Two buddies who rise from fly-by-night wildcatters to oil tycoons over a twenty year period both love the same woman.Two buddies who rise from fly-by-night wildcatters to oil tycoons over a twenty year period both love the same woman.Two buddies who rise from fly-by-night wildcatters to oil tycoons over a twenty year period both love the same woman.
- Director
- Writers
- John Lee Mahin(screen play)
- James Edward Grant(based on a story by)
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- John Lee Mahin(screen play)
- James Edward Grant(based on a story by)
- Stars
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- John Lee Mahin(screen play)
- James Edward Grant(based on a story by)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaClark Gable was anxious to do the film because his father had been an oil rigger, and Gable himself had worked on oil rigs in Oklahoma before becoming an actor.
- GoofsWhen Clark Gable rides the donkey at the rodeo he is holding a balloon. In the first wide shot the balloon is gone, but it reappears in the next close up.
- Quotes
Big John McMasters: I'm not blaming you, maybe. But you aren't walking out with him or anybody else, understand?
Elizabeth Bartlett McMasters: Him? What are you...?
Big John McMasters: Sand. He told me all about it. I had to give him a licking to show him that's out. You're my girl, see? And you always will be. Even if I have to lick you to prove it.
Elizabeth Bartlett McMasters: I'm your girl. You can lick me if it'll help.
Big John McMasters: Well, I'll save it for when you need it.
- Crazy credits[Opening title] This is the story of a hard driving breed of Americans - oil prospectors - "wildcatters". Made of the bone and blood of pioneers - men born of the lasting miracle that is America - they probed the Earth from early Pennsylvania to California's Kettleman Hills to bring forth America's greatest treasure, the life blood of today's world - oil!
- Alternate versionsAlso available in a computer colorized version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood: Style Center of the World (1940)
- SoundtracksPolly Wolly Doodle
(uncredited)
Composer unknown
Played over the opening credits and as background
Sung and hummed at various times by Clark Gable, Chill Wills and Claudette Colbert
Several others have noted, or objected to, Gable's speech about the nature of the industry. Yes, it is decidedly pro-business and anti-government, but it is not really laissez faire. The film argues for controlled production of oil fields to maximize their long-term benefit. This speech is amazingly prescient of our current crisis.
I watch this one every time it airs.
- twodox
- Jan 26, 2006
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $1,614,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 59 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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