"Oh, what a beautiful mornin'! Oh, what a beautiful day!" 1955's "Oklahoma!" is headin' our way. Oklahoma beauty Laurey Williams is caught in between two ardent suitors, one very nice and one very frightening. Which will win her hand?
The film's cast includes Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Charlotte Greenwood, Gene Nelson, Gloria Grahame, Eddie Albert, James Whitmore, Rod Steiger, and Barbara Lawrence.
"There's a bright golden haze on the meadow," sings Curly. He's on his way to see his sweetheart Laurey. "I've got a beautiful feeling everything's goin' my way!"
When Curly asks Laurey to that evening's box social, Laurey refuses on the grounds that Curly waited too long to ask her, though she really does want to go with him.
We introduced to Laurey's aunt, Aunt Eller. She's feisty and full of life and advice to give to Laurey when she needs it.
Laurey agrees to go to the box social with Jud Fry, a highly intimidating and unlikeable character.
Coming back to Oklahoma after a trip to Kansas City is Will Parker, who has been away to earn enough money to marry his girlfriend Ado Annie. When he arrives home, he shows those gathered at the train station the newest dance moves. He even takes Aunt Eller for a spin!
The trouble for Will is that while he's been away Ado Annie has fancied herself in love with a Persian peddler named Ali Hakim.
Ado Annie's father doesn't exactly take to Ali Hakim. "Well, shut your face, or I’ll fill your behind
so full of buckshot you’ll be walking around like a duck the rest of your life," he cautions the young whippersnapper.
Curly persists in trying to get Laurey to change her mind about going to the social with him. Though they've got a certain chemistry, Laurey sings "Don't throw bouquets at me...people will say we're in love!" Laurey is afraid of Jud's reaction to her throwing him over. She decides not to go with Curly to spare Jud's feelings.
Curly goes to confront Jud, and he ends up singing the song "Pore Jud Is Daid".
On the way to the box social Jud and Laurey ride together. During the ride, Jud suddenly grabs Laurey and tries to kiss her, which she resists. Laurey whips the horses, which causes them to bolt. When Jud gets down to calm them, Laurey takes charge of the reins and heads off to the social alone.
Things get worse for Laurey when Jud and Curly get into a bidding war at the box social over a picnic basket she's prepared.
When Laurey tells Curly what happened on the buggy ride over to the social, he offers to stay the night to protect her. He decides to be brave and also propose marriage, which she accepts happily.
Curly and Laurey are married in the parlor of Aunt Eller's home. Afterwards, they and their guests sing "Oklahoma", a rousing song about their beloved soon-to-be-new state.
As the final notes of the song finish, Jud shows up and causes trouble, even setting fire to a mound of hay that Curly and Laurey are standing in. After pushing Laurey to safety, Curly jumps on top of Jud, who is now wielding a knife. Unfortunately, Jud dies of a stab wound inflicted by Curly when he jumped on him.
An impromptu court hearing is held right in Aunt Eller's kitchen. The townspeople get together and decide that Curly acted in self-defense. He is found not guilty of murder.
After the trial, they hurry outside to their awaiting "surrey with the fringe on top". As Aunt Eller waves them goodbye, the newlyweds race towards the train station to begin their honeymoon and married life singing a reprise of "Oh what a beautiful morning".
Cast rundown:
Gordon MacRae.....................................Curly McLain
Shirley Jones.........................................Laurey Williams
Charlotte Greenwood..............................Aunt Eller
Eddie Albert...........................................Ali Hakim
James Whitmore.....................................Andrew Carnes
Rod Steiger............................................Jud Fry
Barbara Lawrence...................................Gertie Cummings
And that's it for Oklahoma!. Although the film is set in the state of Oklahoma, filming actually took place in Arizona. Before the role went to Gordon MacRae, Montgomery Clift, James Dean, and Paul Newman were considered for the role of Curly. Because Gordon MacRae didn't have naturally curly hair as his character does, his wife Sheila had to "finger curl" his hair each morning because he refused to get a perm.
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