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- What Is Cimarron About?
- Cimarron’s Contemporary Reception
- Cimarron’s Post-Release Appraisal
As a film critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that watching “Cimarron” was quite the journey – a rollercoaster ride from the early 1930s to the present day. The film, while hailed as a masterpiece in its time, has certainly not aged gracefully.
Not every film that wins the Academy Award for Best Picture will continue to be recognized as a timeless classic or reach ultimate greatness. One notable exception is the 1931 Western movie Cimarron, which triumphed with three Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Writing (Adaptation), and Best Art Direction. Despite being praised by both contemporary film critics and audiences at that time, Cimarron has since earned a reputation as one of the least worthy winners in the history of Hollywood’s film industry.
1960 saw a modernized adaptation of Cimarron, aiming to update the story, but the remake received criticism and was nominated for just one Oscar. Movie enthusiasts frequently discuss controversial Oscar snubs and questionable acting nominations, but beyond 2004’s Crash, there’s little debate about Best Picture winners not deserving the Academy Award. As Cimarron turns 93 in 2024, it’s worth revisiting this first Western to win Best Picture to see how it has lost its luster over time.
What Is Cimarron About?
According to Edna Ferber’s 1930 novel, “Cimarron” is an expansive American Western movie produced and directed by Wesley Ruggles. The narrative revolves around Kansas news editor Yancey Cravat (played by Richard Dix) and his wife, Sabra (portrayed by Irene Dunne). They leave Wichita for Oklahoma during the 1889 land rush, where Yancey’s desired plot of land is seized by Dixie Lee (Estelle Taylor), a shrewd and cunning woman who manages to trick Yancey to claim the property.
In Osage, Oklahoma, Yancey and his partner Sabra establish the Oklahoma Wigwam newspaper and have a daughter named Donna. However, their peaceful life is disrupted when outlaws, headed by The Kid (William Collier Jr.), raid the town with intentions of taking it over. In response to this threat, Yancey confronts and kills The Kid in a duel. Meanwhile, earlier Yancey had murdered Lon Yountis, a criminal who was responsible for killing the previous newspaper editor.
Stricken with guilt for taking The Kid’s life, Yancey leaves Sabra and their children behind, participating in another land rush, hastening towards the Cherokee Strip near the Kansas-Oklahoma border. For five years, Yancey is absent, and upon his return to Osage, it isn’t to reunite with his family, but to represent Dixie Lee in court after she is accused of disturbing the peace. As the 20th century dawns, Osage undergoes significant economic growth due to oil production.
In Osage, both settlers and indigenous Americans thrived. While Yancey advocated for the natives in the Oklahoma Wigwam, Sabra started publishing strong anti-Native American views upon Yancey’s departure and assigning her to manage the paper. Despite Donna marrying a native and helping her mother overcome prejudice, the movie concludes with Yancey passing away in Sabra’s arms after suffering injuries while saving oil workers.
Cimarron’s Contemporary Reception
In February 1931, when the movie “Cimarron” was unveiled, it received a torrent of favorable critiques. Many of these accolades highlighted the impressive production quality made possible by its significant $1.5 million budget, which at that time, was the most expensive RKO film ever produced (approximately equivalent to $31 million in 2024). To capture the grand action scenes across various locations, no less than 28 camera operators were employed, and over 5,000 extras were available as background actors.
Max Ree, an Oscar-winning Art Director, constructed a whole town on the 89-acre land in Encino that was purchased by RKO. Moreover, cinematographer Edward Cronjager’s detailed shot list demanded significant work to eradicate any resemblance to the 1916 Western movie, “Intolerance.” Apart from its three Academy Award wins, including the first Western film to be crowned Best Picture, “Cimarron” garnered nearly universal acclaim from film critics upon its release.
According to Variety’s 1931 review, Cimarron is:
As a film enthusiast who has spent many years studying and appreciating cinema, I can confidently say that ‘Cimarron’ is truly a masterpiece of filmmaking. Having watched countless westerns throughout my life, I can attest that this film stands out as something extraordinary. The action, sentiment, sympathy, thrills, and even comedy are all expertly woven together to create an unforgettable cinematic experience. What makes ‘Cimarron’ truly special is its 100% clean content, which adds a refreshing touch in today’s entertainment landscape. Radio Pictures has definitely hit a home run with this one, and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates quality filmmaking.
1. Critics, particularly from The New York Times, highly commended the movie and Dunne’s acting, describing Cimarron as an “Impressive and captivating adaptation of Edna Ferber’s popular novel.” Similarly, The New Yorker highly regarded this film, stating that it is “On par with the best productions to emerge from Hollywood. Its exceptional quality adds significant value to the movie.”
Despite the critical appraisal and Academy Award victories, Cimarron failed to recuperate its expensive production budget, grossing $1.3 million at the box office (via RKO Film Grosses). Worse yet, Cimarron has not held up well since its release, leading to several scathing retrospective reviews enumerating the problematic material for modern-day audiences.
Cimarron’s Post-Release Appraisal
Beyond its modest 5.8 IMDb rating (equal to that of “Cavalcade,” the lowest for a Best Picture winner), “Cimarron” earned a 50% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 25% audience rating in 2024, marking a stark contrast from the widespread praise it received in 1931. The plot, particularly Yancey’s abandonment of his wife and child to repent for his guilt-laden sins, is met with discomfort by contemporary viewers. Similarly, Sabra’s rigid intolerance and bigoted views towards indigenous Americans are not well-received. The racial stereotypes portrayed in the film are outdated and offensive and do not reflect the strides America has made over the past 90+ years. For a Best Picture winner, “Cimarron” appears to have lost its charm with time.
In layman’s terms, what left audiences awestruck in 1931 appears distressingly old-fashioned when compared to 21st-century expectations, as stated by DVD Verdict in 2006.
Viewed through modern lenses, the movie appears outdated, sluggish, and marred by offensive racial stereotypes. However, its depiction of the historic 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush remains an exhilarating spectacle. Regrettably, the film fails to surpass this initial captivating scene.
In 2009, ReelViews’ James Berdinelli took issue with the film, describing it as:
As a cinephile who has spent countless hours poring over films of all genres and eras, I’ve come to appreciate the evolution of storytelling and societal perspectives reflected in them. One film that has left a lasting impression on me is “Cimarron,” released in the early 1930s. When it first graced the silver screen, it was hailed as a masterpiece and adored by many. However, looking back at it from my vantage point today, I cannot help but feel that its Academy Award win was undeserved.
Down 2% since 2023, the 50% Rotten Tomatoes consensus of Cimarron reads:
“The film ‘Cimarron’ showcases a powerful acting performance by Irene Dunne, yet it lacks consistency in most aspects and contains questionable stereotypes that could be considered offensive.”
In a favorable turn of events, Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed and Oscar-nominated film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” offers a far more captivating portrayal of the Osage natives. This film respectfully depicts the Osage tribe even in the face of their tragic storyline. Lily Gladstone delivers an exceptional performance as Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman married to a white man who valiantly defends her land. Although “Cimarron” won the Best Picture award and “Killers of the Flower Moon” was not chosen for the Academy’s top honor, Scorsese’s epic crime western is expected to outlast “Cimarron” due to its superior quality and absence of racist stereotypes.
Cimarron is available to rent on AppleTV and Amazon Prime Video.
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2024-08-08 02:02