''Cimarron'' is a 1960 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...

film based on the

Edna Ferber Edna Ferber (August 15, 1885 – April 16, 1968) was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels include the Pulitzer Prize-winning '' So Big'' (1924), '' Show Boat'' (1926; made into the celebrated 1927 musical), '' C ...

novel '' Cimarron''. The film stars Glenn Ford and

Maria Schell Maria Margarethe Anna Schell (15 January 1926 – 26 April 2005) was an Austrian-Swiss actress. She was one of the leading stars of German cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1954, she was awarded the Cannes Best Actress Award for her performance ...

and was directed by Anthony Mann and Charles Walters, though Walters is not credited onscreen. Ferber's novel was previously adapted as a film in 1931; that version won three

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

. ''Cimarron'' was the first of three epics (along with '' El Cid'' and ''

The Fall of the Roman Empire The fall of the Western Roman Empire (also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome) was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vas ...

'') that Mann directed. Despite high production costs and an experienced cast of western veterans, stage actors and future stars, the film was released with little fanfare.

Plot

Sabra Cravat joins her new husband, lawyer Yancey "Cimarron" Cravat, during the Oklahoma land rush of 1889. They encounter Yancey's old friend William "The Kid" Hardy and his buddies Wes Jennings and Hoss Barry. On the trail, Yancey helps Tom and Sarah Wyatt and their eight children, taking them aboard their wagons. It seems to Sabra that her husband knows everyone in Oklahoma. A small crowd cheers Bob Yountis and his henchman Millis when they attack an Indian family. Yancey joins his friend Sam Pegler, editor of the ''Oklahoma Wigwam'' newspaper, in resisting Yountis. Yountis warns Pegler against using the paper for his crusading as he had done in Texas. Sabra is angry that Yancey risked his life for an Indian but she helps the others, including peddler Sol Levy and printer Jesse Rickey, in righting the Indians' overturned wagon. Sam and his wife Mavis reveal more about Yancey's past as a cowboy, gambler, gunman and lawyer. When 50,000 settlers race across the prairie to claim land, Tom falls and Sarah claims a dry, worthless patch. Pegler is trampled to death, and Dixie beats Yancey to the land that he wanted, so he asks Jesse to stay to help him run the paper. In the new town of Osage, which consists of tents and half-built storefronts, Yountis and The Kid terrorize Levy in the street. Yancey tries but fails to persuade the Kid to change. One night, Yountis leads a lynch mob against the Indian family. Yancey arrives too late to stop it, but he kills Yountis and brings Arita and her baby Ruby home. Meanwhile, Sabra gives birth to a boy whom they name Cimarron, Cim for short. Four years later, Osage is thriving. Tom has built an oil-drilling apparatus but he is a laughingstock. Wes, Hoss and The Kid, wanted outlaws, try to rob a train but are all killed soon after. When Yancey destroys the $1,000 reward check, Sabra is furious because he does not consider their son's security. Yancey leaves to be part of the

Cherokee Strip The Cherokee Outlet, or Cherokee Strip, was located in what is now the state of Oklahoma in the United States. It was a 60-mile-wide (97 km) parcel of land south of the Oklahoma-Kansas border between 96 and 100°W. The Cherokee Outlet wa ...

, but Sabra refuses to join him. Years later, he returns and Sabra and Cim forgive him. Tom finally strikes oil, but Yancey is disgusted to learn that Tom bought the

rights Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical th ...

to oil found on Indian land. However, Yancey's campaign to win the Indians justice is a huge success, and he is invited to become governor of the

Oklahoma Territory The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as ...

. Sabra is disappointed to discover that Cim and Ruby have grown close. In Washington, D.C., Yancey finds Tom with a group of influential men and learns that the price of his appointment is his integrity. When Yancy tells Sabra that he can't be governor, she sends him away forever. Cim and Ruby marry without warning and set off for Oregon, though Sabra tells him that he is throwing his life away. Ten years later, on the occasion of the ''Oklahoma Wigwam'''s 25th anniversary, war is declared. Later, Sabra hears that Yancey has been killed in the war.

