The Oklahoman (film)

The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman
Directed by	Francis D. Lyon
Written by	Daniel B. Ullman
Produced by	Walter Mirisch
Starring	Joel McCrea; Barbara Hale; Brad Dexter
Cinematography	Carl E. Guthrie
Edited by	George White
Music by	Hans J. Salter
Color process	Color by DeLuxe
Production; company	Allied Artists Pictures
Distributed by	Allied Artists Pictures
Release date	May 19, 1957;
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Oklahoman is a 1957 American CinemaScope Western film starring Joel McCrea, Barbara Hale, and Brad Dexter.^[1] It was also the last film of actress Esther Dale.

Plot

On his way to California, a doctor, John Brighton, decides to stay in Oklahoma Territory after his wife dies in childbirth. He takes a room at the home of elderly Mrs. Fitzgerald, who helps raise his new daughter Louise.

Five years later, as he becomes acquainted with attractive widow Anne Barnes and her mother, Mrs. Waynebrook, the doctor treats the ill child of an Indian named Charlie. He also meets Charlie's teen daughter, Maria, who is so good with children that he puts Louise in her care after Mrs. Fitzgerald's death.

Wealthy rancher Cass Dobie and brother Mel are gobbling up land in the territory. When they determine that oil is on Charlie's property, they scheme to get it. Mel even tries to shoot Charlie, but is killed in self-defense. John testifies on Charlie's behalf.

While awaiting a legal decision on the shooting, Maria professes her love for John. The angry Cass has a confrontation with John, who prevails, after which Maria realizes that John is actually in love with Anne.

Cast

Joel McCrea as John Brighton
Barbara Hale as Anne Barnes
Brad Dexter as Cass Dobie
Verna Felton as Mrs. Waynebrook
Douglas Dick as Mel Dobie
Michael Pate as Charlie
Gloria Talbott as Maria
Esther Dale as Mrs. Fitzgerald
Ray Teal as Jason
Scotty Beckett as Messenger at Ranch (uncredited)
Mimi Gibson as Louise Brighton

Comic book adaptation

Dell Four Color #820 (June 1957)^[2]^[3]

References

^ Thomas, Tony (December 1, 1991). Joel McCrea: Riding the High Country. Riverwood Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-880756-00-3.
^ "Dell Four Color #820". Grand Comics Database.
^ Dell Four Color #820 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)

External links

The Oklahoman at IMDb
The Oklahoman at AllMovie
The Oklahoman at the TCM Movie Database
The Oklahoman at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

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This article related to an American film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Thomas1991-1] Thomas, Tony (December 1, 1991). Joel McCrea: Riding the High Country. Riverwood Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-880756-00-3.

[2] "Dell Four Color #820". Grand Comics Database.

[3] Dell Four Color #820 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)

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