'Kansas City' scene from Oklahoma! (1955)

*Enable subtitles and CC for lyrics*
Will Parker - Gene Nelson
Aunt Eller - Charlotte Greenwood
2 dancing girls (blue dresses)
- Lizanne Truex
- Jane Fischer

[@PatrolOfficer161]

When was the last time we were treated to as extensive a scene with only two or three cuts? The rope sequence alone would be done in 30 cuts today. No ONE person, let alone an ensemble of that size has demonstrated such flawless choreography in the last forty years! AND, the horse at the end would be CGI'd because NO ONE would take the time to train an animal in this world of electronic make-believe. Thankfully we have the recorded work of Nelson, Kelly, Astaire, O'Connor, Garland, Minelli, Powell, Charise, Reynolds, Rooney, Hayworth, Grable, Moreno, Baryshnikov and so many others who made movie musicals worth standing in line for!

[@homeyginomolly]

He's my favorite, my favorite movie. What a dream!

[@TheRealDrJoey]

Your comment inspired me to go back and count: The entire number is done in ten shots. This song, and "Surrey..." have knocked me out since I was 5 years old, and my mom would listen to the soundtrack album while she was ironing.

[@geraldinebosworth4013]

What wonderful words. You’ve crystallised all I’ve ever thought about that particular sequence. Thank God for the great dancers, Actors, Directors and Choreographers of the Golden Age of Musicals not to mention the magical playwrights and Lyricists.

[@jamiebo100]

Absolutely right ..... the much touted Chicago film musical was almost unwatchable because of cuts every few seconds .

[@TheWriterWalker]

PatrolOfficer161, what a great comment!

[@derp12345]

One of the best musicals ever made! ❤️

[@waterlily6543]

Absolutely

[@derp12345]

@@waterlily6543 🙂

[@kellymcphaul2793]

This is my favorite musical ever. The talent, the music. Gordon Macrae is my favorite, but Gene Nelson is such an athlete. The wardrobe is also so amazing. Really cannot say enough good things.

[@homeyginomolly]

My favorite also. You must know this story. Shirley Jones at an audition had just arrived from, I believe, PA, a country girl. She sings, they ask her to wait. In walks Richard Rogers. She sings, he asks her to wait, makes a phone call, in walks Hammerstein, she sings. They hire her immediately, seventeen years old. She had no idea she had the face and voice of an angel. Feel free to correct my mistakes as to details but the story is true.

[@waterlily6543]

I agree Oklahoma is my favorite but second to west side story

[@roninjoey]

I have such a crush on Gordon but Carousel is my favorite

[@roninjoey]

He’s so good in that movie

[@roninjoey]

@@waterlily6543 what about gypsy?

[@jonnaking3054]

Sadly I think these movies are becoming forgotten treasures, ppl just don't seem to appreciate them as much :(

[@libbiehorn3546]

I always loved the music from Oklahoma, then I re-watched the movie as an adult and was pretty appalled at the story.

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

I don't care for most movies from the 50s My favorites are mainly from the 30s

[@jamesmcinnis208]

Not only do they not appreciate them, they HATE them. I could never understand why.

[@homeyginomolly]

@@libbiehorn3546 appalled?

[@talkingweevil3172]

I think the music can be boring to some (including me)

[@sanfranciscobay]

3:45 I like how the Cowboy in the Red Shirt stands up and starts dancing only moving his feet. As though he's being very casual about it and his dancing is no big deal. The whole scene is so well done. No explosions or weird sounds.

[@jerrykitich3318]

He's trying it out. He doesn't want to go too fer.

[@roninjoey]

It’s so impressive how she choreographed tap into cowboy

[@12classics39]

Aunt Eller’s contribution to the chorus of “that’s about as far as I can go” is hilarious!

[@poetcomic1]

The sublime and underrated Gene Nelson. He has a leap from the floor to a piano top in some Doris Day tha left me out of breath.

[@maryanneneedham5332]

Lullaby of Broadway. That was some dance. His dismount from the piano was also spectacular. Very definitely under-rated dancer. Have a look at the gym scene from She’s Working Her Way Through College. He did that in a single take.

