Oklahoma was featured in a number of Hollywood pictures during the 1930's and 1940's. There was an air of romance and adventure about the early years of our state that attracted filmmakers, though the historic accuracy of what they put on the screen was usually disappointing. "War of the Wildcats" was obviously filmed at some location far from anywhere in our state and the costume designers appear to have never met an Oklahoma Indian ...but audiences would not have minded, they just went to the movies for the entertainment.

The significance of this movie for our purposes, and the reason for its inclusion in this collection, is because of popular culture's power to create a national image of Oklahoma. Between films like this one and John Steinbeck and Oscar and Hammerstein, Americans learned a lot about us, accurate or not. The Oklahoma of pop culture has been accepted as real by much of our nation, and this has impacted us on multiple levels throughout our history.

On the positive side of this movie, some believe this was one of John Wayne's best. If you are one of his fans you will enjoy it.

If you are an historian, on the other hand, the movie will appall you.

If you are just looking for entertainment and you like old westerns and characters like Gabby Hays, then this movie may be for you.

(This film is also known as "In Old Oklahoma".)

        Rodger Randle