Cast

Main

* Glenn Ford as Yancey Cravat *

as Sabra Cravat * Anne Baxter as Dixie Lee * Arthur O'Connell as Tom Wyatt *

Russ Tamblyn Russell Irving Tamblyn, also known as Rusty Tamblyn (born December 30, 1934) is an American film and television actor and dancer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Tamblyn trained as a gymnast in his youth. He began his career as a child actor f ...

as William Hardy / The Cherokee Kid *

Mercedes McCambridge Carlotta Mercedes Agnes McCambridge (March 16, 1916 – March 2, 2004) was an American actress of radio, stage, film, and television. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest living radio actress." She won an Academy Award for Best Support ...

as Sarah Wyatt *

Vic Morrow Victor Morrow (born Victor Morozoff; February 14, 1929 – July 23, 1982) was an American actor. He came to prominence as one of the leads of the ABC drama series '' Combat!'' (1962–1967), which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstan ...

as Wes Jennings * Robert Keith as Sam Pegler *

Charles McGraw Charles McGraw (born Charles Crisp Butters; May 10, 1914 – July 29, 1980) was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned more than three decades. Early life McGraw was born to Beatrice (née Crisp) and Francis P. B ...

as Bob Yountis * Aline MacMahon as Mavis Pegler * Harry Morgan as Jesse Rickey (Credited as Henry "Harry" Morgan) *

David Opatoshu David Opatoshu (born David Opatovsky; January 30, 1918 – April 30, 1996) was an American actor. He is best known for his role in the film ''Exodus'' (1960). Opatoshu began his acting career in the Yiddish theater. Following his tenure in th ...

as Sol Levy * Edgar Buchanan as Judge Neal Hefner

Supporting

Lili Darvas Lili Darvas (born Lili Sára Darvas; April 10, 1902 – July 22, 1974) was a Hungarian actress noted for her stage work in Europe and the United States and, later in her career, in films and on television.Wolfgang Saxon"Lili Darvas, Actress of St ...

as Felicia Venable *

Mary Wickes Mary Wickes (born Mary Isabella Wickenhauser; June 13, 1910 – October 22, 1995) was an American actress. She often played supporting roles as prim, professional women, secretaries, nurses, nuns, therapists, teachers and housekeepers, who made ...

as Mrs. Neal Hefner *

Royal Dano Royal Edward Dano Sr. (November 16, 1922 - May 15, 1994) was an American actor. In a career spanning 46 years, he was perhaps best known for playing cowboys, villains, and Abraham Lincoln. Dano also provided the voice of the Audio-Animatronic L ...

as Ike Howes *

L. Q. Jones Justus Ellis McQueen Jr. (August 19, 1927 – July 9, 2022), known professionally as L.Q. Jones, was an American actor and director. He appeared in Sam Peckinpah's films ''Ride the High Country'' (1962), ''Major Dundee'' (1965), ''The Wild Bunc ...

as Millis * George Brenlin as Hoss Barry * Vladimir Sokoloff as Jacob Krubeckoff *

Eugene Jackson Eugene W. Jackson II (December 25, 1916 – October 26, 2001) was an American child actor who was a regular of the ''Our Gang'' short series during the silent Pathé era. Career When he joined the gang, Jackson replaced the series' first ...

as Isaiah

Cameo / Uncredited

* Andy Albin as Water Man * Rayford Barnes as Cavalry Sergeant Who Breaks Up Fight * Herman Belmonte as Dancer At Ball * Mary Benoit as Mrs. Lancey * Barry Bernard as Butler * Jimmie Booth as Wagon Driver * Danny Borzage as Townsman * Chet Brandenburg as Townsman * Janet Brandt as Madam Rhoda * Paul Bryar as Mr. Self, Politician * Robert Carson as Senator Rollins *

John L. Cason John Lacy Cason (July 30, 1918 – July 7, 1961), also credited as Bob Cason and John L. Cason, was an American actor active in both films and television. During his 20-year career he appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He is b ...

as Suggs * William Challee as The Barber * Mickie Chouteau as Ruby Red Feather * Fred Coby as Oil Worker * Gene Coogan as Butler / Townsman * Jack Daly as Wyatt's Man * John Damler as Foreman * Richard Davies as Mr. Hodges * George DeNormand as Townsman At Celebration * James Dime as Townsman *