[@tamolyn5141]

@@maryanneneedham5332 I've looked at that gym sequence over and over to see if there's anything out of place that would indicate more than one take, and I can't find anything. Even the pair of white shoes that are on the floor next to the trampoline stay in the same place all through the routine. The only thing that would have been added in later was the closeup part of the bit with the punching bag, because there was a wall that would have been in the way of getting that shot. I think the wall was removed just to get that one shot. Everything else would have been shot all at once with multiple cameras in different locations around the room...which had to be a real gym because it had a ceiling. What a brilliant sequence of dance and gymnastics...and there aren't a whole lot of gymnasts who are six feet tall. Most of them are short and compactly built. Gene Nelson was the best dancer around. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, eat your hearts out.

[@adeleweiss8130]

Those lasso tricks are really something!

[@Mxyzptlksac]

I love how Aunt Eller is somewhat smiling at the irreverent cowboys while still maintaining her lady like composure

[@jamesmadisonwilliams4210]

My gran aunt looks just Aunt Eller and she is from Oklahoma when the actress who plays aunt Eller is from Philadelphia!

[@jamesdolan5236]

He signature move was very high side kicks.

[@frackstonwilson685]

Love Charlotte Greenwood!

[@TheStikapos]

aunt Eller is very amazing!

[@Mxyzptlksac]

@@TheStikapos the role was written with Charlotte in mind but she couldn’t do the Broadway cast, so she was cast in the film.

[@jerrera45]

Come on now... you know you had to smile and tap your feet while watching this classic.

[@valeriedickens2307]

Love watching these films with singing and dancing, some much energy and enthusiasm. Don't make films like this anymore ❤

[@mauricioduron3193]

Arguably, the one iconic dance number from 'Oklahoma', flawless direction, editing, performances, orchestration and choreography, comparable only to the barn-raising sequence in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' (1963) and to 'America' in 'West Side Story' (1961). Especially fortunate for us that Gene Nelson ('Will') was not under contract to Warner Bros. He was splendid also in his 'All 'er Nuthin' number with Gloria Grahame, who herself deserved an Academy Award nomination. Thank you!

[@roshelen884]

Mauricio you said it I miss the golden age of cinema

[@richardlee8495]

Gloria Grahame? seriously? she was miscast, godawful in this part. biggest mistake of Betty Hutton's then-flagging career was turning down this part.

[@TheStikapos]

Mauricio Durón I don’t know why, I just know that it is. And will always be.

[@dmmchugh3714]

Same choreographer in all 3 I believe ! Great shows !

[@susanyork5089]

Breathtaking , stunning , a total gem , love this film

[@roycummings2492]

Gene Nelson, great dancer.

[@4shys2]

I love this movie ! Especially the men hooting and hollering while dancing!

[@compton1808]

Same here!!

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Magic! Everyone in the scene is on the same page and it all seems believable in a wonderful world. Aunt Eller, Will Parker have a genuine rapport, seldom found in any movie, musical or not seen today. Everyone, every detail adds up And it all seems SPONTANEOUS!❤

[@karenvanwyk5307]

Why don't they make movies like this today 😞

[@HardRockMaster7577]

A lack of creators. Just imitators with CGI budgets.

[@melanieohara6941]

My favorite dance sequence in the movie. Thank you!🙋🏼‍♀️💞🌟💞🌟

[@tev7488]

Same!

[@terrybroderick1825]

This film was shot with Cinemascope and Tod AO cameras.

[@DesertSingerAZ]

Oklahoma is my favorite musical for so many reasons... and one of them is that I live in Arizona now, and many of the outside scenes were all filmed at the Empire Ranch in SE Arizona... when you see those mountains in the background... you don't see mountains like that in Oklahoma (and I love the state, too... my people were and some still are, "Okies" ♥). I understand the remnants of the train station set are still there on the ranch.

[@homeyginomolly]

Oh I would love to see the train station.

