Arizona (1940)

During the 1860s Tucson, a pioneer woman struggles to succeed in the freight and cattle business while at risk at the hands of corrupt and violent local businessmen and rampaging Indians.

Director:

Wesley Ruggles

Writers:

Claude Binyon (screen play), Clarence Budington Kelland (based on the story by)

Stars:

Jean Arthur, William Holden, Warren William

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Arthur	...	Phoebe Titus
William Holden	...	Peter Muncie
Warren William	...	Jefferson Carteret
Porter Hall	...	Lazarus Ward
Edgar Buchanan	...	Judge Bogardus
Paul Harvey	...	Solomon Warner
George Chandler	...	Haley
Byron Foulger	...	Pete Kitchen
Regis Toomey	...	Grant Oury
Paul Lopez	...	Estevan Ochoa
Colin Tapley	...	Bart Massey
Uvaldo Varela	...	Hilario Callego (as Roberto Álvarez)
Earl Crawford	...	Joe Briggs
Griff Barnett	...	Sam Hughes (as Griff Barnette)
Ludwig Hardt	...	Meyer

Storyline

Phoebe Titus is a tough, swaggering pioneer woman, but her ways become decidedly more feminine when she falls for California bound Peter Muncie. But Peter won't be distracted from his journey and Phoebe is left alone and plenty busy with villains Jefferson Carteret and Lazarus Ward plotting at every turn to destroy her freighting company. She has not seen the last of Peter, however.

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Plot Keywords:

arizona | tucson arizona | arizona territory | u.s. cavalry | older woman younger man relationship | 

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Taglines:

Turbulent Adventure in the Great West!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 December 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Аризона

Filming Locations:

Cortaro, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to publicity materials, some 140 buildings representing Old Tucson were constructed on location and 1,000 locals were hired as extras. Some came from families who had settled the area, so they were essentially portraying their own ancestors.

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Goofs

In the scene where the Apache raiders are fleeing the cattle stampede, modern tire tracks can be seen (possibly those of the camera vehicle driving ahead of the riders).

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Quotes

Phoebe Titus: I need some needles and another sack of flour for those dull-darn pies.
Solomon Warner: Those dull-darn pies are makin' you a good livin'!
Phoebe Titus: There are better ways than that to get ahead. How much are your needles?
Solomon Warner: A quarter a piece.
Phoebe Titus: Twenty-five cents! Why, you ole Scotchman! What do you have to do? Find them in a haystack?

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Connections

Featured in The Last Round-up (1947)

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Soundtracks

Gwine to Rune All Night (De Camptown Races)
(1850) (uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
In the score for the opening scene

User Reviews

Very good period piece

At the risk of sounding jingoistic, this film shows in microcosm how the greatest nation the world has ever known, the United States of America, came into being. It was literally carved from the wilderness by brave frontier men and women who are played as archetypes of those heroes and heroines by screen legends William Holden (one of my favorites) and Jean Arthur (Mr. Deeds, Only Angels Have Wings, The Talk of the Town). The very precarious existence of America's pioneers is presented with stark realism in this entirely plausible film. For those who only celebrate the Fourth of July by enjoying the fireworks, let them understand the hardships (and triumphs) their ancestors faced . Terrific period drama. 7/10.