Calamity Jane (1953)

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”.