[@phoebedorsai7145]

Oh yeah definitely. You can find all kinds of memorabilia here scattered about. (I'm from Oklahoma)

[@mystic4001]

One of the best musical till date

[@kmcq692]

Everything I needed to know I learned from the Musicals. Starting with this one.

[@cacatr4495]

This scene was filmed at Elgin, Arizona! Beautiful country!!

[@lindavanniekerk8679]

Casting superb, singers,dancers, every one of them. My favourite musical of all time!

[@Mightyoverevery1]

Great number. What you always get with Rodgers and Hammerstein movie musical. I’m glad I have a love of this art that I learned from my Father. 🎶🎼🎵

[@queenjillian3995]

I did Rodgers And Hammerstein Oklahoma On December 1st 2018 At Elmwood Playhouse And I Was Laurey Williams And One Of My Friends Who Played Will Parker Did Such A Cute Tap Dance One Of My Favorite Parts Was Singing People Will Say We’re In Love Along With My Boyfriend Patrick Keenan Who Played Curly

[@liberte5847]

The very best ever no words. Merci beaucoup from Paris France 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍.

[@jackbuckley7816]

I like the kind of eccentric show-dancing as seen here, especially as it escalates to faster & more-complex steps & movements, which maintain & propel the sequence's sense-of-ongoing-excitement---and fun!

[@pamelalawrence1704]

Loved the dancing

[@donnamason938]

I watched this movie last night. Brought back so many memories of growing up in Oklahoma.

[@elizabethtobin6894]

Brilliant dancing.

[@lynndenault4212]

That was amazing!

[@user-jj8zp7nm6y]

Absolutely magic, first class musical fantastic orchestral arrangements 😂

[@HardRockMaster7577]

Not an necessary note used.

[@2mikelim]

In Todd-AO which was a more convenient alternative to the 3 camera/projectors Cinerama. Gives almost as wide field of vision.

[@brandoncpt9982]

will is such a madlad, dancing on a train and jumping back on a horse

[@aneamarlivana172]

The leap to the back of the horse was actually done by actor/stuntman, Ben Johnson, who can also be seen as the cowboy who brings Will's horse to the train station. They let the fabulous Gene Nelson do some crazy things in his dance routines, but leaping from a train to the back of a horse required a stunt man.

[@mystic4001]

Love this

[@reelfan-16]

This makes me so very happy.

[@user-xw4kr7hu6i]

This song makes me giggle every time

[@Dan-vt3nk]

Awesome!

[@goblina1785]

Estos musicales siempre son EXCELENTES !!!!....yo vi toda la produccion alla en Stroudsburg PA-USA, saludos de Peru-Cusco....

[@cyberwolf_1013]

Can you imagine what wonder a 7 story skyscraper garnered? Jaws would unhinge at the 100+ stories we create now.

[@alexalex13131]

7 stories really was as high as they could go...until Otis came along with elevators!

[@frackstonwilson685]

This appears to be the 70mm version of Oklahoma. In the 35mm version when Will Parker jumps on the crate there is no rain storm in the background.

[@michaelbrooks4445]

This is the 35mm CinemaScope print version. It is more "letterboxed" (being 2.55:1 aspect ratio) than the 70mm version which is 220:1 aspect ratio so is not as cropped as the 35mm print.

[@frackstonwilson685]

@@michaelbrooks4445 Oklahoma was filmed twice. Once in 35mm and then again in 70mm. Composition of each scene had to be set up differently for each film format. 70mm setup required cast spacing with more distance apart involve.

[@michaelbrooks4445]

@@frackstonwilson685 I'm well aware of this and I will add that I am (still) a cinea projectionist (been projecting a bit of 70mm of late thanks to Mr Nolan). This version is in 2.55:1 (the initial ratio of CinemaScope until 1956 then was 2.35:1 until 2013) with the 70mm ratio (2.20:1) being higher and not quite as wide.

[@cacatr4495]

2:24 upper right, power pole or telephone pole visible in 1954 Elgin, Arizona, when this movie portrays turn-of-the-century rural frontier.

