April 22, 1889. Tens of thousands of hopeful homesteaders are poised at the Oklahoma border, waiting for the gunshots that will send them on a feverish dash to claim a share of two million acres free for the taking. The spectacular Oklahoma Land Rush is just one of many pivotal moments in this rousing saga based on the novel by Edna Ferber (Giant) and filmed for a 1931 release to Academy Award®-winning* effect as the recipient of Best Picture and two other Oscars®. Anthony Mann (Winchester ’73, The Naked Spur) directs, and Glenn Ford, Maria Schell and Anne Baxter play central figures in this epic tale set where towns spring up, black gold rains, greed vies with goodness, and settlers sink roots into a land big enough to hold their dreams. Highlighted by a stirring musical score from the great Franz Waxman!

For thoughts on Cimarron (1960), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/46jRHslivTE?t=540]

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents Cimarron (1960) with a truly stunning 1080p master transfer sourced from a new master that gets the most out of its Cinemascope roots. Warner Archive is always doing something to impress us, but their work with westerns is especially a reliable treat. The film appears to be entirely free of dirt and damage, giving this a “looking through a window” experience that is a wonder to experience. The level of detail and clarity is simply stunning with the precise amount of natural film grain intact. The film features some luscious colors within the costumes and environments that radiate off the screen with a wondrous intensity. Black levels are very deep with a firm stability throughout, and highlights are just as dependable with no signs of blooming. There does not appear to be any unsightly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. You could not ask for better from this presentation.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive has provided a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that has been restored to a most lovely state. The rousing Franz Waxman score aids the film remarkably as it comes through with peerless fidelity. Exchanges of dialogue come through clearly for the most part with only minor moments when Maria Schell’s accent can be hard to decipher. The track balances vocals with the environmental sounds with magnificent clarity. Even in the most active moments like the land rush, there are no moments where the track ever appears weak in its stability. Warner Archive has provided a fabulous audio presentation that does not exhibit any overwhelming instances of age-related damage. The disc comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.

Special Features

Trailer: The nearly three-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Cimarron (1960) is an epic with some truly great moments, but it is one that fails to hold together as a satisfying complete film. The structure of the film leaves you a bit wanting, as you have some thrilling moments in the beginning before slowly petering out near the end. This would be acceptable if the characters were written and performed in a manner that had you truly invested, but the arrangement of the narrative does not let you in as much as you desire emotionally. The film may be flawed, but it is not a complete disaster as you get some dazzling moments accentuated by Anthony Mann’s direction and occasional moments of heartfelt character beats. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a tremendous A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. If you are a fan of any of the talent involved, this is still worth checking out for the spectacle.

Cimarron (1960) can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.