Calamity Jane
Directed by David Butler
Written by James O’Hanlon
1953/USA
Warner Bros.
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Oh, the Deadwood stage is a-rolling on over the plains / With the curtains flappin’ and the driver a-snappin’ the reins / A beautiful sky, a wonderful day / Whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away — “Whip-Crack-Away”, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster[/box]
I have loved this movie since I first saw it on my parent’s black-and-white TV set.
Calamity Jane was a real person. This musical takes liberties with her story. Calamity Jane (Doris Day) is a popular figure around Deadwood in the Dakota Territory. She shoots as well as a man, dresses like one, and loves to tell tall tales about her exploits. She is secretly in love with a handsome Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin whom she rescues from some Indians.
The population of Deadwood seems to be entirely male aside from Calamity. The men lust after the photograph of singer Adelaid Adams. The saloon owner sends off for an act called Francis Fryer and is disappointed to find out that he is a man as well. This almost causes a riot and Calamity sets out for Chicago to hire Adelaid Adams. She makes a bet with friendly rival Wild Bill Hickcock (Howard Keel) that she can secure the singer’s services. Hickock says he will attend the first performance dressed like a squaw with a papoose if she is successful.
Through a misunderstanding, Calamity brings back Adams’s dresser Katie Brown thinking her to be the famous singer. Katie’s performance is timid and finally she must confess that she is an imposter. Once she conquers her nerves, the town falls in love with her. This includes both Wild Bill and the lieutenant.
In the meantime, Katie becomes Calamity’s roommate and cleans up both her and her cabin. They are happy until Calamity catches Katie kissing the lieutenant.
This movie is just as fun if not more so than I remembered. I love Doris Day when she is in tomboy mode and can belt out her songs. The songs are catchy and there is not much dancing. Probably won’t make a musical lover out of anyone but if you like them, I can recommend this one.
“Secret Love” won the Oscar for Best Music, Original Song. The film was nominated in the categories of Best Sound, Recording and Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture.
Trailer
Keel and Day sing “I Can Do Without You”.
I love Doris Day but I’m frequently disappointed by her movies. (Don’t get me started on Pillow Talk! Rock Hudson is such a jerk! But we’re supposed to think it’s OK because it’s the 1950s and men don’t know any better and he’ll be a good person now that he’s found true love. Ugh. Doris (and the viewer) deserves better.)
But I love Calamity Jane! As far as I’m concerned, it’s her best movie by far!
The other Doris Day performance I love is in The Pajama Game where she plays the same sort of strong woman.
I haven’t seen The Pajama Game. I didn’t dislike The Glass-Bottomed Boat or The Thrill of It All as much as I disliked Pillow Talk, but I have little fondness for them. I like her in The Man Who Knew Too Much quite a bit.
I saw the end of That Touch of Mink a few weeks ago and I’m thinking of giving that a try next time I see it on the TV schedule.
The one I really want to see is Midnight Lace. Great cast!
I’m looking forward to seeing more of Doris as the years move on. A couple of other movies I liked her in a lot were Storm Warning and Young Man with a Horn. The latter was also in my Top 10 for its year.
I haven’t seen CALAMITY JANE for years. Time to re-watch.
Let me know if it holds up! Obviously, it did for me.
Will do! I like Doris as tomboy, as well. She’s terrific in PAJAMA GAME.
I have just watched Calamity Jane. I am not going to write a review on it, but I can tell yo what I thought of it.
It can as a double feature with High Society and I figured I’d better watch it. 20 minutes in I wondered why I bothered. Western musicals just don’t click with me and there was way too much Seven Brides here.
An hour in I knew why I was still watching it and even enjoying it. Doris Day is as born for that role. It fits her so much better than most of those other roles I have watched her in. She often comes along as a country bumbkin, but that is exactly what she is here. Everything here featuring her is pretty good and she is on practically all the time.
I still do not like western musicals but I do like Doris Day.
I’m delighted that you found something to enjoy in one of my favorites! Doris Day is just as good in the same brash mode in The Pajama Game. It’s a musical too but if you just happen to find it on a DVD, give it a try.