I am so obsessed with Oklahoma and am happy to see its lustiness being celebrated! I love how really experimental things in this movie get a pass because it’s a musical. You might be interested in reading about the original play it’s based on, Green Grows the Lilac. It has kind of a fascinating racial and ethnic history. It was written by a member of the Cherokee tribe, and many of the original characters were white and Native. (And the Persian peddler was originally a Syrian, if I remember correctly.) Anyway, such a good piece of old time American weirdness!
Love this article. Oklahoma was the film I watched whenever I was home sick from school as a child (typically a double feature with The Magnificent Seven). I adore this film. It lives in me and so last year I went to the broadway revival/reimagining. It twisted the entire story putting it through a modern lens to examine power, mental illness, the suffocation of small towns. I left the performance and bought a ticket to go again the following night. That good. Thank you for the article! A delight!
Brilliant on Oaklahoma— funny, convincing, true, fascinating personal history, and full of the verve that you share with this film. This, in particular, is hilarious priceless:
Of Jud: Steiger as Jud: “he’s always sweating, and you can just hear him telling the director Fred Zinnemann, who is coming at him with a spray bottle, ‘I have to feel the tension in my body and the sweat will come.’ In a bunch of shots, he looks like John Belushi pretending to be as depressed as he really was.”
oh, i have never seen this movie nor ever wanted to if i'm honest (my perception was it looked corny) but now i will have to! also i know a bambi IRL and her last name is awesome too tho i won't say it here (but oddly it rhymes with demille, speaking of agnes). happy for you no more ticks and now you have lush, doe-like lashes. :)
I'm a huge fan of all the famous old musicals (and some newer ones—Wicked Thanksgiving 2024!) and have always wondered WHY the James Mitchell interlude in Oklahoma is SO long. Gloria Grahame is amazing, and I enjoyed her in "It's a Wonderful Life" and many B films. I agree that Gordon McCrae's voice is incredible, and I particularly like the very first scene when he's riding up in the corn. I believe it was the first musical with a real plot and came to the stage in 1943, more than a decade before the film. Shirley Jones is just a baby in this film. Interesting story. Shared to Facebook.
Fantastic essay! As a young girl and into my teens, I listened to my father’s OKLAHOMA album over and over. I swirled around the living room singing at the top of my lungs. I acquired many new and eyeopening ideas about what it meant to be female thanks to these songs. Your piece helped me to understand this. Thanks!
Ado Annie's song is my favorite part of the movie. I would have definitely been her had I lived at that time. As a matter of fact, I use the song in the novel I am writing right now about desire.
I first saw Oklahoma as a 13y/o in 1955. I loved it and saw it 3 times in the theater. I decided to watch it last night. Much if it I remembered, but a lot I didn’t and I think my 13 y/o brain didn’t understand it at the time, e.g. the dream sequence, Jud’s role, and many other existential themes.
so glad to see a Laurie Stone take on "Oklahoma"! made me want to listen to these songs again-- haven't done so in ages. They're so lusty and joyous, a far cry from odes to suffering devotion like "Something Wonderful" from "The King and I"...
I am so obsessed with Oklahoma and am happy to see its lustiness being celebrated! I love how really experimental things in this movie get a pass because it’s a musical. You might be interested in reading about the original play it’s based on, Green Grows the Lilac. It has kind of a fascinating racial and ethnic history. It was written by a member of the Cherokee tribe, and many of the original characters were white and Native. (And the Persian peddler was originally a Syrian, if I remember correctly.) Anyway, such a good piece of old time American weirdness!
Great comment. Many thanks!
I was mad for Ado Annie -- lipsynched her night and day.
I can just see you. Gloria Grahame is so killer. xxL
Love this article. Oklahoma was the film I watched whenever I was home sick from school as a child (typically a double feature with The Magnificent Seven). I adore this film. It lives in me and so last year I went to the broadway revival/reimagining. It twisted the entire story putting it through a modern lens to examine power, mental illness, the suffocation of small towns. I left the performance and bought a ticket to go again the following night. That good. Thank you for the article! A delight!
Definitely an interesting angle of the film. Thank you
Brilliant on Oaklahoma— funny, convincing, true, fascinating personal history, and full of the verve that you share with this film. This, in particular, is hilarious priceless:
Of Jud: Steiger as Jud: “he’s always sweating, and you can just hear him telling the director Fred Zinnemann, who is coming at him with a spray bottle, ‘I have to feel the tension in my body and the sweat will come.’ In a bunch of shots, he looks like John Belushi pretending to be as depressed as he really was.”
I love Oklahoma, and watched it recently, also on Kanopy. My favorite part of the story is Ado Annie singing “I’m just a girl who can’t say no”.
I’ve never been a wild girl, but I’ve ALWAYS been drawn to them! All the dancing is wonderful.
oh, i have never seen this movie nor ever wanted to if i'm honest (my perception was it looked corny) but now i will have to! also i know a bambi IRL and her last name is awesome too tho i won't say it here (but oddly it rhymes with demille, speaking of agnes). happy for you no more ticks and now you have lush, doe-like lashes. :)
Well girl, you found the link! You will love it, I think. Let me know.
Love the review and the comments.
I'm a huge fan of all the famous old musicals (and some newer ones—Wicked Thanksgiving 2024!) and have always wondered WHY the James Mitchell interlude in Oklahoma is SO long. Gloria Grahame is amazing, and I enjoyed her in "It's a Wonderful Life" and many B films. I agree that Gordon McCrae's voice is incredible, and I particularly like the very first scene when he's riding up in the corn. I believe it was the first musical with a real plot and came to the stage in 1943, more than a decade before the film. Shirley Jones is just a baby in this film. Interesting story. Shared to Facebook.
Thanks!
really terrific
Fantastic essay! As a young girl and into my teens, I listened to my father’s OKLAHOMA album over and over. I swirled around the living room singing at the top of my lungs. I acquired many new and eyeopening ideas about what it meant to be female thanks to these songs. Your piece helped me to understand this. Thanks!
I'm delighted you enjoyed it. Best, L
Ado Annie's song is my favorite part of the movie. I would have definitely been her had I lived at that time. As a matter of fact, I use the song in the novel I am writing right now about desire.
Wonderful!
I first saw Oklahoma as a 13y/o in 1955. I loved it and saw it 3 times in the theater. I decided to watch it last night. Much if it I remembered, but a lot I didn’t and I think my 13 y/o brain didn’t understand it at the time, e.g. the dream sequence, Jud’s role, and many other existential themes.
so glad to see a Laurie Stone take on "Oklahoma"! made me want to listen to these songs again-- haven't done so in ages. They're so lusty and joyous, a far cry from odes to suffering devotion like "Something Wonderful" from "The King and I"...
Good point about "Something Wonderful"! Feh
"I'm gonna wash that song right outta my hair" ;) (actually I find it a really beautiful song, aside from the lyrics!)
What I really want to know is what eyelash serum you are using :)
Levaye
So love the way you always find the story. Looking at clips of Oklahoma on you tube… now so much richer it seems
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