Calamity Jane (1953)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

David Butler

Writer:

James O'Hanlon (written by)

Release Date:

4 November 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Musical | Romance | Western

Tagline:

Brand-new song hits by the stage load!

Plot:

The story of Calamity Jane, her saloon, and her romance with Wild Bill Hickok.

Plot Keywords:

Calamity Jane | Wild Bill Hickok | Saloon | Gay Slur | Love Triangle

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Doris Day	...	Calamity Jane
Howard Keel	...	Wild Bill Hickok
Allyn Ann McLerie	...	Katie Brown (as Allyn McLerie)
Philip Carey	...	Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin
Dick Wesson	...	Francis Fryer
Paul Harvey	...	Henry Miller
Chubby Johnson	...	Rattlesnake
Gale Robbins	...	Adelaid Adams

Also Known As:

Calamity Jane (Denmark) [da]
Calamity Jane (Finland) [fi]
Doris Day en el Oeste (Spain) [es]
I gynaika me to mastigio (Greece) [el]
La blonde du Far-West (France) [fr]
La terreur blonde (Belgium: French title) [fr]
Non sparare baciami! (Italy) [it]
Schwere Colts in zarter Hand (West Germany) [de]
Tarkk'ampujatyttö (Finland) [fi]
Västerns vilda dotter (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Australia:G | UK:U | Canada:G | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Doris Day has often cited this particular movie and title role as her personal favorite among her 39 film appearances.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Indians attack the coach, Calamity is seen firing over the leather suitcase. There is a dark spot on the side of the case just below her chin. A second later an arrow hits the spot, apparently following a wire that was edited out.

Quotes:

[the singer is a man in drag]
Wild Bill Hickok: She ain't very good lookin'
Calamity Jane: That ain't all she ain't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Before Stonewall (1984)

Soundtrack:

HIGHER THAN A HAWK

A sure cure for the blues!

`Calamity Jane' is a film I love to take from the shelves when I'm feeling blue. It's so exuberant, so joyous, and so colourful that it cannot help but cheer you up!

Doris Day plays the role of her career as the rambunctious `Calam', the wildcat tomboy of Deadwood City. The fun starts when Calamity is sent to the `windy city' of Chicago to find a vaudeville beauty who will perform at the local bar. Instead of the genuine article, Calamity ends up with the star's ambitious maid, Katie, who decides to make her stab at fame in the star's place. Together, the two find fun, love, and a whole lot of catchy tunes.

Sure, the fascinating real-life historical figure Calamity Jane didn't look much like Doris Day - let alone Howard Keel, who is the last person you'd describe as `wild' - and Jane's transformation from independent homesteader to blushing housewife isn't what you'd call P.C., but if you're looking for reality, head to the Martin Scorsese section. This is light-as-a-feather entertainment done very well, and I can't help but love it!