Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Oh, what a beautiful show...
Considering this motion picture is some forty-six years of age, an adapation of a Broadway musical that opened in 1943, almost fifty-seven years ago, this DVD version of the 1955 film, with respect to opinions to the contrary expressed elsewhere, is simply splendid.While declaring the timeless joy of this film, I can't help but feel disappointed that producers couldn't find locations in Oklahoma to shoot the exterior scenes, opting for the empty spaces of Arizona. That aside, what a grand adaptation of what many consider the first modern musical. While Gordon MacRae a very good Curly, Shirley Jones is truly marvelous as Laurie the central character in a story that has been characterized as, "who will take Laurie to the dance." As is so often the case, the filmmakers key casting decisions determine the quality of motion pictures. Eddie Albert is an excellent Peddler, Ali Hakim. Gloria Grahame's performance as Ado Annie Carnes sparkles. Agnes De Mille dances have made this musical one of the best ever. I'm was particularly impressed with "Kansas City," "Out of My Dreams," (dream ballet) and the "The Farmer and the Cowman." The one disappointment, as I reflect on the last few scenes, is why the producers/directors didn't utilize the Oklahoma vistas for the title production number, "Oklahoma!" The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic deserved more elaborate staging/spectacle. This is yet another musical that should become part of the literature/fine arts curriculum. It's study would enrich senior high school social studies, literature and fine arts classes.
Rating:  - Vibrant, memorable film version of musical classic
"Oklahoma!" was a classic AMerican musical, groundbreaking in its seamless integration of story, score, and dance, and a highly entertaining show in its own right with a thin but delightful story and classic score, the first of many classic scores to come from Rodgers and Hammerstein. THankfully, most of that vitality, freshness, and joy, not to mention the story and score, translate accurately and brilliantly, and very entertainingly, into the splashy 1955 film version, which is perfectly cast, sung and orchestrated, and competently directed by Fred Zinneman, (of "High Noon" and "From Here To Eternity" fame) whose only movie musical this was. The gorgeous shots of the Midwestern landscape can probably best be appreciated in the widescreen Todd-AO version. (The film was famously filmed twice, in the new process and in standard Cinemescope to accomadate theatres who did not have the new technology installed) Gordon McRae is a marvelous Curley, full of energy, sarcasm, and romantacism, and he sings those songs to perfection. He and the original Curley, Alfred Drake, are the best I've heard. The radiant Shirley Jones is perfect in her film debut as Laurey. The supporting cast is all first-rate; other reviewers have mentioned Gloria Grahame's Ado Annie, which is indeed a hilarious and unforgettable performance, but there is also Gene Nelson's wonderful Will Parker, Charlotte Greenwood's loveable and delightful Aunt Eller, and Rod Steiger's adaquately menacing Jud Fry. (That last character loses some dimension through the deletion of his solo "Lonely Room," but Steiger probably wouldn't have sung it all that well, and the rest of the film is so perfect, that this is really a minor quibble) It should be noted that, even though this cast contains quite a few actors not noted for their singing pipes, no one is dubbed, and everybody sings very well. (Though again, Steiger might not have been up to the demands of "Lonely Room," though he does a fine job on "Poer Jud Is Daid") It could be argued that these classic songs have never been better-sung then they are here, and the augmented original Robert Russell Bennett orchestrations are great. Agnes de Mille recreates her original choreogrpahy to great effect; "Kansas City" still is amazing in how casually it comes out of the situation, "The Farmer and the Cowman" and "Many a New Day" are delightful, and the famous "Laurey Makes Up Her Mind" dream ballet is still stunning. Not the best R&H musical, ("Carousel" and "The King and I" outclass it in story and score, and "The King and I" is probably a better film) but certainly one of the best film versions of one of their musicals with the makings of a highly entertaining evening for the whole family. A fine tribute to a classic of musical theatre.
Rating: - Total Showbiz Magic
This is a stunning production,but be sure to get hold of the Todd-AO version,with it's glorious theatrical style presentation,and better visual and sound quality.The film was shot twice,once in the standard ratio,and again in the widescreen ratio. The latter is of course the Todd-AO version and the superior of the two,though it is seldom seen,and the standard ratio version is always used on television broadcasts. Laurie's dream ballet is the major highlight in the film,with Bambi Linn as the 'Dream Laurie'. The music is breathtaking,and everything is simply gorgeous. Gloria Grahame makes the perfect Ado-Annie Carnes and she sings a very good 'I Cain't Say No'. Overall,this film is a true treat for Rodgers and Hammerstein fans. Highly recommended.
|
