In Old Oklahoma

Plot synopsis:
Eastern school teacher Catherine Allen becomes notorious in 1906 when it is learned that she has authored a romance novel. She decides to move West and begin a new life.
On the train, oil man Jim Gardner makes a pass at her. Catherine asks a cowboy, Dan Somers, to sit nearby as a safety measure. Both are on their way to Oklahoma, with stagecoach driver Despirit Dean tagging along with his friend Dan.
Many people in Sapulpa are upset with Jim's business tactics. A farmer feels he was paid too little for his property after Jim discovers oil there. Jim is furious when Dan strongly discourages Chief Big Tree from selling Indian land at too low an offer.
Dan travels to Washington, D.C., to ask President Theodore Roosevelt about oil rights. He fought for Teddy and the Rough Riders a few years before. Teddy offers him a chance to transport thousands of barrels of oil to a Tulsa refinery to win the rights over Jim, which leads to Jim's hired man, the Cherokee Kid, setting off an explosion and sabotaging the trip.
Catherine and Dan fall in love, with hotel owner Bessie Baxter playing matchmaker. A final fistfight between Dan and Jim settles matters once and for all.

Tags: violence

Review:
I thought Duke did quite well with the light comedy in the first part of the film before getting tough later on.
And he looks as good as he ever did.I liked the opening scene as the camera panned along the train interior catching the comments of the passengers - including, I'm sure, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams who had a few words to say, though the film doesn't appear in his filmography on this site or in Quinlan.Albert Dekker is quite a likable villain, and, for the era in which the film was made, it's quite clear what his intentions are towards Martha Scott; the innuendo is strong, and in the hotel she even looks into the room adjoining hers and gasps when she spots the bed where he wants her to end up.I'm a bit dubious about the total oil capacity of the various wagons at the end of the film and how easily some of the explosions occurred, but the sequence is quite a novel one.
And the period - very early 20th century - is an interesting one, with the film making several allusions to the new life-style that will be made possible by oil.Apparently Rhonda Fleming is in the chorus line in her very first film, and Gabby Hayes isn't too annoying in his customary old coot/sidekick role..
Gem of a John Wayne Film.
This a John Wayne film like no other.
Its action adventure in the oil fields and it's very entertaining and fun.
Wayne is Cowboy Dan Somers and he competes with oilman Jim Gardner for oil lease rights on Indian land in Oklahoma, as well as for the attentions of schoolteacher turned scandalous book author Cathy Allen.
If you're a fan of the Duke, you will love this film.
Spanish American War Veteran John Wayne hitches a ride on oil magnate Albert Dekker's private railroad car just as he's putting the moves on traveling school teacher Martha Scott.
That sets off a rivalry between them both professional and personal as Wayne gets under Dekker's skin.Dekker's the big kahuna in Oklahoma territory which would soon be admitted under President Theodore Roosevelt to the union.
He's crowding a lot of the small operators out of the field and they see in Wayne a leader and savior.Later on when Wayne and Dekker compete with the rival proposals for leasing Indian oil lands they go to the White House where Dekker thinks he's got an inside track with the Interior Department.
The reunion of Wayne and Sidney Blackmer as Theodore Roosevelt is pretty good, who'd have thought Wayne would have had the ultimate inside track.Dale Evans is in the film, she has a brief role as a saloon entertainer and sings a couple of period songs.
Dale also sang with Anson Weeks band before coming west both literally and figuratively.Martha Scott is a good crinolined heroine wooed by both Wayne and Dekker.
Second best scene in the film, John Wayne emptying his pistol into Paul Fix who played one of Dekker's henchmen who actually goes a bit too far because of his personal hatred for Wayne.
Third best scene, the climatic rush to deliver oil by covered wagons and tankers when Dekker buys the pipeline to fulfill the contract.
Still plays quite well today.This is one of John Wayne's better films of the forties.
Plot-- Business tycoon Gardner wants drilling rights on Indian land and he'll use about every trick to get it.
Now, if Dan (Wayne) doesn't get to the government office first, then the scheming Gardner (Dekker) gets the oil millions.
But, what great rivals Wayne and Dekker make.
