I duri di Oklahoma

Faye Dunaway has guts - or, if I wasn't such a lady, I would use a different word. In Oklahoma Crude, she wears trousers, shares a shack with a scruffy drifter, holds no qualms about bursting into an occupied outhouse, and defends her land by shooting a shotgun at her own father when he trespasses. She is one tough cookie! If you're a fan of hers, you won't want to miss this quirky period piece.

If you're not a fan of hers, and if you're not a fan of George C. Scott, God help you. The studio uglied Faye up as much as possible to make her seem tough and uninterested in femininity. She's a crude woman - crude oil, that is. The drill is on her land, and despite bankruptcy, lack of help, and little hope, she's determined to strike oil. Sometimes she appears to be stupid and making bad decisions, but just keep in mind her character's primary motivation is oil, not safety. George plays a hobo and he accepts the work because he has no income and no shelter. He doesn't have much motivation besides that either. John Mills is Faye's father, and Jack Palance is (three guesses and the first two don't count) the bad guy. My favorite part of the movie was Henry Mancini's adorable, catchy theme. It does have some funny moments, though, because as much as oil drilling is a serious business, sometimes you have to take time out and laugh at your situation.

Amusing film by the great producer and director Stanley Krmer , including an attractive and interesting screenplay written by Marc Norman . It's oil boom time in Oklahoma and Lena Doyle (Faye Dunaway) , a man-hating , strong-willed woman has a struggle on her hands : the big oil companies don't appeal the fact that she's working a potentially profitable oil well . Reluctantly, Lena has to accept the aid of her estranged father Cleon (John Mills) , and Mason (George C. Scott) , the man he contacts to help . The three form an unlikely alliance against the oil trusts that are represented by a nasty ex-general (Jack Palance) and his big guys (William Lucking , Cliff Osmond) . But together are determined to defend the lone wildcat rig , as the good guys contend the bad guys and put up a terrific facing .

This is a wild raunchy rip-roaring yarn , an agreeable picture that has comedy , fights , shootouts , mildly enjoyable situations , nonthinking amusement and likable performances . Enjoyable acting by Faye Dunaway and Geoge C. Scott , both of whom steal the show , she as a hard-bitten, stubborn feminist and he as an obstinate drifter . Enjoyable relationship among three protagonists : Lena hates men , Mason stunningly played by George C. Scott , giving a brilliantly comic acting , he is out for himself , and Lena's father wonderfully acted by John Mills is attempting to make up for a lifetime of neglecting his daughter . Furthermore , a good support cast as Harvey Jason , William Lucking , Cliff Osmond and special mention to Jack Palance playing an unforgettable villain . Colorful cinematography in Panavision filmed on location in Ospital Ranch, Stockton, California, USA , being compellingly photographed by Robert Surtees , an excellent cameraman expert on superproductions as Ben Hur , Quo Vadis , Cimarron , King Solomon's Mines , among others . Atmospheric and lively musical score by Henry Mancini , Blake Edwards' usual .

This old-fashioned motion picture was well produced and directed by Stanley Kramer . He directed 14 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances .He was a notorious producer and director who gave big successes . Kramer formed his own production company in 1947, in conjunction with Carl Foreman .He had a reputation for being frugal, working well within his budgetary limitations . Many of his films reflected social or political concerns and were often controversial . Stanley was consequently tagged as a "message film maker" and "Hollywood's Conscience" . Among his most popular films are : The pride and the Passion¨, ¨On the beach¨, ¨¨ Judgment at Nuremberg¨, ¨Ship of fools¨, ¨World is mad , mad ,mad¨ and ¨Guess Who's Coming to Dinner¨ . However , ¨Oklahoma crude¨ resulted to be a flop at box office though nowadays is well considered . rating : Above average . Worthwhile watching .

