WAR OF THE WILDCATS (IN OLD OKLAHOMA)

US, 1943, 102 minutes, Black and White.
John Wayne, Martha Scott, Albert Dekker, George Gabby Hayes.
Directed by Albert S. Rogell.

War of the Wildcats (In Old Oklahoma) is a wartime John Wayne action adventure. While he is in the West, the story is post the opening up of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Run. It is an oil story.

Albert Dekker is the tycoon who is opening up the West and Oklahoma for oil. Wayne is the cowboy who confronts capitalistic greed and is able to organise a following to develop oil in the way that it should be...

Martha Scott is the leading lady, a schoolteacher and author of a rather sensational novel, who wants to see the world and rebel. She is attracted by Dekker and finally, of course, swept off her feet by Wayne. George (Gabby) Hayes, the grizzled sidekick from so many Randolph Scott films, plays his usual comic character role.

The film is conventional material - entertainingly done in the American '40s style.

1.Popularity of this kind of action adventure? John Wayne film? His status in the early '40s? In later decades?

2.Black and white photography, sets and small budget, rear projection and studio sets? Atmosphere of the West, of Oklahoma, of the beginning oilfields? Musical score?

3.The title, In Old Oklahoma? The more pugnacious tone of The War of the Wildcats?

4.Oklahoma, its history as a state, the Oklahoma Run, the aftermath? Drought? The discovery of oil? The buying up of land, double deals, fortunes being made and lost? The legal repercussions? Exploitation?

5.Jim Gardner, businessman, the oilfields, his wealth, the train, his attitude towards Katherine? The encounter with Daniel? His buying up the land, his men? The discoveries of oil? The clashes with the men, the clashes with Daniel? The final fight and his comeuppance?

6.John Wayne as Daniel, the history of his past, fighting in Cuba, in the West? The new oilfields? Rambling, his friendship with Teddy Roosevelt? The importance of his being the lone American hero, confronting the capitalist greed, having friends in Washington at the Capitol? Charming the teacher who wanted adventure? His support by people in the western towns, his grizzled sidekick, Bessie?

7.Katherine, being a celebrity, the novel and people's attitudes towards it? The attraction towards Gardner, the train, making her decision, risk, going to Oklahoma? The encounters with Daniel, the attraction, his reading her book out loud and despising it? With Gardner, her later concern about Daniel? Friendship with Bessie? The misunderstanding with Daniel, the reconciliation? A happy future in Oklahoma?

8.Cherokee as villain, henchman for Gardner, being dismissed after being bested by Daniel? His job, the sabotage, the confrontation?

9.Bessie, heart of gold, supporting Katherine? Antagonistic towards Gardner? Friends with Daniel, explaining everything to Katherine and making everything right? The grizzled old man, the characters of the West, his helping Daniel?

10.The popularity of this type of frontier story at all times and, especially, during World War II?