Phyllis Douglas Phyllis Hodges Boyce (née Callow, July 24, 1936 – May 12, 2010) was an American actress, appearing in movies and television serials. She was often credited as Phyllis Douglas. Born the daughter of director Ridgeway Callow, Boyce was one of t ...

as Sadie * Ted Eccles as Cimarron Cravat – Age 2 * LaRue Farlow as Dancer * Franklyn Farnum as Townsman At Schoolhouse * George Ford as Townsman At Celebration * Coleman Francis as Mr. Geer * Ben Gary as Reporter * James Halferty as Cimarron Cravat – Age 10 * Sam Harris as Ball Guest * Lars Hensen as Dancer At Ball *

Clegg Hoyt Clegg Hoyt (December 10, 1910 – October 6, 1967) was an American film and television actor. He appeared in over 100 films and television programs, and was perhaps best known for his silent role as the Sportscaster's sidekick, George, in the 19 ...

as "Great" Gotch * Irene James as Townswoman *

Colin Kenny James Colin Ramsey Kenny (born December 10, 1943) is a former Canadian Senator. A member of the Liberal Party, he was appointed to the Senate in 1984 by Pierre Trudeau to represent the Rideau region of Ontario. On January 31, 2018 it was annou ...

as Townsman At Schoolhouse * Paul Kruger as Party Guest * Jimmy Lewis as Hefner Boy * Dawn Little Sky as Arita Red Feather * Eddie Little Sky as Ben Red Feather * Buzz Martin as Cimarron Cravat as Young Man *

Kermit Maynard Kermit Maynard (September 20, 1897 – January 16, 1971) was an American actor and stuntman. Early years Born in Vevay, Indiana, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Maynard and a lookalike younger brother of actor Ken Maynard; they were ...

as Setter * Mathew McCue as Townsman *

J. Edward McKinley James Edward McKinley (October 11, 1917 – July 30, 2004) was an American character actor.Sherman, Gene (November 10, 1960). CITYSIDE: Stardom for a Freedom Fighter. ''Los Angeles Times'' He frequently played authority figures, including la ...

as Beck * Walter Merrill as Reporter *

Jack Perry Jack Perry (born June 16, 1997), also known by the ring name Jungle Boy, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he performs under his real name, but has been inactive since August 2023 d ...

as Townsman * John Pickard as Ned, Cavalry Captain * Ralph Reed as Bellboy * William Remick as Reporter *

Gene Roth Eugene Oliver Edgar Stutenroth (January 8, 1903 – July 19, 1976), known profesionally as Gene Roth, was an American film actor and film manager. Early years Roth was born in Redfield, South Dakota. He was the son of a German father an ...

as Connors * Jack Scroggy as Walter * Charles Seel as Charles * Bernard Sell as Townsman At Celebration * Jack Stoney as Man At Lynching *

Harry Tenbrook Harry Tenbrook (born Henry Olaf Hansen, October 9, 1887 – September 4, 1960) was an American film actor. Henry Olaf Hansen was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. His family migrated to the United States in 1892. Under the stage nam ...

as Sooner At Camp Fight * Arthur Tovey as Dancer At Ball * Ivan Triesault as Lewis Venable, Sabra's Father * Charles Watts as Lou Brothers, Politician * Helen Westcott as Miss Kuye, Schoolteacher *

Robert Williams Robert, Rob, Robbie, Bob or Bobby Williams may refer to: Entertainment Film * Robert Williams (actor, born 1894) (1894–1931), American stage and film actor * Robert B. Williams (actor) (1904–1978), American film actor * R. J. Williams (born ...

as Oil Worker * Jeane Wood as Clubwoman * Wilson Wood as Reporter * Jorie Wyler as Theresa Jump

Production

In February 1941, MGM bought the remake rights to ''Cimarron'' from RKO for $100,000. In 1947, MGM announced an operetta version starring Kathryn Grayson and produced by Arthur Freed, but this did not happen. In February 1958, MGM announced its plans to produce ''Cimarron'' as the studio's second film using the MGM Camera 65 process following '' Raintree Country'' (1957). One month later,

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...

and Rock Hudson were considered to star in the film. Ultimately, Glenn Ford, who previously starred in the Westerns such as '' 3:10 to Yuma'' (1957) and '' The Sheepman'' (1958), was attached to star. In October 1959, Arnold Schulman was signed to write the screenplay. For his script, Schulman introduced several characters, including those of journalist Sam Pegler ( Robert Keith) and Wes Jennings (

), while removing the Cravats' daughter, Donna and a boy named Isaiah.