Dismissed by critics as one of Stanley Kramer's later flops, OKLAHOMA CRUDE is not bad. It does, however, suffer from an identity crisis. Is it a comedy? Is it a drama? Is it a western? It's not really any of those. Nor, thankfully, is it one of Kramer's social issue epics. Faye Dunaway gives it her all as a demented wild-catter trying to get oil from a lone well while keeping the big time oil companies off her land. She's helped out by her ne'er do well father John Mills and a hapless drifter played by George C. Scott. Scott and Dunaway have great chemistry and Kramer wisely downplays any love story. However, although they make a scrappy team, they're not particularly likable. In fact, none of the characters in this film is very pleasant, therefore there's nobody to really root for.

Kramer, like his contemporaries Billy Wilder and Otto Preminger, seemed to have lost his way by the 1970s. OKLAHOMA CRUDE doesn't click as comedy or drama. The actors are poorly directed: Dunaway is completely humorless, while Scott plays his part as if he's in a broad farce. Jack Palance, as the villain, appears to be spoofing his own clenched jaw persona.

I saw this movie in high school and have been waiting for a video release ever since. The screenwriter, Marc Norman, created a masterpiece, and Stanley Kramer directs one of his best movies ever. A great mix of intelligent dialogue, social critique, and sexual politics.

If you're a fan of David Mamet or HBO's "Deadwood," then you'll love this vulgar and profane bit of Americana. The leads play against type and pull off some really great performances. Scott and Dunaway are terrific together; too bad they never paired up again.

If you think this is a one-off, consider this: Marc Norman would go on to win an Oscar for "Shakespeare in Love." Mr. Norman, can you use your clout to get a DVD release?

This is a great little allegory about the constant struggle between artistic filmmakers (drilling for oil) and the finance people who stand around the edge of the set, taking pot shots, while waiting for the gusher to pay off.

In 1973 I saw this film when it first came out accompanied with my father. We saw it in a movie house out in the Coney Island section in Brooklyn, and it was on a rarity these days - a double bill with a film from France (I believe it was TRAFFIC by Jacques Tati). The movies were entertaining for a change. OKLAHOMA CRUDE was an unexpectedly good film - not a great western but an unusual one.

The plot is similar to the plots of many westerns. A woman owns a small parcel of land which is the subject of interest by powerful local interests. Instead of it being land where the local water hole is located (as in THE BIG COUNTRY) it is potentially rich oil land. The woman here (Faye Dunaway) is very independent and very bitter - her father (John Mills) has always been distant and never helped her or her mother. But circumstances force her to rely on Mills and on drifter George C. Scott. Scott is quite a slippery type - out for himself. So Dunaway proceeds to keep him on a tight leash.

The local Oil Company represents the big land owner in traditional westerns. And, taking a leaf from SHANE, it's "gunslinger" is Jack Palance. But Palance is a smoother villain (and at times a funnier one) than his classic killer in SHANE. When Scott offers to sabotage Dunaway's attempts at fighting the big, bad corporation, Palance, calmly smoking a cigar motions Scott over to him. "I don't think I can use you for that.", our Jack says in a typically deadly confidential whisper of that gravelly voice of his, "but I'll tell you what. I'll give you $10.00 if you'll kiss my ass!" Scott doesn't reply immediately, but later on he gets a little back at Jack - at a particularly dark threatening moment, Scott pulls his shotgun up against Palance's groin (lower section). Caught off guard and frightened, we see a river come out of Jack's midriff. When he is "emptied out", he looks disgustedly at his ruined overcoat, strips it off him gingerly, and dumps it on the floor of Dunaway's homestead before he leaves.

The film had many choice moments - like John Mills and one of Palance's army of thugs confronting each other, both firing their guns, and both discovering that they have no ammo in their guns. They then have to race to arm their weapon first...and it becomes a really close thing.

The slapstick moments enliven the film - and even last to the last moments when (much to Palance's amazement) his bosses are ready to meet any demand to get that oil. All in all a pretty good and unusual movie, and one that should be seen by people who like western films.