Cimarron (1931 film)

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Cimarron is a 1931 film directed by Wesley Ruggles and based on the Edna Ferber novel Cimarron.

Background

Despite America being in the depths of the Depression, RKO immediately prepared for a big-budget picture, investing more than 1.5 million dollars into Ferber's novel Cimarron. Director Wesley Ruggles would direct stars Richard Dix and Irene Dunne with a script written by Howard Estabrook. Filming began in the summer of 1930 at the Jasmin Quinn Ranch outside of Los Angeles, California. The film was a massive production, especially the land rush scenes, which recalled the epic scenes of Intolerance some fifteen years earlier. More than 5,000 extras, twenty-eight cameraman, and numerous camera assistants and photographers were used to capture scenes of wagons racing across grassy hills and prairie. Cinematographer Edward Cronjager spent overtime planning out every scene in accordance to Ferber's descriptions.

Reception

The film was premiered first in New York City on January 26, 1931, to much praise, and a Los Angeles premiere followed on February 6th. Three days later the film was released to theaters throughout the nation. Despite being a critical success, the high budget and ongoing Great Depression combined against the film. While it was a commercial success in line with other films of the day, RKO could not recoup their investment in the film.

At the 1931 Academy Awards ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, Cimarron took high honors. The film won the Best Picture Oscar (producer William LeBaron), as well as awards for Best Art Direction (set decorator Max Ree) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Howard Estabrook). The film was also nominated for Best Actor (Richard Dix), Best Actress (Irene Dunne), Best Cinematography (Edward Cronjager), and Best Director (Wesley Ruggles).

Despite such high honors, the film took a condescending and even racist view of both African American and Native American people and culture. The white characters assumed they were bringing "civilization" to the "savage" "Indian" characters. Cimarron also took a stereotypical view of African Americans, who were portrayed as illiterate and subservient. By today's standards, the film is considered racially insensitive, though these views were typical for the time the film was produced. Most likely this is the reason why it is one of the least remembered Best Picture winners.

Cast

Richard Dix as Yancey Cravat
Irene Dunne as Sabra Cravat
Estelle Taylor as Dixie Lee
Roscoe Ates as Jesse Rickey
William Collier Jr. as The Kid
Nance O'Neil as Felice Venable
George E. Stone as Sol Levy

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