Movie: Cimarron

Release Date: January 26, 1931

Director: Wesley Ruggles

Starring: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne

Personal History: Never Been Watched

Rating: 3.5 Oscars out of 10

It’s Double Feature Saturday here at my house. Actually, it is not uncommon for me to watch two, three or even four movies in one day. I’m that obsessed. And I am that much of a loser. So in between normal weekend chores and holiday baking, I decided to watch another movie on my Academy Award Best Picture Movie Challenge. I should have stopped at one.

It is well known that when it comes to genres of movies, War is low on my list as far as favorites are concerned (see ‘Wings’ and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’). Right below War on that list would be Westerns. So yet again I was not that excited about sitting down to watch ‘Cimarron.’ But I did. Let’s just say that the only good thing about this movie for me is that I now watched it and it has been checked off my list as seen.

‘Cimarron’ was the first ever Western to win the top honor at the Academy Awards. It’s company is very limited as only two other Westerns have earned that recognition. Thankfully those two movies are actually favorites of mine. If you paid attention to my 365 Movie a Day Challenge in 2020, where I watched all of my favorite movies, you already knew that. ‘Cimarron’ is sure to never creep up on that list.

Based on a novel by Edna Ferber, it is a sweeping epic drama, definitely one that the Academy is drawn to. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Outstanding Production, Best Writing, Adaptation and Best Art Direction, winning in those categories, as well as Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Cinematography. It tells a somewhat interesting tale starting at the Oklahoma land rush of 1889 and spanning forty years all about a man named Yancey and a woman named Sabra. I was obsessed with the names – the movie, not so much.

It’s melodramatic, it is for the most part a pretty boring story and it is a Western. For me, three strikes and you are out. I actually had to watch the movie in parts today. I kept losing interest and would stop it and later come back to it. It’s just not my cup of tea, as they say.

‘Cimarron’ is also a movie that has not aged well. There are many racial overtones and offensive stereotypes presented in the film that are definitely groan-inducing. I don’t hold that against the film, as art is a reflection of the time it is made. But there are many uncomfortable moments that had me rolling my eyes and slightly offended.

Will ‘Cimarron’ be my least favorite Best Picture winner ever? It is too early to say, but it definitely has a chance to garner that recognition.