Oklahoma!

by Richard Poe
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
11:11 am Eastern Time

MARIE and I just returned from an 11-day road trip. We spent six days in Oklahoma City visiting old friends and making new ones. Later, I will post some details of our trip, including photos.

For now, let me just remark that my sojourn left me with a new appreciation of the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma!”

I spent several hours last night watching YouTube clips from director Fred Zinnemann’s 1955 film adaptation, starring Gordon MacRae and the enchanting Shirley Jones. In my humble opinion, it ranks among the finest epics human genius has produced.

This simple tale of love and jealousy on the Oklahoma frontier says everything that needs to be said about the American West. It celebrates the courage, toughness and bold, honest spirit of the men and women who built this nation. We must never forget them.

For your enjoyment and edification, I provide a few video highlights of the film below.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

People Will Say We’re in Love

I Can’t Say No

The Surrey with the Fringe on Top

Many a New Day

The Farmer and the Cowman Should be Friends

Curly (Gordon McRae) Confronts Jud (Rod Steiger)

Curly’s Marriage Proposal to Laurey

Oklahoma