Post by drystyx on Mar 19, 2017 17:09:08 GMT
OKLAHOMA CRUDE is one I believe will be a confirmed classic after a hundred years, which is the basis of confirming such status, when completely new generations make observations.
Like most of the classics, it is such because of the "lesser characters".
In formation of plot, the three major characters would ordinarily be the ones played by John Mills, Faye Dunaway, and Jack Palance. The estranged father, the heroine, the sadistic villain.
But George C Scott leads the barrage of minor characters to make major decisions. And that's what makes this great.
The "formula" procedure would be to have the estranged father help the daughter on her claim, and the new hired hand be killed in a melee, with the sadist killing many people for no reason.
We do get some "formula" when the sadist does kill the Indian man helping the girl, but that is credible in the plot, not Hollywood.
The turnaround comes SPOILER ALERT-when the father is killed instead of the hired hand. Now, since Scott was already a big star, a huge star after PATTON, we get an inkling this can happen, but it's still a surprise, and will be one a hundred years from now.
It is the "minor characters" that make this. The hobo played by Scott makes some major decisions, and changes. But the two most influential characters in the events that take place are the hobo friend and the rich oil man's son who tries to put a rein on the cruelty. These two make this more than just a story. They give it depth important to making a classic.
I won't say it's super humongous, and probably not even in my top 40 of all time, but it contends. I give it 9/10, and I'm a harsh grader. From me, 9/10 is sometimes a classic. Time will tell.