Tulsa (1949)

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(324 ratings)

Tulsa was, in 1949, the most elaborate production released to date by the Eagle-Lion corporation-though all evidence, especially the technical credits, suggests that the film was put together at Universal-International, then merely distriibuted by Eagle-Lion (who made a fortune at the box office).… More Tulsa was, in 1949, the most elaborate production released to date by the Eagle-Lion corporation-though all evidence, especially the technical credits, suggests that the film was put together at Universal-International, then merely distriibuted by Eagle-Lion (who made a fortune at the box office). The film traces the matriculation of the sleepy Oklahoma village of Tulsa into a major oil center Susan Hayward stars as an amibitious cattleman's daughter who wishes to wreak vengeance on the encroaching oil interests but who becomes a "black gold" mogul herself. Robert Preston costars as a geologist who hopes to rescue his beloved Oklahoma from being utterly devastated by drilling and derricks. This being a late-1940s film, Greed runs a poor second to Good at film's end, with the oilmen and the conservations learning to work together rather than as bitter enemies. While the story is a good one, the true selling angle of Tulsa was its action sequences, notably a fire scene that must have cost as much as all the other Eagle-Lion releases of 1949 combined. Originally lensed in vibrant Techicolor, Tulsa is usually seen today in washed-out, two-color Public Domain prints. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Stuart Heisler
Written By: Frank S. Nugent, Curtis Kenyon
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: May 26, 1949 Wide
On DVD: Mar 29, 2005

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Susan Hayward plays one of her typical tough, ambitious women in this romantic adventure, a chronicle of the emergence of Tulsa as the land of oil.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's at best an average American Dream story, told in a soap opera, cliché-ridden and glossy style.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Sarah P

It seems a bit ironic watching this movie today. We should have heeded Cherokee's ultimte lesson and been more concerned with conservation and less with outrageous profits. A good film overall.

Cast

            Susan Hayward as Cherokee Lansing

            Robert Preston as Brad Brady

            Pedro Armendáriz as Jim Redbird

            Lloyd Gough as Bruce Tanner

            Chill Wills as Pinky Jimpson

            Ed Begley Sr. as "Crude Oil" Johnny Brady

            Jimmy Conlin as Bruce Tanner

            Roland Jack as Steve

            Harry Shannon as Nelse Lansing

            Pierre Watkin as Winters

            Lola Albright as Candy Williams

            Charles D. Brown
            
            Paul E. Burns as Tooley

            Lane Chandler as Mr. Kelly

            Iron Eyes Cody as The Osage Indian

            Joseph Crehan as Judge McKay

            John Dehner
            
            Fred Graham as Oil Worker

            Thomas Brown Henry as Winslow

            Selmar Jackson as Oilman

            Larry Keating as Governor

            Nolan Leary as Man with Newspaper

            Dick Wessel as Joker

            Chief Yowlachie as Charlie Lightfoot

            Tom Dugan as Taxi Driver
See full cast