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Oklahoma!
1955 145 min United States of America G 12+
★7.7
Western, Music, Romance
Director: Fred Zinnemann
🎭 Based on
«Oklahoma!»
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
In the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the twentieth century, two young cowboys vie with a violent ranch hand and a traveling peddler for the hearts of the women they love.
Starring
Gordon MacRae
Actor
Gloria Grahame
Actor
Gene Nelson
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1956
— Best Sound
Academy Awards 1956
— Best Score for a Musical
Academy Awards 1956
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 1956
— Best Score for a Musical
Key opinion
The 1955 film adaptation of Oklahoma! is recognized for its strong vocal performances and iconic Rodgers & Hammerstein score. However, critics frequently point to a tension between the film's ambitious 70mm widescreen scope and its overly stage-bound execution, which prevents it from feeling fully cinematic.
| Acting | Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones anchor the film with powerful vocal chemistry and a captivating screen presence. | |
| Score | The legendary Rodgers & Hammerstein musical score remains a high point of the production. | |
| Acting | Rod Steiger delivers an intense, compelling performance as the antagonist Jud Fry that stands out from the lighter tone of the leads. | |
| Direction | The directorial approach feels trapped by its theatrical roots, resulting in a production that fails to capture the spontaneity and intimacy of a film medium. | |
| Production | The ambitious technical scale, including the use of Todd-AO 70mm, is compromised by an execution that feels sterile and overly rigid. | |
| Pacing | The extended ballet and dance sequences are points of contention, as they are seen by some as essential landmark elements and by others as clunky interruptions that lose their impact on a wide screen. |