Each is an imposing presence, even if Wayne puts on his best "aw shucks" act, while Dekker keeps an icy calm.
Still, sweet-face Martha Scott gets as much screen time as the guys, so likely Republic was trying to build her into a star.
And, of course, where there's Wayne, Gabby Hayes can't be far behind, doing his unforgettable crusty old coot bit.
Wayne sure shows his acting chops, more animated than I've seen him.
Republic popped a bundle for this, and it shows up in the colorful crowd scenes (thanks to director Rogell) and big oil well gushers, along with that final stampede.
Two women, Ethel Hill and Eleanore Griffin, share screen writing credit for Republic's western adventure film WAR OF THE WILDCATTERS (known to some as IN OLD OKLAHOMA).
A modestly budgeted endeavor, the story comes to life thanks in large part to a cast that includes John Wayne, Martha Scott, Albert Dekker, Gabby Hayes and Marjorie Rambeau.
Not to be missed-- there is an impressive moment when oil is struck and a huge gusher comes in..
One of Poverty Row studio Republic's intermittent big-budget efforts, War of the Wildcats is a lively, if fairly routine, western notable for its early 20th-century setting.
Somers, formerly one of Teddy Roosevelt's rough riders, who finds himself entangled in a love-and-oil battle with Albert Dekker.
Wayne is fairly amiable here, representing the old west and the little man forced to adapt in the face of modern technology and the dawn of big business.
I'm not quite sure how that stacks up today, given our knowledge that the treatment of the native American by the old west fell somewhat short of what can be considered fair.Anyway, possibly the best aspect of this film is that Dekker's character isn't portrayed as an out-and-out villain, driven only by greed.
Anyone who has ever had the experience of working with or for a 'captain of industry' (for want of a better term) or a self-made man, will probably recognise oilman Gardner's characteristics exactly as those that account for the success of these people.
They aren't necessarily bad people, just ruthless enough to do whatever is necessary in pursuit of their goals.Martha Scott is a fairly bland heroine  it's difficult to see why such rugged individuals as Somers and Gardner would both be so keen to bed her.
Gardner's frankness in this matter is also refreshing given the times in which this film was made.
Of course, he doesn't succeed  it would be another quarter of a century before Hollywood would allow a character like Jim Gardiner to win the girl (and the oil)..
This film is also very commonly known as "War of the Wildcats".
As you watch it, the movie sure looks like a B--but with just a bit more polish, a bit longer running time and a bit more in the way of budget.
But many of them looked a lot like Bs and felt a lot like Bs. His bigger budget studio projects were still a few years ahead.The film begins with a feminist author (Martha Scott) leaving her tiny town.
Her dull old aunt wants her to live with her in Kansas City--but when she meets a big-time oil man (Albert Dekker), he convinces her to follow him to the oil fields and promises her wealth and excitement.
Second, John Wayne pops into her life--and back then he was a major hunk.
In the middle portion of the film, Wayne and Dekker vie for power and fight over oil land that the Indians are willing to lease.
But Dekker is determined not to play nicely--and seems willing to use some dirty tricks to make sure he alone gets these leases.Overall, this is not an especially deep film nor is it very realistic.
Albert Dekker was one excellent actor, and in this movie shows he was an excellent action star as well.He and the Duke have one of the fiercest fight scenes ever, yet the Dekker character is still ultimately likable even though he is a pretty rotten scoundrel.Siding Duke is his frequent co-star, another excellent actor, George "Gabby" Hayes.Also siding him, as the oil field manager, is a terribly unheralded actor, Grant Withers, as one of the strongest characters on the screen.Martha Scott was one gorgeous and incredibly talented woman, to repeat, incredibly talented and apparently so recognized by her fellow actors.
She is adorable, and has a beautiful and extremely expressive face.Speaking of adorable: Dale Evans became The Queen Of The Cowgirls, and as co-star and later wife of Roy Rogers, that is how we know her -- mostly.
Dale Evans had it all, beauty and talent and our hearts.John Wayne gives one of his best performances, playing light comedy in much of the first half of the movie, and then his expected action hero thereafter.And there is plenty of action, beautifully photographed by Jack Marta and beautifully directed by Albert S.