[@jamesdolan5236]

That woman with the short platinum blond hair shows up in a couple of different r&h musicals. For sure she was in Seven brides for seven brothers and Oklahoma. Very pretty and a great dancer. I think her last name was trixle.

[@michaelkenny8540]

Lizanne Truex

[@sharonhoyt2133]

There are two videos on youtube of this scene and they are different...I'm not sure which one ended up in the film but I like this one better. I'm just amazed that two renditions of the same scene are even available considering this film was made in the 1950's.

[@jpvanden1]

That's actually because the movie was shot twice, once in the new-at-the-time Todd-AO 70mm camera at 30 frames per second, and again in CinemaScope 35mm camera at 24 frames per second so that theaters that didn't have the equipment yet to show 70mm negatives could still show the movie in 35mm. So there are two takes per scene, and so it's slightly different even though the dialogue, music, etc are all the same. It was a bit confusing seeing the 35mm version the first time not having known that before.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

@@jpvanden1 Thanks for that info...very interesting history.

[@michaelkenny8540]

the other take kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2fTno17Zranr9k&ab_channel=Rodgers%26Hammerstein

[@michaelbrooks4445]

@@jpvanden1 the main difference between the 35mm prints and the 70mm print is the aspect ratio - 35mm CinemaScope 2.55:1 (later standised to 235:1). 70mm is 220:1 so has more height in the frame and has vastly better image quality than 35mm as being a much larger frame so less blowing up of the image in projection. 70mm offers up to 17k resolution. 35mm far less.

[@Calman701]

The best musical I have ever seen.

[@valentinius62]

And 25 years later, Slim Pickens had something to say about Kansas City in Blazing Saddles. 😁

[@cynthiamadrid1430]

FILMED IN JAMESTOWN CA. AT SIERRA RAILTOWN, other Movies... High Noon, My little Chickadee, EAST OF EDEN, and hundreds more film. CANT FORGET, THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG !

[@donwardell4605]

A celebration of America - never miss seeing this - Congratulations to all - when this show opened in War Time 1943 the biggest fear was that the dancing cowboys would appear too Gay.= Agnes De Mille was told to "butch up" the choreography - oh well one step at time -= wonderful clip, such American enthusiasm - part pf my growing up!

[@louiseblockley]

Love it ❤

[@jerrykitich3318]

We can surely tell Will just returned from a big city. He ain't wearing no gun

[@siegfried923]

Choreographed by the Wonderful Agnes de Mille who included Western America folk dance in the dance sequences

[@andrewwoodruff42]

Set in and around Claremore, OK, the character Will depicts Claremore native son, Will Rodgers. Many years later, Claremore native Clara Fowler (Patti Page) made it big in the music industry. By the way, Claremore is definately not desert, but is located in the green hill country of northeastern OK.

[@TexExpatriate1]

They're hills like that around Claremore for real, too.

[@FAngus-ly8lk]

I wasn't aware there were mountains in Oklahoma.

[@aneamarlivana172]

It was filmed in Arizona.

[@jamesdolan5236]

The eastern part is pretty hilly. No real mountains though. The foothills of the Ozarks

[@stormyalt-ler3159]

Thumbs up if you're here because of Randy Rainbow.

[@user-bh4ge1pm2t]

That's not the reason I am here, I love the song, and I always have. But now I'm curious. I am familiar with Mr. (Ms.?) Rainbows work so now I'll go see.

[@arthurwebb3247]

Look at the background there are no mountains on Oklahoma

[@sparkster1755]

Are there two versions of this dance number, on you tube. I am watching both and at about 3:30 nelson jumps on box and falls thru then steps out...In the other version he only lands one foot in off balance and the girl in blue catches him and he steps out of box. ?

[@sparkster1755]

Definitely two takes on this scene. At 4:30 nelson and cowboys dance ragtime. In this one, to Nelsons left (as he takes off his hat) is the girl in blue dancing. In the other version she is not visible.

[@Duelinator]

That’s the Oklahoma I remember

[@mikelheron20]

Show this clip to anyone who believes mass tap dancing began with Riverdance.

