Movie #419 "Cimarron" was one of the last three movies that I needed to watch to be able to say that I have seen all the Best pictures since 1927 when "Wings" won. This is the 1931 best picture, and I have to say that I dislike 1930's films --- mostly because I find them still in that evolutionary state where the directing/acting seems quite sham-like and over done; this one was like that with Mr. Dix. However, I did like the early Irene Dunne (though she is better later on in her career). There are two really effective scenes in this rather long western (which is not my favorite genre either, so you better believe I was only half watching this after a while). In a very early scene it shows the land rush of 1889 --- I think I've seen shots of this in montages of "great scenes" and it is worthy, to be sure. Another scene I liked was the last scene between husband and wife. I was surprised of this kind of a sophisticated theme for the time period, but it has been handled so much better in other films (like "World Apart" with Barbara Hershey --- a parent due to adventure or fight of the cause, neglects family)
I gave it 2.5 stars
Cimarron
(1931) NR
Director Wesley Ruggles' sweeping adaptation of Edna Ferber's classic American novel was the first Western to win the Best Picture Oscar. Richard Dix stars as Yancey Cravat, a larger-than-life pioneer and newspaperman who moves his family to Oklahoma during the land rush of 1889. Irene Dunne co-stars as Yancey's long-suffering wife, who displays true grit after her husband deserts the family in search of further adventure.
Genre: Classic Westerns, Dramas Based on Classic Literature, Dramas Based on the Book
Format: DVD
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