Well, it has both Gabby Hayes and John Wayne singing -- not so pleasant, but funny.The rest of the listening is very pleasant as two women script-writers, Ethel Hill and Eleanor Griffin, produce a superlative script from the original story by Thomson Burtis.
On the surface it looks like an ordinary, run-of-the-mill B western with cowboy John Wayne leading a revolt against greedy oil baron Albert Dekker.
Oh and the obligatory pretty school teacher Martha Scott, who catches the eye of both Wayne and Dekker.
Wayne and Dekker play their white hat/black hat parts well, and Scott is charming with a nice chemistry with Duke.
Supporting cast features greats like Gabby Hayes, Marjorie Rambeau, and Paul Fix. And just wait until Teddy Roosevelt shows up.
John Wayne plays a cowboy who allows himself to be underestimated by wildcatter Albert Dekker.
His 'aw shucks' manner like Jimmy Stewart in 'Destry Rides Again' masks a tough, intelligent character who rises to the challenge posed by Albert Dekker's Jim Gardner.Part of what makes the movie interesting is that the villain, Jim Gardner, is not just a standard heavy.
He's also a close physical match for John Wayne's character, with two long fights.
At the sight of an oil well spouting oil, Martha Scott's Cathy Allen, gushes "It smells like a new day, like prosperity"; Somers replies, "To me it just smells".Somers saves Gardner from getting shot by a disgruntled farmer, then prevents Gardner from beating up the farmer.
"In Old Oklahoma" or "War of the Wildcats" (its re-release title), could have been one of Wayne's better 40s westerns.
It is spoiled in the first half, by Wayne trying to do the light comedy thing in his romancing of Martha Scott.
There is plenty of excitement in the second half including a good fight between Wayne and villain Albert Dekker and a race to the refinery wagon race at the film's climax.Besides Wayne, Scott and Dekker, we have George "Gabby" Hayes, Grant Withers on the right side of the law, Sidney Blackmer as Teddy Roosevelt and saints preserve us, Miss squeaky clean Dale Evans playing a saloon showgirl of all things, little touchy and all.
War is a bit strong a word, more like scuffle of the wildcats..
John Wayne & Albert Dekker compete for oil rights on Indian territory, and for the attention of Martha Scott in this Republic Pictures film shot out of Utah, USA.An interesting Western of sorts due to its characters and its more modern setting, with Wayne & Dekker playing the old and new factions of the West.
The light hearted approach to the romantic strand doesn't sit quite right, and a glorious fist fight between the two protagonists is ruined by Rogell being unable to disguise the stunt men doing the work.
Solid support comes from George 'Gabby' Hayes and Wayne as usual has much screen charisma, particularly when rattling off his pistol.
But in spite of its better than usual Republic budget, it remains a film of interest only to 1940s Wayne enthusiasts.
Yer basic patriotic Western, made in WWII days, John Wayne is out Wildcatting in the old days, runs into corrupt rivals and fights over blonde Martha Scott with Albert Dekker and company...Gabby Hayes does his patented Walter Brennan knockoff  and you get to see the standard Yakima Canutt stage and horse stunts along the way.
Rough and tough cowboy Dan Somers(John Wayne)battles a high and mighty land baron Jim Gardner(Albert Dekker)for not just land, but oil drilling rights around Sapulpa Oklahoma.
Wayne as customary sides with the Native Americans in hopes of legally claiming, drilling and transporting the oil on their land.
There is the obligatory romance to deal with thanks to Martha Scott.
Other cast members of this fast paced western: 'Gabby' Hayes, Paul Fix, Grant Withers and Sidney Blackmer as President Teddy Roosevelt.
This is an earlier John Wayne movie.
The good guy is of course John Wayne and the antagonist is played very well by Albert Dekker.
He is a ruthless businessman but that was the way it was back then, he has a softer side and unlike a lot of real bad guys of that time in the movies he has a bit of a conscious and treats his workers well.
He and Wayne get in to a couple of knock down fights and they appear to have a mutual, all be it not a liking, for each other.
Wayne has Indian connections in this one that lead to his being successful by the end of the movie.
One of several epic film stories about oil wildcatting released in the 1940s.
