OKLAHOMA

US, 1955, 145 minutes, Colour.
Gordon Mac Rae, Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson, Charlotte Greenwood, Shirley Jones, Eddie Albert, James Whitmore, Rod Steiger, Barbara Laurence, Jay C. Flippen.
Directed by Fred Zinnemann.

Oklahoma was the first musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. It made a great impact in the war years, premiering in 1943 and surprising audiences with its rethinking of music theatre style. Rodgers and Hammerstein followed up with such classics as South Pacific, Carousel, The King and I. Other plays of course included Flower Drum Song and The Sound of Music.

The film was surprisingly directed by Fred Zinnemann, a very serious director who had made such films as The Men, High Noon, From Here to Eternity. Zinnemann was to continue directing serious films like A Hatful of Rain and winning a second Academy Award for director (the first for High Noon) for his version of Robert Bolt’s A Man For All Seasons.

Gordon Mac Rae was very popular at Warner Brothers during the 1950s, teaming with Doris Day in a succession of popular musicals like On Moonlight Bay and By the Light of the Silvery Moon. Shirley Jones was at the beginning of her career, was to appear the next year with Gordon MacRae? in the film version of Carousel. She was to win an Oscar for a serious role, best supporting actress in Elmer Gantry. She achieved quite some fame because of her presence on television in The Partridge Family.

Gene Nelson was a sidekick to Gordon Mac Rae in a number of the popular musicals and appears here as Will Parker. Charlotte Greenwood, a tall actress with a caustic tongue as well as kindness, is Aunt Eller. The supporting cast includes Eddie Albert and James Whitmore. Rod Steiger stands out as Judd Fry – many considering his performance far too intense for the musical. Gloria Grahame also shines out as Ado Annie.

The film has the popular songs from the musical which have become popular classics.

When the musical was revived on London’s West End in the 1990s, Hugh Jackman was Curly. He had made stage appearances in Australia in Sunset Boulevard and The Beauty and the Beast and some Australian films. After Carousel and its staging on Broadway, he went on to a strong film career as well as winning a Tony for his impersonation of Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz.

A television version of stage performance with Hugh Jackman was filmed and released. Maureen Lipmann was Aunt Ella.

1. The status of the film as a musical? Its historical place in the development of American musical comedy? Its impact now?

2. What was the total impact of the film, the colour, locations, widescreen, the human elements?

3. The impact of the songs and the music? The highlights, why?

4. The film as a fifties musical, the static patches, the reliance on charm, the stars?

5. Musicals and appeal to audiences? The songs, the dances, the light touch, the easy approach to themes and relationships?

6. Musicals as real and unreal? Fantasies? A fantasy presentation of real life? How does Oklahoma fit into this pattern?

7. The film as a piece of Americana? Its impact In America? Its presentation of a folksy Americana? The good and the bad, love, local customs, styles, American values?

8. Oklahoma as a state, the cattle origins, the ranches, future of the territory as a state, the American heritage?

9. The importance of the atmosphere of the town, the family, dances, the auctions? Why were these so interesting and enjoyable?

10. The impact of the central plot? Strong enough for this musical? Curley as the heroic type? Laurie as the sweet heroine, the ups and downs of their romance? As illustrated by the songs, Fringe on the Top, Beautiful Morning, People will see we’re in love…?

11. How did Judd contrast with Curley and Laurie? Rod Steiger’s heavy villain? The nature of his evil and meanness? the history of his burning, his attraction to Laurie, his jealousy, the humiliation? The irony of his singing about his death with Curley? The significance of the lyrics for the theme? His role in Laurie’s nightmare? His
Cruelty? His being humiliated at the auction? The death sequence? Intensity and overstated realism compared with the hero and heroine?

12. The contrast with Ado Annie? Her lighthearted approach? Her falling in and out of love, her song and the contrast with Laurie? Her attraction to Will, to the salesman (the contrast with Gertie)?

13. The contribution of Ella to the atmosphere of the film, her folksy wisdom and good humour?

14, The highlights of the songs and dances: Kansas City, the square dance, the girls before the party, the dream sequence.

15. How enjoyable is the film now? The role of musical comedy in popular entertainment?