GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

romanorum1 In 1913 Oklahoma, Lena Doyle (Faye Dunaway) explores for oil with a wildcat derrick and will not sell out to Pan Oklahoma Oil and Gas (PanOkie). Why a large corporation wants her single unit is unspecified. Her only allies are her neglectful father Cleon (John Mills), grungy drifter Noble "Mase" Mason (George C. Scott), and Indian Jimmy (Rafael Campo). Now Lena makes it perfectly clear that she has no love for men (and even women). But she recognizes that she will need help to defend her derrick. PanOkie has hired hooligan Hellman (Jack Palance) to scare her out. Now Director Stanley Kramer makes it interesting. The large company offers her $5,000, a large sum in those days, plus 10% profit on any oil find. Then again, oil is black gold. Hellman explains to Lena that the company makes a profit if just two of a thousand derricks strike soil. After Lena refuses to sell, she and her friends are beaten, and the Indian killed. They lose control of the property temporarily. One wonders if there is a sheriff in town, because after all it is 1913, not 1883! Anyway, the local lawyer is of little help as he explains that the big companies own the legal systems. Then the good guys counterattack and retake the property in an offensive that has comedic overtones. Then when the big oil buckos return in force, they are routed with grenades. Later, though, Hellman's men begin to shoot with rifles anyone that climbs the derrick, which had become temporarily disabled. Cleon perishes. Again, where is the law? Meanwhile Lena's relationship with Mase has softened. Hostility has morphed into respect, affection, and even love. Then the so-called strike happens, and some folks are covered with black goo. But then again it is just an oil bust, and everyone merely goes home oil-soaked like nothing harrowing has happened. Maybe Lena should have sold out to Pan Okie and made some nice cash, but then again there is the matter of principle. The movie's positives include good production values, beautiful cinematography, and effective acting by the leads. There is nice attention to period details, like the recreation of a pre-World War I muddy Oklahoma town. The enjoyable music is by Henry Mancini and the pleasant theme song is performed by Anne Murray ("Send a Little Love My Way"). Both Mancini and Hal David (who wrote the song lyrics) were nominated for Golden Globe awards.

sol- A strange, downbeat western that is just simply dull at times, it nevertheless has a few amusing moments and exciting bits in the mix. George C. Scott does quite a decent job with a charismatic, interesting character, yet all the characters come off as cold and hard to like, particularly the feminist played by Dunaway, who is only angry for most of the time. What occurs between the characters is pretty easy to predict, as is most of the plot, despite its unusualness. Henry Mancini's bouncing score is perhaps the film's strongest point. His music is fitted in a bit awkwardly at times, but it generally provides a western feel quite well. While I cannot think of a large number of reasons to recommend this film, Kramer does not do too poor a job with the material, so perhaps the film is worth a look.

Poseidon-3 A neat cast and a decent script help make this unusual, romantic neo-western come alive. Dunaway is a humorless, stubborn, single woman, doggedly trying to derive oil out of her tiny homestead while a massive Oklahoma company pressures her to sell to them. The company's hired goon (Palance) will stop at absolutely nothing to secure her land. A shiftless drifter (Scott) attempts to aid Dunaway even as she resists him and goes out of her way to repel him. There is an interesting and entertaining dynamic between Dunaway and Scott and between them and Palance. Also on Dunaway's side for reasons of his own is Mills (who is as equally loathed by her as Scott is.) Scott gives a wonderfully thoughtful and delicately nuanced performance with bits of comedy strewn throughout the sometimes dark storyline. Dunaway is raw and unvarnished, completely tossing away her previous glamor-girl trappings and enjoying a vulgarity and earthiness that is startling, but effective. She has to stand as one of the most driven women imaginable. (She also, at one point, receives what has to be one of the most brutal and sustained beatings of any woman in a major studio film!) Palance discards much of the hamminess he had developed at this stage of his career and gives a strong and menacing, yet believable performance. His small army of henchman cut dashing figures in their bowlers and long coats. Mills is thoroughly winning and delightful, giving the film a dose of class and heart. Campos, as an Indian helper, couldn't possibly have a more thankless role. There is great cinematography, several memorable interchanges between Dunaway and Scott and a strong combination of character study and storyline. Grungy, frank and seemingly simplistic, this tale is surprisingly endearing and psychologically complex, showing real heart and occasionally touching emotion at times. The juxtaposition of violence and comedy is sometimes a bit hard to take, but that's the way life is.

ptb-8 For some bizarre reason, this excellent comedy drama was not released where I live in in Australia in 1975. As a drama with an interesting cast and spectacular visuals OKLAHOMA CRUDE is definitely an improved taste, rather like Mc Cabe and Mrs Miller or even Paint Your Wagon. Muddy Wild West and very grubby even sexually, this essentially three hander is essentially a sex farce with oil power play interwoven. Kramer films are always interesting, even if failures and for some reason beyond me, this film was not as gusher. The scene where Scott literally pees in Palance' pocket is genuinely funny, as is the hilarious scene where Dunaway explains her 'self reliance' sexually. This film deserves a re appraisal and a new audience.