Oklahoma!, screenplay
by Sonya Levien, William Ludwig, based on dramatic play by Lynn Riggs
Oklahoma has won two Academy Awards and was
nominated for a further two at the Ceremony in 1956
However, this viewer must state upfront that he
was not crazy about this musical, in spite of its poster image with:
“It’s
Here!
The best-loved Musical
of our time…
Now a motion picture
big as all outdoors”
Well, maybe, but apart from Rod Steiger, one of
the greatest actors of all time, there was little to make it so resplendent.
The plot is simple, maybe too crude, even if
that should be compensated by the music and dancing.
Indeed, there are a couple of songs that even
this critical spectator enjoyed and the modern ballet was impressive.
The Surrey With The Fringe on Top was one of
the favorite chants, notwithstanding the crudeness of the lines:
“Chicks and ducks and
geese better scurry
When I take you out in
the surrey,
When I take you out in
the surrey with the fringe on top!”
The verses of the songs do not contrast however
with the manner of speaking of the protagonists.
None of them has attended school.
Well, not for more than two years.
They say:
“You was, they is” on a regular basis.
And Now For Something Completely
Different (Monty
Python masterpieces- these are films that one should see instead of losing time
with Oklahoma):
Some of the characters involved do have
Signature Strengths and I refer here to Curly McLain, simple but also showing:
Vitality, Love,
Kindness, Persistence- he sells everything he has, Bravery, Appreciation of
Beauty and Excellence
Gratitude, Hope, some
Humor, Modesty, Perspective and more
When his nemesis and rival for the affection of
Ado Annie Carnes is bidding for lunch with her, the hero takes this to an
extreme.
Curly has only five dollars to use to gain
permission to lunch with the woman he loves, in a charity event.
However, when Jud Fry, the evil personage
portrayed by the genius actor Rod Steiger, outbids him, the romantic hero gives
all he has.
First, he sells his saddle for ten dollars, and
then he gives away his horse for fifteen and finally sells his pistol.
That is commendable.
Perhaps outstanding, glorious.
The other song that I have enjoyed is Oh What A
Beautiful Morning:
“Oh, what a beautiful
mornin',
Oh, what a beautiful
day.
I got a beautiful
feelin'
Ev'rything's goin' my
way.”
Oklahoma! Has been remarked upon by The New
York Times, albeit it is somewhat hard to see why.
It is on the prestigious newspaper’s list of
Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made:
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