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CALAMITY JANE
Doris Day made fifteen movies before striking gold with the vehicle that officially made her a movie star. I'm talking about 1953's Calamity Jane, a colorful and exuberant musical comedy that is a lot better than it really should be, thanks to the dazzling performance from its leading lady.
This richly entertaining musical based on real Wild West figures, was Warner Brothers' answer to Annie Get Your Gun...it even borrowed that film's leading man (Howard Keel). Set in the western town of Deadwood City, the title character is an Indian scout/sharpshooter/gambler/saloon owner whose love/hate relationship with BFF Wild Bill Hickok is turned upside down when she travels to Chicago to persuade an actress named Adelaide Adams (Gale Robbins) to headline at Jane's saloon. Upon arrival, Calamity mistakes Adelaide's maid, Katie (Allyn MacLerie) for Adelaide and brings her back to Deadwood City. Katie's ruse is quickly revealed but a romantic quadrangle develops as Katie develops feelings for an army lieutenant (Phillip Carey) who Calamity thinks she's in love with while Bill thinks he's in love with Katie while Calamity and Bill remain in denial about their true feelings for each other.
This fictionalized musical based on real historical figures is fresh and entertaining from start to finish despite some conventional musical comedy plotting. It is clear from the opening frames that Calamity and Bill have feelings for each other despite all their external sniping at each other...Bill is always telling Calamity how pretty she could be if she dressed like a girl and Calamity lights up when she explains her friendship with Bill to Katie. We know that these two are going to be together by the time the credits roll, but we can't wait to see exactly how it's going to happen.
Doris Day turns in one of the most vivacious and entertaining performances of her career as the tomboy who discovers her inner girl, despite her fighting it all the way...I love when Katie mistakes her for a man and she looks in the mirror and realizes this is not a good thing. Howard Keel provides solid support with his rich baritone and MacLerie does a star-making turn as Katie, perhaps the most significant role of her career.
The documentary The Celluloid Closet, which is a history of homosexuality in cinema, cites a homoerotic undertone to the relationship between Calamity and Katie. I think homoerotic is in the eye of the beholder here and I can definitely see an argument, but there is no arguing that the relationship that develops between Calamity and Katie is the best one in the film, beautifully realized in a duet they have called "A Woman's Touch".
The film features a tuneful score by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster including a soon-to-be pop standard called "Secret Love", which won the Oscar for Best Song of 1953 and was a big hit for Day. The film is beautiful to look at too with realistic looking western settings and costumes, but the biggest attraction here is Day, who really seems to be having a ball in this role and it is clear why she has always claimed in interviews that this is her favorite movie. Musical lovers will be in heaven here.
Doris Day made fifteen movies before striking gold with the vehicle that officially made her a movie star. I'm talking about 1953's Calamity Jane, a colorful and exuberant musical comedy that is a lot better than it really should be, thanks to the dazzling performance from its leading lady.
This richly entertaining musical based on real Wild West figures, was Warner Brothers' answer to Annie Get Your Gun...it even borrowed that film's leading man (Howard Keel). Set in the western town of Deadwood City, the title character is an Indian scout/sharpshooter/gambler/saloon owner whose love/hate relationship with BFF Wild Bill Hickok is turned upside down when she travels to Chicago to persuade an actress named Adelaide Adams (Gale Robbins) to headline at Jane's saloon. Upon arrival, Calamity mistakes Adelaide's maid, Katie (Allyn MacLerie) for Adelaide and brings her back to Deadwood City. Katie's ruse is quickly revealed but a romantic quadrangle develops as Katie develops feelings for an army lieutenant (Phillip Carey) who Calamity thinks she's in love with while Bill thinks he's in love with Katie while Calamity and Bill remain in denial about their true feelings for each other.
This fictionalized musical based on real historical figures is fresh and entertaining from start to finish despite some conventional musical comedy plotting. It is clear from the opening frames that Calamity and Bill have feelings for each other despite all their external sniping at each other...Bill is always telling Calamity how pretty she could be if she dressed like a girl and Calamity lights up when she explains her friendship with Bill to Katie. We know that these two are going to be together by the time the credits roll, but we can't wait to see exactly how it's going to happen.
Doris Day turns in one of the most vivacious and entertaining performances of her career as the tomboy who discovers her inner girl, despite her fighting it all the way...I love when Katie mistakes her for a man and she looks in the mirror and realizes this is not a good thing. Howard Keel provides solid support with his rich baritone and MacLerie does a star-making turn as Katie, perhaps the most significant role of her career.
The documentary The Celluloid Closet, which is a history of homosexuality in cinema, cites a homoerotic undertone to the relationship between Calamity and Katie. I think homoerotic is in the eye of the beholder here and I can definitely see an argument, but there is no arguing that the relationship that develops between Calamity and Katie is the best one in the film, beautifully realized in a duet they have called "A Woman's Touch".
The film features a tuneful score by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster including a soon-to-be pop standard called "Secret Love", which won the Oscar for Best Song of 1953 and was a big hit for Day. The film is beautiful to look at too with realistic looking western settings and costumes, but the biggest attraction here is Day, who really seems to be having a ball in this role and it is clear why she has always claimed in interviews that this is her favorite movie. Musical lovers will be in heaven here.
Last edited by Gideon58; 06-10-16 at 11:18 AM.
