Film Festival: The West and Southwest Cimarron was the first Western film to receive an Academy Award. It’s an epic saga depicting the changes in pioneer Oklahoma through the eyes of the Cravat family. The film is considered to be an accurate representation of the times, based on Edna Ferber‘s meticulous research. In Cimarron, Ferber…
Western films
Annie Oakley 20th century icon: Lisa’ Home Bijou
Film Festival: The West and Southwest Annie Oakley, whose career extended into the early decades of the 20th century, represented an icon for early 20th century women. As an independent, talented female celebrity, she traveled with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and brought the culture, legends and romanticism of the West to people all over…
Lisa’s Home Bijou: Girl Crazy
Film Festival: The West and Southwest The 1943 film,Girl Crazy, is one of the best examples of the early 20th century “go West” philosophy. A curious trend in plotlines started in the movies and theater in the 1920s and 1930s. It goes as follows: a hero or heroine living in the east is headed for…
Lisa’s Home Bijou: Destry Rides Again
Film Festival: The West and Southwest Destry Rides Again is a Western gem from 1939, a wonderful little jewel of a story with great stars, a superior supporting cast, and wit to spare. It was a banner year for the movies. 1939 contained many of the blockbuster classic films of the mid 20th century. The…