's score?
3. The focus on Tom Brewster? Will Rogers and his genial style? His homespun sayings? His background? Studying for the law degree by correspondence? His arrival in Black Rock, the stagecoach being robbed, the loss of the mail?, Suspicions? His seeking out a solution, antagonism in the town? His pleasant way of handling enemies? The decision to Take him the Sheriff? His agreeing? His encounter with Katie, the problem of her father's death and his reputation? The villains in the town, troubles, clashes? The robbing of the stagecoach? The discovery of the Mayor as the villain? The happy ending with Tom and Katie? A conventional western hero ? with the likable touch?
4. Katie as the strong personality, the daughter of her father, his reputation, deals? Her urging Tom to investigate? her tough-mindedness, handling of situations? The happy ending?
5. The personalities around the town, at the saloon? Violence? The clashes with Tom? Suspicions, the stagecoach, the robbery of the mail? The editor of the paper indicating the truth? The fear because of the power of the Mayor?
6. Wally Higgins and his fears, suspicions, giving the evidence?
7. The Mayor and his control of the town? His posse? The engineering of the robberies?
8. The traditions of the American West? Law and order? Putting order into the frontier towns? Happy endings - the American heritage?