Albert Dekker plays Jim Gardner: the established kingpin of the oil exploration business in Oklahoma, and an obvious candidate to be the chief villain in a fight with a consortium of small oil producers, farmers and Aboriginal Americans for a share of the riches.
John Wayne, as Dan Somers, although lacking experience in oil exploration, is elected leader of the consortium.
Toward this end, Gardner buys the oil pipeline from this region to the Tulsa refinery, thus forcing the consortium to transport their oil in wooden tanker wagons and makeshift containers in wagons(Where did they all of a sudden get all of these wagons?).In addition, the Cherokee Kid, who sometimes works for Gardner, has his independent reason to want to sabotage the consortium's efforts.As you might expect, a woman is also involved in the competition for oil rights.
Martha Scott plays a schoolteacher and novelist from the east , who wants some experience living in the west.
That mad dash to the refinery was the action highlight of the film.Dale Evans leads a troupe of singer/dancers in a stage show in the saloon.
John Wayne fans will want to see this superior Republic offering, featuring a rather young Wayne.
Dekker provides a rather appealing villain, in most respects, except toward the end..
Likable John Wayne western with a real lightness of touch.
WAR OF THE WILDCATS is another black-and-white western of the early 1940s, starring the ever-likable John Wayne.
This one's about land-grabbing and oil rights, featuring Wayne romancing a woman who is torn between his poor cowboy and a wealthy businessman who'll do anything to make a profit.
The notable thing about this film is that it has a real lightness of touch that turns it into an out-and-out comedy in places.Wayne shares plenty of repartee with the amusing and sparky Martha Scott and seems really comfortable with this fun and funny material.
Albert Dekker's villain is better written than usual, being a fully-rounded character who is quite respectable and even engaging at times.
The film has a fast pace and plenty of action, including an exciting large-scale chase and some good fights.
Rogell's 'War ', a sex comedy (until it switches to a rural drama and the characters sometimes get a bit sententious) replete with exciting love innuendo and genuinely good one-liners, has that ineffable uplifting quality known as zest, or gusto; very dynamic, at the twilight of the cherished West, when the land of the farmers, cowboys, Indians and wry coach-drivers becomes the land of the upcoming oilmen, a comedy of the later West, if you will (yet this typology is secondary here, as Jim behaves like the usual ruthless rich, regardless of the spring of his income), and not at all a screwball, because it's another genre altogether: a rivalry drama, well handled and flawlessly written on its own unassuming terms, the storyline remaining a look at love, and in this it's nicely written, and also well directed, by Rogell.
When angered, the oilman looked like a saner Atwill; but he is not maligned as a villain (at least at first, up until the ride to Tulsa, then we get less certain about his even basic honor), but instead comes across as a genuinely limited person, naturally unable to understand what's outside the range of his daily life, and this seems reasonable.
Martha Scott's character seems a bit dry, which she's supposed to be, and then her performance changes accordingly, as we get to know her, and she gets accustomed to her new place; but there's a minus: the schoolteacher is also a bit unlovable, a bit trite.
It seems like not only the girl, but also her two rival pursuers are such wildcats.
There are also villains, so that the community looks plausible.'War of the Wildcats' is not a Western (and certainly not a kids' movie!), of course (Somers plays as an archetypal twilight cowboy, drifter, gunman, adventurer, eventually turned oilman and settled), but a blend of comedy and drama to be enjoyed by Western buffs.There are a few twists, psychologically intriguing (Catherine's turns, even Jim's honor, up to his showing an uglier side of his soul).
Good movie.The playful Wayne reminded me of Gibson in his comedy roles.
John Wayne fights corrupt killers on Big Oil's payroll .
Big Oil tries to cheat the Native Americans IN OLD OKLAHOMA, but just as pharmacist Wayne gunned down all the would-be Gold Rush claim jumpers IN OLD CALIF0RNIA, cowboy Wayne guns down all the oil field saboteurs here.
When the oil's not being pumped, Wayne finds time to fall for a lady novelist, just as he'd later do in WITHOUT RESERVATIONS.
If Wayne had been around 15 years ago, no doubt he'd have gunned down all of these Oil Crooks!