Western

The Oklahoman

- That Ramrod Guy From Whichita is Bullet-Hot as the Greatest Plainsman of Them All !

After his wife dies in childbirth, a doctor settles down in the small Oklahoma town of Cherokee Wells to raise his newborn daughter. Unfortunately, not all the citizens there are hospitable, especially when the doctor hires a pretty Indian teenager as his child's nanny.

Release Date : 1957-05-19

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Allied Artists Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : John

Original Name : Joel McCrea

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anne

Original Name : Barbara Hale

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dobie

Original Name : Brad Dexter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maria Smith

Original Name : Gloria Talbott

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charlie Smith

Original Name : Michael Pate

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Waynebrook

Original Name : Verna Felton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mel Dobie

Original Name : Douglas Dick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jim Hawk

Original Name : Anthony Caruso

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Fitzgerald

Original Name : Esther Dale

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bob Randell

Original Name : Adam Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jason - Stableman

Original Name : Ray Teal

Gender : Male

Character Name : Little Charlie Smith

Original Name : Peter J. Votrian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marshal Bill

Original Name : John Pickard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louise Brighton

Original Name : Mimi Gibson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Storekeeper

Original Name : I. Stanford Jolley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Messenger at Ranch

Original Name : Scotty Beckett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Jennifer Lea

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

The good doctor takes up the good fight! The Oklahoman is directed by Francis Lyon and written by Daniel Ullman. It stars Joel McCRea, Barbara Hale, Brad Dexter, Gloria Talbott, Michael Pate, Verna Felton and Douglas Dick. Music is by Hans Salter and cinematography by Carl Guthrie. After his wife dies during childbirth, Doctor John Brighton (McCrea) stops in the small Oklahoma town of Cherokee Wells to bury her. Deciding to stay there and start a practice, he comes to run afoul of the local bad boys fronted by the Dobie brothers (Dexter/Dick). A CinemaScope/De Luxe Color production, The Oklahoman appears to be one of McCrea's lesser known Westerns. Which is a shame, for although this isn't high on action quotas, it is however rich on characters and beats a solid worthy message heart. It's a typical McCrea characterisation, Doctor Brighton is a peaceable man, a bastion of the community, loved by all but the baddies. As the stench of racism rears its ugly head, and a secret of the land comes to the fore, Brighton is forced to stand up for values that he knows to be right, putting himself into great danger in the process. The Native American characters are well written, showing them to be hard working and integral parts of the community. This is a town where integration clearly works, it's only when financial gain for the Dobie Brothers surfaces does race become an issue. There's a rather fanciful (sort of) love triangle in the mix, as both the Hale and Talbott (playing a young Indian character) have soft feelings for the much older doctor, but this aspect is no hindrance to the pic since it isn't overtly played. Over on the villain side of things Dexter does a nice line in gurning mistrust, and thankfully he doesn't shift into cartoon caricature. It's not a very insightful picture, as per the themes ticking away, this is after all a second tier "B" Western. Yet some classy veneers shine bright as our characters move about the comforting surrounds of the Iverson Ranch locales. While of course McCrea is the most reassuring presence of all. 7/10