Tulsa (1949)

Director:

Stuart Heisler

Writers:

Curtis Kenyon (writer)
Frank S. Nugent (writer)

Release Date:

26 May 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action | Romance

Plot:

It's Tulsa, Oklahoma at the start of the oil boom and Cherokee Lansing's rancher father is killed in a fight with the Tanner Oil Company...

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Revenge | Oklahoma | Environmental Issues | Pollution

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Susan Hayward	...	Cherokee Lansing
Robert Preston	...	Brad Brady
Pedro Armendáriz	...	Jim Redbird
Lloyd Gough	...	Bruce Tanner
Chill Wills	...	Pinky Jimpson (Narrator)
Ed Begley	...	John J. 'Johnny' Brady (as Edward Begley)
Jimmy Conlin	...	Homer Triplette
Roland Jack	...	Steve, Cherokee's Ranchhand
Harry Shannon	...	Nelse Lansing
Lola Albright	...	Candy Williams

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #13400) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

Company:

Walter Wanger Productions

Quotes:

Jim Redbird: [to Cherry Lansing] I don't think your father would like to see you smeared with oil!

Movie Connections:

Edited into When Worlds Collide (1951)

Soundtrack:

TULSA

Fine Performance By Hayward, Plus An Exciting Finale

The fine performance by Susan Hayward makes all of "Tulsa" worth watching, and the exciting finale caps it off with a bang. The tone is not always consistent, varying from serious treatment of environmental and ethical issues to the folksy, ultra-upbeat narration by Chill Wills. But Hayward is consistently interesting to watch, and the story is generally told at a good pace, with some good scenes along the way.

Hayward plays the daughter of a rancher, seeking revenge against a large oil man who caused the death of her father and the destruction of his valuable livestock. Along the way, she makes the fateful decision to beat the oil baron at his own game, which has some tumultuous consequences for her and those close to her. It's quite a good role for Hayward, and she is believable as her character first seeks justice, and then gradually starts to become what she had been fighting against.

The occasional overly-positive emphasis on the role of the oil industry is balanced out by some good efforts to discuss some of the environmental problems caused by large-scale drilling. And even though it is never stated explicitly, several of the scenes create a noticeable contrast between the simple beauty of the Oklahoma prairies and the bleak ugliness of fields filled with endless rows of oil wells.

The firefighting climax is exciting to watch, and it is a rather impressive piece of film-making as well, with believable action and visuals. Although the finale does not really resolve most of the important issues, it works well on screen.

The supporting cast is solid and likable, with Wills, Robert Preston, and Pedro Armendariz. For the most part, their characters are not fleshed out, since Hayward is the center of attention, but the other characters occasionally get their moments.

Overall, "Tulsa" is somewhat above average, with some noticeable strengths in the mix.