OKLAHOMA CRUDE: OVERLOOKED GEM

I can remember when OKLAHOMA CRUDE was released. Being older that happens a lot these days. At the time actor George C. Scott was at his peak, having won the Oscar for best actor for PATTON just 3 years earlier and having a string of great roles in films like THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, HOSPITAL and THE NEW CENTURIONS. Actress Faye Dunaway was about to rise again as a star having made several huge hits like BONNIE AND CLYDE and THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR before her career began to falter. The paring of the two here makes for an interesting film.

Set in the early 1900s Dunaway stars as Lena Doyle, a stubborn and willful woman who owns a small piece of land that she’s determined has oil. A major oil company wants to buy the land from her but she refuses, determined to bring in the oil and the wealth attached to it on her own. As this is happening her father steps back into her life.

Cleon Doyle (John Mills) was never there for her like a father should be but he’s changed his ways and wants to help. In addition to supporting her he brings along Noble Mason (Scott), a man he’s hired looking for works at the local hobo camp. The relationship between father and daughter begins rough and stays testy throughout the film. But Cleon is determined to make up for time past.

As for Mason he’s a rough character and one not to tangle with but a smart one as well. He also possesses an honorable streak that lends itself to his first name. When the oil company sends in their hired security man Hellman (Jack Palance) to remove Lena from the land one way or another, Mason stays true to those who hired him and helps defend the rig she’s erected.

Using nefarious means to get her to leave Hellman first attempts to sabotage her well. He tries to negotiate with Lena, threatening her in the process which prompts Mason to urinate on Hellman’s coat. This makes things personal and Hellman then brings in guns to shoot at her and those with her to stop her from drilling. When the son of the oil company owner tells him to back off and make her a reasonable offer for the land he bucks his boss.

A final engagement is more than likely to happen as the strong willed trio of characters face off against one another repeatedly. As the possibility of oil coming in reaches its peak all bets are off. What amounts to a showdown is bound to happen.

The film doesn’t just revolve around the drilling for oil though. It also offers a nice character study of those involved. First off we have Cleon who will do anything to redeem himself in his daughter’s eyes. Then we have Lena who has been disappointed so often by him that it will take some doing for him to achieve his goal. At the same time Lena must deal with the bitter feelings she has for most men and how Mason falls into that category easily. But could she find some feelings for him somewhere? And then there is Mason, a loner, a drifter, a man who’s seen hard times often and good times rarely. Will he find something more permanent here or is this just another stop along the path he travels.

The movie has a slower pace than most will be comfortable with and a setting that’s rather bland. Wide open land with bumps and hills and oil rigs popping up here and there is not the most stirring visual. That leaves it up to the story to hold your interest and it does that admirably. But having the talents involved here in front of the camera as well as behind with the legendary Stanley Kramer directing the film results in a memorable movie not talked much about these days but well worth taking the time to watch.

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SATAN NEVER SLEEPS: CHANGE IN CHINA

How times have changed. A title like this today would conjure up fears of horror fueled dreams. But back in 1962 that wasn’t the case. This is no horror film but a drama that revolves around the changes in China that took place when Mao took over. It is also the last film in the long and wonderful career of director Leo McCarey who gave us such films as DUCK SOUP, THE AWFUL TRUTH, GOING MY WAY and THE BELLS OF ST. MARY’S. While this film might have a few humorous moments it is anything but a comedy though.

It’s 1949 and the Chinese Civil War is nearing an end. Mao Tse Tung’s Communist soldiers have taken over most of the country. This results in a complete change in the country and in particular for this story a missionary establishment there. Father O'Banion (William Holden) is on his way to take over from retiring Father Bovard (Clifton Webb), too old and frail to continue on here. On his journey there O’Banion has unfortunately gained a young Chinese girl named Siu Lan (France Nuyen) along the way. The girl has fallen in love with him and claims he saved her thus she now owes him her life. Before Bovard can leave though the Communist Army takes over the mission.

No matter how hard he tries O’Banion can’t seem to get the girl to return to her family. Bovard gets involved when their cook leaves to join the army leaving O’Banion to cook (which he does poorly) and Siu Lan steps in to take over. Bovard is forbidden to leave by the incoming man in charge Ho San (Weaver Lee). Ho San was once a member of Bovard’s flock but has since converted to Communism with a vengeance.

