Movie Review: Calamity Jane (1953)

Calamity Jane
Starring: Doris Day, Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie, Philip Carey, Dick Wesson, Paul Harvey, Chubby Johnson, Gale Robbins
Director: David Butler
Warner Bros., USA, 1953.

For anyone who has seen TV-series "Deadwood" this movie is a bit culture shock. So instead of folks that look like this:

we get:

Cheery scout Calamity Jane (Doris Day) travels into Deadwood to deliver supplies. At local saloon she tells wild stories about fighting Indians. She also meets her old friend Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel). However the men in saloon are more interested in getting news about actress Adelaid Adams (Gale Robbins).

Rattlesnake (Chubby Johnson) and Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane and Wild Bill

Jane's love interest Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin (Philip Carey) is apparently killed in an Indian ambush. However he is only captured so Jane rescues him. Mr Miller (Paul Harvey) has an sudden open position for actress, because the previous one, Francis Fryer (Dick Wesson) is not a fine lady. To save Miller's theater, loudmouth Jane promises to bring Adelaid Adams to Deadwood. Bill bets with Jane that if Jane manages to get Adelaid come to Deadwood he will dress as an Indian woman.

Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin

Mr Miller and Francis Fryer

Francis Fryer is not a real lady

Jane travels to Chicago to get Adelaid. Hilarity ensues when Jane goes to big city. Adelaid's maid Katie Brown (Allyn McLerie) gets a sudden career boost, when Jane mistakes her for Adelaid. Despite Katie's true identity is revealed, the show is eventually a success. Katie moves to Jane's rundown cabin. Next we see Extreme makeover: Cabin Edition. Katie also teaches Jane to be more feminine.

Katie Brown

Katie's show goes OK afterall

Cabin after "Woman's Touch"

Then follows a love rectangle because both Bill and Danny fall in love with Katie. There is some catfighting between Jane and Katie before the inevitable happy (and highly unhistorical) end.

Calam and Bill

Jane, Bill, Danny and Katie

Happy end finally

Doris Day is spunky as Jane. Jane's and Bill's playful bickering is fun to watch. For a 50s movie, the film contains surprising amount of cross-dressing. Musical numbers are nice and energetic with songs by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. Being a musical this is not a history lesson, but lighthearted fun movie that has a lot in common with "Annie Get Your Gun."

Rating: Very Good