Arizona (1940)

43% of users liked it
(1,294 ratings)

Wesley Ruggles's Arizona is an epic western set in an impoverished Arizona outpost. It tells the story of the feisty, no-nonsense Phoebe Titus (Jean Arthur). Wearing leather breeches, with a bullwhip and gun, she can out-shoot and out-fight nearly every bad hombre in town, and manages to transform… More Wesley Ruggles's Arizona is an epic western set in an impoverished Arizona outpost. It tells the story of the feisty, no-nonsense Phoebe Titus (Jean Arthur). Wearing leather breeches, with a bullwhip and gun, she can out-shoot and out-fight nearly every bad hombre in town, and manages to transform the down-and-out community into Tuscon, one of the most respected towns in the West. When handsome Peter Muncie (William Holden) arrives, on his way to California, Phoebe asserts that he is the perfect person to help her run her cattle ranch, and the two fall in love. But one obstacle makes their plans extremely difficult: con man Jefferson Carteret (Warren William), who secretly hatches a plan to cheat Phoebe out of the property and annihilate Peter on the couple's wedding day. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Wesley Ruggles
Genres: Western, Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Dec 6, 2005

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Star power (Jean Arthur and the young William Holden) elevate this routine Western, directed by Wesley Ruggles, better known for helming Cimarron.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
It's not as gritty as John Wayne or as romantic as Louis L'Amour, but the flick's a solid enough black & white throwback to keep the Western fans suitably entertained.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Ordinary oater with a quality cast. Jean Arthur seems uncomfortable in her role, she tries too hard to be at home in the western setting and therefore sticks out like a sore thumb. William Holden, still 10 years away from his megastardom, is more at home on the range and while callow… More
Ordinary oater with a quality cast. Jean Arthur seems uncomfortable in her role, she tries too hard to be at home in the western setting and therefore sticks out like a sore thumb. William Holden, still 10 years away from his megastardom, is more at home on the range and while callow makes a believable cowpoke. The rest of the cast is full of reliable supporting players and the script isn't bad although it blows the climax by having it happen off screen. For fans of the stars or westerns it's worth catching but nothing special.