As we know, Oscar Hammerstein was drawn to stories of Americana (consider his masterpieces Oklahoma! and Show Boat), but unlike those two works, this is an Americana musical boasting an original screenplay by Hammerstein—and it’s a film that has only recently become available.

Directed by the great Rouben Mamoulian, High, Wide and Handsome is what Hammerstein liked to call a “musical play.” There’s comedy here, but also real substance in a tale that focuses on the discovery of oil in 1859 Pennsylvania. The characterizations are strong, and there’s even a layer of social consciousness as the oil-drilling farmers find themselves up against a railroad tycoon who is up to no good. As Stanley Green notes, it’s a “classic good-guys-vs.-bad-guys” story.

And it’s a musical with a grand score including the unforgettable “The Folks Who Live on the Hill” and “Can I Forget You?” Two years later, the team would essay their final stage musical, so this late Kern & Hammerstein should not be missed.

The standout performance is by the luminous Irene Dunne, an equally accomplished singer and actor. But Mamoulian gets the best from all of his cast, and High, Wide and Handsome is a rarely seen gem.

Now’s your chance!