Many people don't know that the 1955 film of Oklahoma! Was made twice. It was shot once for the cinemascope screen and once for the beautiful Todd AO. Format. The latter format has only come to light in the last 30 years or so , but it is the definitive version of Oklahoma!, so treat yourself to that version, if you can find it.
This version has much to recommend it, but suffers from further stereotypes by foreigners of what the region it depicts was like. Some of the accents are atrocious ( born Oklahoman here.) The region portrayed is in fact lush and not barren. There's a limit to how much belief we can suspend when we're already asked to buy in to an orchestra and people breaking into song. I'm not literal-minded, but wish some of the casting were better (...if Will Parker says "bean" for "been" again...)
R&H were never in Oklahoma, but Lynn Riggs was and the humor is very much in keeping with the spirit of the people. This gets a lot right (Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson and, especially, Charlotte Greenwood, your line-readings are missed!), but there seems to be the most recompensatory joy in the enthusiasm with which this cast delivers.
Jackman is so very good, over-done accent and all, that he nearly eclipses the ease of McRae, but not quite. I'm not sure what sort of misogyny informs the comments I have seen posted here in relief of Laurey not wearing a dress and rather being "tom-boy." I suppose such scorn may be why people become increasingly uncomfortable in being gender identified. Nevertheless, Josefina Gabrielle does a beautiful job...that also doesn't erase Shirley Jones' perfect performance and pitch.
Schuler Hensley doesn't have the layers of the great Rod Steiger as Jud, but Steiger is an Actor's Studio powerhouse.
Lovely production that gets a lot wrong, but makes up for it with joy and talent.
This version has much to recommend it, but suffers from further stereotypes by foreigners of what the region it depicts was like. Some of the accents are atrocious ( born Oklahoman here.) The region portrayed is in fact lush and not barren. There's a limit to how much belief we can suspend when we're already asked to buy in to an orchestra and people breaking into song. I'm not literal-minded, but wish some of the casting were better (...if Will Parker says "bean" for "been" again...)
R&H were never in Oklahoma, but Lynn Riggs was and the humor is very much in keeping with the spirit of the people. This gets a lot right (Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson and, especially, Charlotte Greenwood, your line-readings are missed!), but there seems to be the most recompensatory joy in the enthusiasm with which this cast delivers.
Jackman is so very good, over-done accent and all, that he nearly eclipses the ease of McRae, but not quite. I'm not sure what sort of misogyny informs the comments I have seen posted here in relief of Laurey not wearing a dress and rather being "tom-boy." I suppose such scorn may be why people become increasingly uncomfortable in being gender identified. Nevertheless, Josefina Gabrielle does a beautiful job...that also doesn't erase Shirley Jones' perfect performance and pitch.
Schuler Hensley doesn't have the layers of the great Rod Steiger as Jud, but Steiger is an Actor's Studio powerhouse.
Lovely production that gets a lot wrong, but makes up for it with joy and talent.