{"id":21604,"date":"2012-01-06T15:23:34","date_gmt":"2012-01-06T22:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=21604"},"modified":"2021-02-03T00:59:52","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T07:59:52","slug":"calamity-jane-1953","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=21604","title":{"rendered":"Calamity Jane (1953)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[<strong>Note:<\/strong> The following review is of a non-<em>Guide for the Film Fanatic<\/em> title; click <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=4388\">here<\/a> to read more.]<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;Looks like Calamity&#8217;s been holding out on us, carrying concealed weapons.&#8221; <\/strong\n\n\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Poster-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-21605\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Poster-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Poster-95x128.jpg 95w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nSharpshooter Calamity Jane (Doris Day) bets Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel) that she can bring famed showgirl Adelaid Adams to the small town of Deadwood, but accidentally recruits Adams&#8217; personal maid Katie (Allyn Ann McLerie) &#8212; an aspiring singer &#8212; instead. When Katie learns that Jane is secretly in love with Lieutenant Gilmartin (Philip Carey), she helps Jane present herself in a more feminine fashion; meanwhile, both Hickok and Gilmartin fall in love with Katie, causing romantic tension all around.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aspiring Stars<\/li>\n<li>Character Arc<\/li>\n<li>Doris Day Films<\/li>\n<li>Howard Keel Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Singers<\/li>\n<li>Strong Females<\/li>\n<li>Westerns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nLike <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=21768\"><em>Annie Get Your Gun<\/em> (1950)<\/a>, <em>Calamity Jane<\/em> is a popular &#8217;50s-era musical which Peary fails to include in his <em>GFTFF<\/em>, but lists in his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em> &#8212; in both cases, nominating the female lead as one of the Best Actresses of the Year. While I don&#8217;t believe <em>AGYG<\/em> is ultimately &#8220;must see&#8221;, I would argue that <em>Calamity Jane<\/em> is, simply for its status as a cult favorite. Indeed, the film remains memorable and provocative simply due to its surprisingly strong gay subtext: much like Preston Sturges was able to get away with an astonishing amount of sexual innuendo in his <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=21756\"><em>The Miracle of Morgan&#8217;s Creek<\/em> (1944)<\/a> by playing carefully within the bounds of the Production Code, the screenwriters here present a resolutely heterosexual storyline (Jane is shown right away as being smitten with a man) which nonetheless possesses a definite undercurrent of homosexual playfulness. <\/p>\n<p>For instance, there&#8217;s a rather astonishingly bold moment when &#8220;Calam&#8221; has just arrived in &#8220;Chicagee&#8221;, and is wandering ogle-eyed down the street in her buckskins and a cap; suddenly a beautiful lady looks at her and winks &#8212; deliberately and flirtatiously. Calam, naturally, is simply befuddled &#8212; but what did that woman mean, precisely? Did she <em>really<\/em> believe Calam was a man? Meanwhile, when Calamity first sets eyes on McLerie, she calls out, &#8220;Goshamighty, you&#8217;re the prettiest thing I ever seen!&#8221; (And once again, McLerie mistakes her for a man.) Later, Day and McLerie set up house together&#8230; And so it goes. <\/p>\n<p>Subtext aside, Day&#8217;s character remains refreshingly atypical simply for her unapologetically straightforward, no-b.s. approach to life &#8212; as indicated so clearly in the following verbal exchange:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Hickok (looking at a photo of Adelaid Adams):<\/strong> She&#8217;s charming, lovely figure&#8230; Everything that a woman oughta be!<br \/>\n<strong>Jane:<\/strong> Looks like a fat, frilled up, side of undressed beef to me! <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Although Jane eventually buys into more traditional feminine ideals of beauty (simply to catch her man), she never loses a shred of her spunk or personality. <\/p>\n<p>With that said, I&#8217;m actually not sure how I feel about Day&#8217;s performance overall; I prefer many of the other fine performances she gave throughout her career &#8212; including her portrayal as Ruth Etting in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=13058\"><em>Love Me or Leave Me<\/em> (1955)<\/a>, and her trio of comedic performances with Rock Hudson. However, for the reasons stated above (as well as a toe-tapping score of songs, and solid supporting performances by both Keel and McLerie), I do believe <em>Calamity Jane<\/em> is worth a look by all film fanatics.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Doris Day as Calamity Jane<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Day.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Day.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Day.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Day-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Day-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Allyn Ann McLerie as Katie<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-McLerie.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-McLerie.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-McLerie.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-McLerie-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-McLerie-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Howard Keel as Wild Bill Hickock<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Keel.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Keel.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Keel.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Keel-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Keel-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A fine roster of tunes by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes2.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Tunes2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A fascinating &#8220;layer&#8221; of gay subtext (if one chooses to &#8220;read&#8221; it that way)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Gay-Subtext.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Gay-Subtext.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Gay-Subtext.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Gay-Subtext-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Calamity-Jane-Gay-Subtext-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its cultural relevance as a strongly subtextual, toe-tapping musical. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0045591\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1953\/11\/05\/archives\/the-screen-in-review-musical-western-horses-into-paramount-with.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=3392&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s504jane.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Oe4Mx-tvGGc\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies Video Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[Note: The following review is of a non-Guide for the Film Fanatic title; click here to read more.] &#8220;Looks like Calamity&#8217;s been holding out on us, carrying concealed weapons.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-missing-title-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21604"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68225,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21604\/revisions\/68225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}