Cimarron (1931)
Directed by Wesley Ruggles
Written by Howard Estabrook
Starring: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne
As Reviewed by Brian Koller
Grade: 49
"Cimarron" was the first Western to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. In fact, it was the only Western to win that Oscar until the 1990s. The irony is that during that period, there were probably hundreds of Westerns made that were more deserving.
Richard Dix stars as an early Oklahoman settler. With his wife (Irene Dunne) he participates in the famous 1889 land grab, and helps civilize the lawless frontier town of Osage. He starts a newspaper, which is successful despite its controversial editorials.
Having conquered Osage, Dix leaves town in search of new adventures. Dunne is left behind to run the newspaper, and her character grows from a timid housewife to become Osage's leading citizen.
"Cimarron" cost RKO $1.5 million to make, making it one of the most expensive films of its era. Despite its accolades, the studio lost over half a million dollars. The budget pays off, however, in the group shots, especially the re-enactment of the 1889 land grab. This is the film's most famous scene.
"Cimarron" is a mediocre film that is made watchable by Dix's ridiculous performance. He provides much unintentional comic relief, and in his absence the film drags. Dix's character is a blustering and swaggering Big Man on Campus, fearlessly and impulsively taking on challenges.
The problems with "Cimarron" begin with the characters. The audience is supposed to admire Dix as a hero, when in fact he is unknowingly a comic figure. Dunne's personality changes are artificial: first she's a wallflower, then a snobbish socialite, and finally a distinguished matron. We don't learn much about her until after Dix has left and can no longer steal scenes. What we then learn is that she is boring.
Supporting characters are one-dimensional. We are expected to laugh at a stuttering printer and at racist caricature Eugene Jackson, but the attempted humor doesn't work. A bullying gang leader exists to demonstrate Dix's manhood, and prostitute and social pariah Estelle Taylor exists to demonstrate Dix's compassion. However, neither character trait is as entertaining as listening to Dix's contrived banter.