Cimarron (1931 movie)

Hollywood had long since taken notice of writer Edna Ferber's talents. The first Ferber adaptation came in 1918 with the silent Our Mrs. McChesney, based on a play Ferber had written. So Big was released as a film the very year it was published as a novel, and adaptations of Gigolo and Showboat also followed. With the advent of sound, Ferber adaptations had even more promise. Immediately following its publication, many production companies courted Ferber. Ferber ended up selling the film rights to RKO Pictures in 1930 for a record $125,000 (a large sum even for today).

Related Topics:
Hollywood - Edna Ferber - 1918 - RKO Pictures - 1930

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Despite America being in the depths of depression, RKO immediately prepared for a big-budget picture, investing more than 1.5 million dollars into Ferber's novel Cimarron. Director Wesley Ruggles would direct stars Richard Dix and Irene Dunne with a script written by Howard Estabrook. Filming began in the summer of 1930 at the Jasmin Quinn Ranch outside of Los Angeles, California. The film was a massive production, especially the land rush scenes, which recalled the epic scenes of Intolerance some fifteen years earlier. More than 5,000 extras, 28 cameraman, and numerous camera assistants and photographers were used to capture scenes of wagons racing across grassy hills and prairie. Cinematographer Edward Cronjager spent overtime planning out every scene in accordance to Ferber's descriptions.

Related Topics:
Depression - Cimarron - Wesley Ruggles - Richard Dix - Irene Dunne - Howard Estabrook - Los Angeles - California - Intolerance - Edward Cronjager

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The film was premiered first in New York City on January 26, 1931, to much praise, and a Los Angeles premiere followed on February 6th. Three days later the film was released to theaters throughout the nation. Despite being a critical success, the high budget and ongoing Great Depression combined against the film. While it was a commercial success in line with other films of the day, RKO could not recoup their investment in the film.

Related Topics:
New York City - 1931 - Los Angeles - Great Depression

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At the 1931 Academy Awards ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, Cimarron took high honors. The film won the Best Picture Oscar (producer William LeBaron), as well as awards for Best Art Direction (set decorator Max Ree) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Howard Estabrook). The film was also nominated for Best Actor (Richard Dix), Best Actress (Irene Dunne), Best Cinematography (Edward Cronjager), and Best Director (Wesley Ruggles).

Related Topics:
Academy Awards - Biltmore Hotel - Los Angeles - Best Picture - William LeBaron - Best Art Direction - Max Ree - Best Adapted Screenplay - Howard Estabrook - Best Actor - Richard Dix - Best Actress - Irene Dunne - Best Cinematography - Edward Cronjager - Best Director - Wesley Ruggles

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Despite such high honors, the film took a condescending and even racist view of both African American and Native American people and culture. The white characters assumed they were bringing "civilization" to the "savage" "Indian" characters. Cimarron also took a stereotypical view of African Americans, who were portrayed as illiterate and subservient. By today's standards, the film is considered racially insensitive, though these views were typical for the time the film was produced. Most likely this is the reason why it is one of the least remembered Best Picture winners.

Related Topics:
African American - Native American - Racially insensitive - Best Picture

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The film was remade and released in 1960 starring Glenn Ford. See Cimarron (1960 movie)

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