Under Ho San’s rule the mission is destroyed by his men, the church is desecrated and the priests are confined to quarters. Eventually this leads to imprisoning Bovard while trying to force him to sign a document claiming he lied to the villagers and supports Communism. With his eye set on Siu Lan he returns to the mission, ties up O’Banion and taking Siu Lan to a different building rapes her. The resulting child and the command to kill all Christians has an effect on Ho San but will it be too late?

This is not a lightweight film by any means. While there are a few moments that lighten things a bit, most of them involving the predicament O’Banion finds himself in with Siu Lan, the main focus of the story revolves around the change in the country and the people of China. These are dangerous times and the treatment of the two priests displays this throughout the film as does their determination to remain true to their faith.

The movie is an intense look through the eyes of the times providing a look at Communist China at the height of the Communist scare in this country. While considered by some to be a false flag there definitely was something going on at the time to be fearful of and recent events have seen much of those fears culminate in the country becoming a world power to contend with now. But the movie’s depiction of them here is more along the lines of a rampaging wild animal than a thoughtful conniving group. But then these are the new converts in the field, not the rulers.

The movie also deals with the feelings that Holden as O’Banion has for this young woman who is in love with him. She goes so far as to suggest that he leave the church so that he can marry her. While he is fond of her his feelings are not the same as hers for him. Or are they? That struggle plays a component in the character of O’Banion.

Webb as Bovard turns in a fine performance in what was to be his last film. He plays the character much like he did many roles in his time, as a stern countenance that watches over those around him, determined to shape them into the people he thinks they should be. But while stern he also has a compassionate side as well.

The movies may not suit the viewers of today, not offering explosions and car chases. And the romance depicted here does not give us longing looks and nude bodies writhing about in front of what always seems to be a perfectly located fireplace. Even the rape scene, no doubt quite controversial at the time, isn’t shown here but rather inferred. I think in doing so it makes it that much more despicable and horrifying. The mind can create horrors that at times cameras cannot. This is one of those examples.

In the end the movie does not so much entertain as it does provide a glimpse at a world just learning about what was taking place in China at the time. Apologists will feel it’s a distorted view and those who still have concern about the country will say it is an apt depiction. I would guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle of both of those views. In the meantime the film gives us the final glimpses of two illustrious careers, those of McCarey and Webb, while solidifying the star status of Holden and providing us an early look at France Nuyen who went on to a lengthy career. It’s a movie worth watching.

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BLOOD MANIA: BLOOD LITE

It’s rare that a title misleads as much as this one does. With a name like BLOOD MANIA you would expect blood to be dripping from the celluloid. In fact there is little blood and most of it comes out in the final 20 minutes of the film which drags at 81 minutes. This is one of those movies that is just bad from the get go.

Dr. Ridgley Waterman (Eric Allison) is bedridden in his mansion accompanied by his neglectful daughter Victoria (Maria de Aragon). She has no use for her father nor him for her. He’s being treated by Dr. Craig Cooper (Peter Carpenter) who Victoria has set her eyes on. But Cooper is already attached to Cheryl (Rebecca Wilson).

Cooper finds himself in a predicament when an old partner shows up demanding $50,000. It seems Cooper performed illegal abortions while a medical student to make money. This could ruin him. When Victoria learns he needs money but not why she seduces Cooper and using info he provides her comes up with a plan to kill her father for her inheritance.

But the plan goes awry when her sister (not seen in the film until the last third if not less) shows up and inherits it all. Of course this means Cooper now sets his eyes on her and Victoria is left to come up with a new plan. Sound entertaining? It isn’t.

What we have is a particularly bad TV movie of the week with plenty of nudity thrown in to make it a film drive-ins would be willing to screen. There is little to be enjoyed here with nothing exceptional about anything going on. The cinematography is dark at times, the music feels canned and the acting is barely passable.

And yet there are those out there who enjoy movies like this, films that once would garner a Golden Turkey Award and little else. Somehow these movies are making their way to disc in special editions like this one once did from Vinegar Syndrome. I love the company but had you paid top dollar for this film then you were had. Instead you might consider this version from Cheezy Flicks. It may not be blu-ray or contain spectacular extras but then the movie really doesn’t deserve those anyway.

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