A Few Words About A few words about...™ Oklahoma Crude - in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Stanley Kramer's Oklahoma Crude is a difficult film to categorize.

Possibly a dramedy, but not precisely.

It occurs in 1913, the year of the filmmaker's birth, and concerns a young woman set on success toward her own oil rig. But big business arrives, and it isn't a good situation.

We have several superb performances, George C. Scott, doing roguish comedy, Faye Dunaway as the driller, John Mills as her unwanted dad, and Jack Palance, as the bad dude.

Mr. Kramer was known for sending messages in his tales. This isn't one of those.

It's a film that, at least to me, plays better now that it did in 1973, especially with its strong heroine, and her sexual concepts.

It also seems to be the closest to crowd favorite, Mad World, for any number of reasons.

The score by Henry Mancini plays toward comedy, but that's not what's going on here.

Best to take a look, and find out for yourselves.

As to quality, it's from Columbia, via Twilight Time.

'Nuff said.

Image - 5

Audio - 5

Pass / Fail - Pass

Recommended

RAH

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Never a dull moment when George C Scott is around. Ok film with my eyes mostly on Faye Dunaway.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Ah, those were the good ol’ days, when watching a gusher was guilt free.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Who’s selling this? Couldn’t find it on Amazon.

 

[Bob Cashill]

Twilight Time.

 

[PMF]

Columbia.
Twilight Time.
...and don't forget to mention, it's another work by DP Robert Surtees.
Oh yes, this could prove to be one beauty of a disc.

 

[Christian D66]

One movie that fills used record store soundtrack sections but rarely played on TV. I always thought the cover looked like a box office killer: George C. Scott in a "wifebeater" shirt with porkpie hat and shotgun. Hilarious.

 

[Charles Smith]

I remember its release, and that I never saw it. I have no idea why, since I was most definitely crazy about Scott and Dunaway et al. But going on this description, I must have had absolutely no idea then what kind of film it really was. It certainly sounds appealing now!

 

[uncledougie]

Finally got around to watching this last night. I saw it once theatrically during its initial release in 1973, so had only vague memories of the details, mainly that it was very difficult to categorize - it’s not exactly a drama, though it’s pretty violent in places, with some of that played comedically, but neither is it much of a comedy though George C. Scott’s character is played amiably (he was such a great actor in any genre). Anyway, pondering this after seeing it again after so long, it holds up quite well, makes one think it’s pretty accurate to its time and setting with what wildcatters had to put up with against Big Oil (intimidation and violence without law enforcement anywhere to be seen). Not one of Stanley Kramer’s best, but certainly well directed. Nice transfer, as was generally the case with Twilight Time.