[@charlieclark983]

Michael Bennett had Gene Kelly spin around a pole for the 1971 Sondheim musical Follies, borrowing a theme from Agnes DeMille in this scene.

[@aneamarlivana172]

It was Gene Nelson (seen here in the Kansas City video) who was in the original cast of the 1971 Follies, not Gene Kelly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHfbqpp3fciBfa8 As far as I'm concerned, Nelson was the better dancer, just not as well known.

[@charlieclark983]

@@aneamarlivana172 ACK! Yes I know it was Gene Nelson! I wasn't thinking when I typed. I saw Follies 3x in NYC and 1x in LA and know the cast by heart. Another senior moment! Thanks!

[@terrybroderick1825]

Was this the Cinemascope shot Or the Tod AO? Maybe run both one on top of the other for comparison. You could then see the difference.

[@michaelbrooks4445]

This version is the 35mm print - 2.55:1 ratio. (I am a cinema projectionist)

[@soapydesigner]

No mistaking genders here!

[@cjurschik]

I love musicals and such, but this scene always subs me the wrong way hard. Why did Zinemann, one of the better directors and storytellers I've know, cut the feet in so many moments?

[@jkkay477]

Yes, 4:20 is the most frustrating. Why did he frame so tightly there??

[@cjurschik]

@@jkkay477 just at the pure tapping scene, right? I am going to believe it was an editing choice. The other is that Zinemann had his first wide format film in here and well, he just f*ck*d it up

[@reviewgodusa9613]

@@jkkay477 this is the cinemascope version. Watch the toddao version and it's much better

[@melissaexton8680]

The real question is… Kansas City, KS Or Kansas City, MO?

[@kennethharvey435]

Kenneth What is the frequency A Mystery in Manhattan, Presents, Gifts, Little Italy, Georgia Minie Ball Battlefield, Texas Civil War Museum, Professional Colonial Soldier Camp Skirmish Line, Warm Weather and Body Circulation, Rifleman Skirmish Position Across The Town and City

[@verkaforever]

2:06 Pity nobody told the makers of Strictly that!

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

1:31 the lyric change in this verse is so lame. It should be: One of the gals was fat and pink and pretty As round above as she was round below I could swear that she was padded from her shoulder to her heel BUT LATER IN THE SECOND ACT WHEN SHE BEGAN TO PEEL SHE PROVED THAT EVERYTHING SHE HAD WAS ABSOLUTELY REAL! I understand it was the censors at work, but it's still pretty dumb. I'm surprised they kept the burlesque reference.

[@randysills4418]

musicaltheatergeek79 Our country has always been puritanical!

[@mauricioduron3193]

"One of the gals was fat and pink and pretty As round above as she was round below I could swear that she was padded from her shoulder to her heel AND THEN SHE STARTED DANCIN' AND HER DANCIN' MADE ME FEEL THAT EVERY SINGLE THING she had was absolutely real!"

[@verkaforever]

1:38 Weirdest laugh ever!

[@kellymcphaul2793]

To YOU?

[@moneyblue8466]

Huh

[@rosiebraun6986]

Rsey~resa

[@crotchrottss]

Lol..

[@davidllewis4075]

I think about this when bra commercials come on TV -- they've gone about as fur as they can go.

[@mystic4001]

These are Not nursery rhymes only a gadha will say that 💝

[@rivkier7214]

But not ever man is a sir

[@jarrodanderson2124]

This is ragtime. "I DON'T LIKE IT!"

[@martinze11]

This show should be an object lesson about the dangers of conservatism. Especially this song. Every age thinks that "They've gone about as far as they can go". When the state was new, it was on the edge of progress. Now Oklahoma is the reddest of the red states. Not a single black dancer to be seen.

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

You do realize that even today Oklahoma is predominantly white, around 75%. The black population there is only 9%.

[@lorraineschwartz9956]

Did you not recognize that the lyrics had been Bowdlerized?

[@Berethoris]

this looks like my gay Texan cousin's wetdream

[@harlanmay4221]

Berethoris vat of

[@Lust4life78]

Well one could certainly do worse!

[@homeyginomolly]

Hahaha