Calamity Jane (1953)

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]
Silahsörler kraliçesi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
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:

USA:Approved certificate #16445) | UK:U (tv rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1989) | 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:

During early 1954, music from this film reigned supreme in "Billboard." Number one among the singles was a Doris Day trademark, the Oscar-winning, tender ballad, "Secret Love" (music by Sammy Fain, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster). Also, the Day-Howard Keel 10-inch LP of songs from the score, issued by Columbia Records, zoomed to second place amongst the popular albums.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Francis Fryer is really getting into his number ("I've Got A Hive Full of Honey"), he drops his handkerchief while backing up to the trombonist. A quick cut and the chiffon hankie is back in his hand. He didn't stop to pick it up off the floor.

Quotes:

Calamity Jane: Whip, crack, away!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Going Shopping (2005)

Soundtrack:

THE DEADWOOD STAGE (WHIP-CRACK-AWAY)

good old Doris ...

... who else could put across the Deadwoodstageis number like Doris Day in the opening sequences of this wonderful movie? Right through to her mushy ballad 'Secret Love' she is perfect for the role of the butch cowgirl who gets a feminine makeover and snares her shooting buddy (the excellent Howard Keel, in fine voice here). Doris was a true star, a great actress and singer, game for a laugh and a pretty blonde who transcended her rather trite public image through her talent. Calamity Jane is possibly her best work, and certainly one of the best musical movies of the 1950s (against some pretty stiff competition). They might be making musicals again, but they won't make them quite like this.