"Cimarron" was the first Western to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. In fact, it was the only Western to win that Oscar until the 1990s. The irony is that during that period, there were probably hundreds of Westerns made that were more deserving.
Richard Dix stars as an early Oklahoman settler. With his wife (Irene Dunne) he participates in the famous 1889 land grab, and helps civilize the lawless frontier town of Osage. He starts a newspaper, which is successful despite its controversial editorials.
Having conquered Osage, Dix leaves town in search
of new adventures. Dunne is left behind to run
the newspaper, and her character grows from a
timid housewife to become Osage's leading citizen.
"Cimarron" cost RKO $1.5 million to make, making
it one of the most expensive films of its era.
Despite its accolades, the studio lost over half
a million dollars. The budget pays off, however,
in the group shots, especially the re-enactment
of the 1889 land grab. This is the film's most
famous scene.
"Cimarron" is a mediocre film that is made
watchable by Dix's ridiculous performance. He
provides much unintentional comic relief, and in
his absence the film drags. Dix's character is a
blustering and swaggering Big Man on Campus,
fearlessly and impulsively taking on challenges.
The problems with "Cimarron" begin with the
characters. The audience is supposed to admire
Dix as a hero, when in fact he is unknowingly a
comic figure. Dunne's personality changes are
artificial: first she's a wallflower, then a
snobbish socialite, and finally a distinguished
matron. We don't learn much about her until after
Dix has left and can no longer steal scenes. What
we then learn is that she is boring.
Supporting characters are one-dimensional. We are
expected to laugh at a stuttering printer and at
racist caricature Eugene Jackson, but the
attempted humor doesn't work. A bullying gang
leader exists to demonstrate Dix's manhood, and
prostitute and social pariah Estelle Taylor
exists to demonstrate Dix's compassion. However,
neither character trait is as entertaining as
listening to Dix's contrived banter. (49/100)
The Oscar winner for Best Picture of 1931 chronicles one family's experiences in the restless days of settling the American West. Adapted from Edna Fe...More at Family Video
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