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Arizona

Play trailer Poster for Arizona Released Dec 25, 1940 2h 2m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Phoebe Titus (Jean Arthur) is a tough-as-nails pioneer with dreams of starting a freight service in Tuscon, Ariz. Peter Muncie (William Holden), a vagabond passing through Arizona en route to California, takes a romantic interest in Phoebe and coaxes out her softer side. Just as their romance begins to blossom, Peter packs up and moves on. Though charming southerner Jefferson Carteret (Warren William) steps in to lend a hand, he may be plotting in secret to sabotage Phoebe's nascent business.
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Arizona

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic In the American Spectacle class, “Arizona” is the best I have seen so far, partly because it tries to do its job well, partly because it does not try to do anything else. May 7, 2024 Full Review Elena de la Torre Cine-Mundial It is a fascinating historical document of exceptional value for its authenticity and for its human potential. [Full review in Spanish] Sep 16, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Star power (Jean Arthur and the young William Holden) elevate this routine Western, directed by Wesley Ruggles, better known for helming Cimarron. Rated: C+ Jul 31, 2010 Full Review Scott Weinberg DVDTalk.com It's not as gritty as John Wayne or as romantic as Louis L'Amour, but the flick's a solid enough black & white throwback to keep the Western fans suitably entertained. Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 19, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Harry N I never saw a Jean Arthur movie. She carries the full weight of this movie. It is a saga of emerging Tucson as a territory and part of the future state of Arizona. It was filmed in the area thus adding authenticity. What I most enjoyed was it's daring use of a female lead to carry the whole film. Seems revolutionary for 1940's. Especially as a western. To it's credit it did not glamorize the Confederacy. It was pro U.S. Union. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/24 Full Review deke p Interesting. Some historical relevance: Confederates in Arizona were 'bad guys'. Some good acting. But JEAN ARTHUR a bit hokey as the 'strong pioneer woman', almost like DORIS DAY as Annie Oakley. Wm HOLDEN almost unrecognizably young. Saw it on TV 5.2020, next time pay more attention. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Strong female lead, an independent woman making her own way and her own life in the new Territory of Arizona. AND family friendly. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member I like Jean Arthur movies, and I especially like this one, even though her character, a brave and straightforward self-sufficient settler in Arizona, does back down into the traditional female role of "wife and homemaker". Sign of the times, I guess. Enjoy it anyway. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member epic western and a good example of a western w/o john wayne or john ford. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review bill t The more unusual thing about this movie first of all, is that it presents a female character as the lead in a Western. You don't really see that happening too often (Oh OK, now that I think about it, Johnny Guitar, Way Down East, heck even Broken Blossoms). Jean Arthur is here playing the toughest gun slinging, hell raising Pie baker in the wild west! (well, OK, Tucson). Soon a wagon train heading to California comes into town, bringing William Holden with it. Arthur immediately gets goo-goo eyes for Holden, while Holden rather interestingly makes up an excuse about wanting to see the sun go down in California and finds a convenient reason to leave. Actually, it was quite funny watching Holden come and go all the time, making me believe that he was, excuse the expression, sowing his oats somewhere else. While Holden is who-knows where, Arthur has to put up with the advances of Warren William, playing a slimeball opportunist who, in something that really wasn't made totally clear, is clearly out to ruin Arthur's enterprise. Somewhat funny in it's sexism ways (Arthur just seems to become feminine in an instant whenever Holden is around) but a grand adventure nevertheless, Arizona is a good popcorn movie. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Arizona

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Movie Info

Synopsis Phoebe Titus (Jean Arthur) is a tough-as-nails pioneer with dreams of starting a freight service in Tuscon, Ariz. Peter Muncie (William Holden), a vagabond passing through Arizona en route to California, takes a romantic interest in Phoebe and coaxes out her softer side. Just as their romance begins to blossom, Peter packs up and moves on. Though charming southerner Jefferson Carteret (Warren William) steps in to lend a hand, he may be plotting in secret to sabotage Phoebe's nascent business.
Director
Wesley Ruggles
Producer
Wesley Ruggles
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1940, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
2h 2m
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