Oklahoma 1955
- Director: Fred Zinnemann
- Seen by this director: The Nun’s Story, A Man for All Seasons
- Based on the book: no
- Cast: Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson, Charlotte Greenwood, Eddie Albert, James Whitmore, Rod Steiger
- Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
- Gordon MacRae – Carousel
- Shirley Jones – The Music Man, Pepe, Elmer Gantry, Carousel
- Gloria Grahame – The Greatest Show on Earth, TV series
- Gene Nelson – The Mod Squad and other TV series
- Eddie Albert – Green Acres
- James Whitmore – Swing Vote, The Shawshank Redemption, TV series
- Rod Steiger – Mars Attacks, The Ballad of the Sad Café, The January Man, Happy Birthday Wanda June, In the Heat of the Night, Dt Zhivago, The Blackboard Jungle, On the Waterfront
- Why? It’s a musical.
- Seen: Once or twice. Now 27 November 2021
As a confirmed city slicker, I am really
glad I don’t live in rural Oklahoma or rural anywhere, but I do like the songs.
Simple love intrigues, of which only Ado Annie (Grahame), the girl who cain’t say no, is interesting, is pretty much what this story is about. Oh yes, and the moral of the story is that farmers and cowboys should be friends. The dream scene is far too long, as is the whole film, but the lyrics still make me laugh. It’s a ways down on my list of favourite musicals but it is on it.
Recently saw this one because of Gloria Grahame. Found it almost as unendurable as "My Fair Lady". Hard to believe such stuff was once a smash hit on both Broadway and the silver screen. So quaint, so silly, so boring now. Musicals age quickly. Only solid sentimental attachment from the most impressionable years can save them, it seems.
ReplyDeleteGloria Grahame is definitely the one who carries this lame musical but like I wrote, many of the songs are enjoyable. And there is a touch of nostalgia in my rating. It was a childhood favourite, the soundtrack, that is.
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