JohnHowardReid NOTES: The character played by Paul Harvey, Solomon Waters, was originally called Solomon Warner in the script. The name was changed for obvious reasons. Jean often calls him Sol or Wat in the actual movie. Also changed was a bit of dialogue in which Jean refers to him when overcharging her 25 cents for a needle as "an old Jew". This became "an old Scotsman". (Mind you, in my opinion the film would be improved a whole lot if most of the Harvey-Arthur material, which is dull both in the writing and in the acting, were cut out completely). Norman Deming, who is billed here as assistant director, co-directed with this movie's 2nd unit director Sam Nelson, two Columbia 1939 serials, Mandrake the Magician and Overland With Kit Carson. (I'm glad to say that the action material in Arizona is a vast improvement over Mandrake. I particularly like Nelson's pleasing habit of riding horses and wagons over the camera).COMMENT: An attractively rolling title introduces this long, lavishly-budgeted epic western in which the players do wonders to overcome their somewhat cliched dialogue and formularized roles (though in 1940 they were probably less familiar as stock types of western characters). It's good to see George Chandler in a fair-sized part as Hall's henchman. William plays the villain with his usual smooth assurance and Porter gives us his delightful characterization as a small-time crook. Holden is effective too and even gets to sing "I Dream of Jeanie" (which is then used as a romantic theme throughout) right through and a few bars of "Kiss Me Quick and Go" in a pleasing light tenor all his own. Miss Arthur repeats herself from The Plainsman. There's plenty of action superbly directed by Sam Nelson with lots of running inserts as Indians bite the dust. Ruggles makes a commendable attempt to spice up the over-talky Jean Arthur scenes with tracking shots and often lots of extras milling around in the background. In fact, the opening series of tracking shots as Holden and his wagon train come into Tucson is a classic sequence which belongs on anyone's list of memorable scenes. No expense has been spared to recapture the epic sweep of Cimarron, though non-Arizonians might well be bored by the constant plugs for the ideals and aspirations of the Arizona Territorians. It all comes to an effectively directed shoot-out climax though many western fans may feel cheated that it is shown through Miss Arthur's eyes and not through that of the protagonists. I thought it effective anyway. Paul Harvey has a major role which he plays somewhat indifferently. Addison Richards does not seem to be in the 127-minute release print. However, it is most attractively photographed, with realistic sets that convey the primitive squalor of the early west.

jazerbini This is a great value western. It is worth to review Arizona, especially Jean Arthur, beautiful, and William Holden early in his career, in a nostalgic and authentic Western. The film shows the colonization of the American West with the intense conflicts between cattle ranchers, cowboys, gangsters and all sorts of adventurers who have moved to that wilderness of the USA, many paying dearly for their daring: with their own lives. What we see in Arizona is certainly no different from what has happened in the vast majority of American states. The images are perfect, people dress with what was possible in a backward and resourceless region. The physical types, all indications, are perfectly displayed, dirty, with ragged clothing. Violence prevailed in a region without law and without a minimum of justice. Everything here was very uncertain, one never knew if it would be possible to return to the place where one was and even if there would be a day after. Relations were too superficial and life too short. But it also shows the spirit realized of the people of the Wild West, and the character of Jean Arthur fully incorporates this spirit of struggle, of achievement. It is a magnificent film, worthy of being among the best westerns of all time. I believe that if it had been produced in color, surely today it would be appearing among the great westerns.

SimonJack "Arizona" is a very enjoyable movie about pioneer settlement of the West. Without giving away the plot, let's just say that it has enough twists and angles to make it stand apart from the normal grind of Westerns. It gives us a little bit of all the various stock parts of Westerns – Indians, cowboys, cavalry, good guys, bad guys, guns and shootings, robbery and romance, sagebrush and scenery, horses and a stampede, a wagon train and cattle drive. But it's the way those bits are put together and woven into a nice story that sets "Arizona" apart and gives it the feel of an epic film. Jean Arthur is excellent as Phoebe Titus. She's a self-assured, decent, hard-working, and tough Western gal with big dreams. We never learn why or how she got to Tucson on her own. But viewers are taken with her sincerity and toughness which has just a touch of humor. The men in the movie are also won over by her pies. I can't think of another Western that has a pie shop or stand in it. William Holden is a delight as Peter Muncie. This is only the fifth movie in which he was listed in the credits. It's one of his early starring roles and his very first Western. Holden's character has a very likable, easy-going and pleasantness about him. A pity we didn't see more of that persona throughout his career. For most of his roles later on, Holden had a more straight or serious demeanor – even dour at times.Another reviewer commented on Warren William's excellent role as Jefferson Carteret. He played the villain very well. William was a very accomplished actor who might have done some great films in the 1950s and 1960s. But he died in 1948 from cancer. He was just 53. He had played suave, sophisticated and intelligent leading men, and fiends and conniving crooks and scoundrels, equally well. I especially enjoy him as Perry Mason in the original movies about that fictional detective- lawyer. A number of other character actors gave banner performances in this film. Edgar Buchanan, Porter Hall, Paul Harvey and Regis Toomey stand out. The direction and cinematography were excellent, and the musical score for this film was a delight. It received two Academy Award nominations, one for musical score. Others have commented about the setting and feel of reality about the movie. "Arizona" was made in 1940, when it was possible to find space to shoot a film around Tucson that wasn't invaded by utility poles and lines, paved highways and other signs of modern times. The ramshackle settlement of the early town sure gives it a feel of reality. I'm not so sure, though, how accurate a picture that is of Tucson at the time of the story. It's taking place around the Civil War years. The town of Tucson wasn't incorporated until 1877, but the town got its start a hundred years earlier. Hugh Oconor is the founding father of Tucson. He was the military governor of northern Mexico and authorized a fort to be built there in 1775. Even before that, the very first development was the Mission San Xavier del Bac in 1700. The mission is still operating today and is a historic site south of Tucson. Columbia Pictures built the set for the film, with a sound stage, a few miles west of present-day downtown Tucson. It sat idle for a number of years after the movie was made. Then, in 1960, it was fixed up and opened as an active movie set and tourist park. In time, more streets were added and some amusement events were staged – gunfights and bank robberies. Nearly 70 movies have been filmed in part or in whole in Old Tucson, as it is called. Most were Westerns, but a number of mysteries and dramas were made there – even a comedy or two. John Wayne filmed four of his Westerns in Old Tucson – "Rio Bravo," "McLintock," "El Dorado," and "Rio Lobo." A 1995 fire destroyed much of the set and sound stage; but the community rebuilt the movie set town and it is still open today.

grybar This is a refreshing western saga with well-defined performances of some unique characters. Adding to the overall quality, there is a strong current of authenticity in the staging, with both the gritty desert west (the scene is 1860's Tucson) and the settlers of that land making a strong showing. William Holden plays against type as an aw-shucks, boyish adventurer who is smitten with a bold, outspoken pioneer businesswoman played with gusto by Jean Arthur. Both characters have clearly-defined development arcs. While the plot is generally typical western fare, the narrative tends to bounce out of those well-worn ruts, including being mostly true to the period depicted and in the motivations of characters and groups. The video I watched was crystal-clear black & white. This is a western tale with a rich flavor.