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor (; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

declined an invitation to direct. Anthony Mann was eventually named as director. Known primarily for the critically acclaimed hits '' The Glenn Miller Story'' (1954) and '' Men in War'' (1957), Mann had previously directed eight Westerns. However, disagreements with producer Edmund Grainger caused Mann to leave the project halfway through filming. Mann had wanted to film entirely on location, but Grainger wanted a majority of scenes instead to be filmed in studio. Director Charles Walters finished the film but received no screen credit. The climactic scene portraying the

Oklahoma Land Rush Oklahoma Land Rush may refer to: *the Oklahoma portion of the Land Rush of 1889 The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was the first land run into the Unassigned Lands of former Indian Territory, which had earlier been assigned to the Creek and Semino ...

was shot in Arizona and featured over 1,000 extras, 700 horses and 500 wagons and buggies. Anne Baxter, who played Dixie Lee, revealed in her autobiography ''Intermission'' that Ford and Maria Schell developed an offscreen romance: "During shooting, they'd scrambled together like eggs. I understood she'd even begun divorce proceedings in Germany. It was obviously premature of her." However, by the end of filming, "... he scarcely glanced or spoke in her direction, and she looked as if she were in shock."

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records, ''Cimarron'' earned $2,325,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $2,500,000 overseas, resulting in an overall loss of $3,618,000.

Critical reaction

'' Harrison's Reports'' wrote: "The background music is undistinguished. There's enough marquee strength, action, romance, and the 'land rush' scene at the beginning is worth the price of a soft ticket. Color photography is outstanding." Thomas M. Pryor, reviewing for '' Variety'', praised Schell and Ford's performances, and wrote "Although ''Cimarron'' is not without flaws—thoughtful examination reveals a pretentiousness of social significance more than valid exposition—the script plays well."

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though his ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' felt the film's opening "makes for a dynamic and illustrative sequence on the screen. But once the land rush is over in this almost two-and-one-half-hour-long film—and we have to tell you it is assembled and completed within the first half-hour—the remaining dramatization of Miss Ferber's bursting 'Cimarron' simmers down to a stereotyped and sentimental cinema saga of the taming of the frontier." A review in ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, t ...

'' magazine criticized the film's length, writing ''Cimarron'' "might more suitably have been called Cimarron-and-on-and-on-and-on. It lasts 2 hours and 27 minutes, and for at least half of that time most spectators will probably be Oklacomatose."

Awards and nominations

In 1961, the film was nominated for

Best Art Direction The Academy Award for Best Production Design recognizes achievement for art direction in film. The category's original name was Best Art Direction, but was changed to its current name in 2012 for the 85th Academy Awards. This change resulted fro ...

(

George W. Davis George Whitefield Davis (July 26, 1839 – July 12, 1918) was an engineer and major general in the United States Army. He also served as a military governor of Puerto Rico and as the first military Governor of the Panama Canal Zone. Military c ...

, Addison Hehr, Henry Grace, Hugh Hunt and

Otto Siegel Otto Siegel (May 7, 1897 – August 21, 1962) was an American set decorator. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction The Academy Award for Best Production Design recognizes achievement for art direction ...

) and Best Sound (

Franklin Milton Franklin Milton (August 19, 1907 – October 16, 1985) was an American sound engineer. He won three Academy Awards for Sound Recording and was nominated for three more in the same category. Selected filmography Milton won three Academy Awar ...

). Glenn Ford's performance earned a nomination for a

Laurel Award The Laurel Awards was an American cinema awards system established to honor films, actors, actresses, producers, directors, and composers. This award was created by the ''Motion Picture Exhibitor'' magazine, and ran from 1948 to 1971 (with t ...

for Top Action Performance, though he did not win.

References

Footnotes

Citations

Bibliography

* *

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cimarron 1960 films 1960s English-language films 1960 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) epic films Films scored by Franz Waxman Films based on Western (genre) novels Films directed by Anthony Mann Films based on American novels Films set in Oklahoma Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films based on works by Edna Ferber 1960s American films