TULSA

US, 1949, 88 minutes, Colour.
Susan Hayward, Robert Preston, Pedro Armendariz, Lloyd Gough, Chill Wills, Ed Begley.
Directed by Stuart Heisler.

Tulsa is an action adventure of the late 1940s. It is colourful entertainment, highlighting the history of the state of Oklahoma, the discovery of oil, the need for conservation as against greed and exploitation, the rise of the city of Tulsa. It was co-written by Frank Nugent, writer of many westerns. it is a star vehicle for Susan Hayward and suits her fiery and dominating style. Robert Preston is exuberant as the lead and Pedro Armendariz is quiet in his role as the Indian. A strong supporting cast includes Lloyd Gough as the oil baron, Chill Wills engagingly comic as the Oklahoma cousin. There is a cameo by Edward Begley (so credited) which gives an indication of his type of role in the '50s and '60s (and his Oscar in Sweet Bird of Youth). Direction is by Stuart Heisler, director of many romances and actioners at this time, including Susan Hayward. A film of the '40s - which tells a yarn as well as shows American history (and the perspective of the '40s).

1. Enjoyable actioneer, American history, plea for conservation legislation?

2. Colour photography, action sequences, the landscapes of Oklahoma, the spectacle of the oil wells and the final fire? Musical score? Theme song and its use throughout the film?

3. Pinky's introduction to Oklahoma history, the emphasis on the use of oil, Oklahoma and oil and the city of Tulsa? The history of the Indian nations, the prairies, the coming of the cattle, oil and the changes?

4. A film of the American dream: resources, exploitation, luck, work and gambling? A future for whites? Blacks incidental? The role of the Indian and the change of lifestyle, royalties from the oil wells?

5. Cattle and oil, Lansing and his stock, Cherokee and her exuberance, Jim and his hopes? Freedom, the oil,, the death of Lansing?

6. Susan Hayward as Cherokee, a lively heroine? Tough, the relationshop with her father, riding with the cattle, her reaction to the oil at his death, going to see Tanner, the treatment by the lawyer, her determination and stubbornness, Tanner himself coming and offering her the money? Jim and his devotion and her friendship? The encounter with Brady, his going into the mud, her hitting his opponent, his regard for her and giving her the land claims? Tanner wanting to buy them?- Friendship with Pinky, his song, his song for her father? Watching her behaviour? The search for the oil, the failure, the arrival of Brad, the fight with the foreman? The three weeks wager? Throwing dice, success in the wells? Cherokee's wealth, position, the media? Ambition and greed? The questions of conservation? Tanner and his exploiting the Indians? Brady calling the meeting, showing the slides? The clash with Tanner and Cherokee? The promise to Jim about his property, the cattle and the wells? The build-up to the party, the deal, the governor's presence, the announcement of the engagement? The clash with Brad? Her success, the pressure on Jim? The fire, her change of heart? Going in to Jim, rescue? The figure of an Oklahoma heroine?

7. Tanner and his wildcat searches, wealth, no conservation principles, the clash with Cherokee, the gambling, offering her the money, the Indians, his speech at the meeting, the deals with the national company, ambitions for political power, marrying Cherokee, the pressure on Jim? Participating in the rescue, a change of heart?

8. Brad and his being the son of Brady? His arrival, the fight, the books, being called Professor? Geological knowledge and conservation? The three weeks, the gambling, the success? Order on Jim's ranch? The meeting, the slides, the warnings? His staying, the governor and the commission for conservation, the party, his jealousy, the announcement of the engagement, the clash with Cherokee, the fire, the rescue?

9. Pinky, the Oklahoma man, piano, wisdom, a chorus on what was happening, the singing with the opera star and the dancing, his taking sides against Cherokee?

10. Brady and his notary, loud behaviour, in the mud, laughing, avenged by Cherokee, his gift, his death?

11. Jim and the Indian background, the traditions, owning hi.s land, loving the cattle, devotion to Cherokee, the conservation on his,~ranch, his refusal to have more wells, the restraining order and the judge calling him mad, the long superimposition sequence of his memories and his behaviour, lighting the fire, collapse and rescue?

12. The background of the Indian nations, their role in Oklahoma, their past traditions, the claims, greed?

13. Oil and cattle? The possibility of both industries succeeding? Legislation? Wealth, the establishment of the state of Oklahoma and the city Tulsa?

14. A view from the '40s and the perspective of later decades?