Like Doris Day, in "Calamity Jane", Rhonda Fleming starts out in a cowgirl or buckskin outfit, but ends up in sumptuous feminine attire, after changing her mind about Guy Madison, as her new random husband. The contemporary message would seem to be that even ambitious women belong in the home doing traditional feminine things, or at least should be subservient in a mutual commercial enterprise. She needed a husband quickly to gain her inheritance, and he needed an excuse to avoid the hangman's noose the next morning(sounds contrived). So, we have a "shotgun" wedding in a jail cell between 2 strangers. The screenplay is very confusing as to whether it's Rhonda's husband or father who has recently died, leaving her an inheritance. Early on, it's said to be her husband, leaving her and her 2 kids virtually destitute unless she quickly finds a husband. Also, something about she has to go to Boston to receive her inheritance. This is soon forgotten, and we never meet her supposed 2 kids. According to Parnell, she's never been married! Later, it's said that it's her father who passed away. Parnell says her father was an Irish trapper and her mother an Indian princess(clearly, she favors her father). But on the trail to their destination, Rhonda posts a letter to 'Pa', whom we never meet. How many fathers did she have?
For me, the main benefit of watching this mixed up story was to experience Rhonda, with her flaming hair, gorgeous eyes, slim figure, and stubborn attitude toward giving up her independent dominance to Guy.
James Griffith, as 'Slow' Karp, has an interesting role, in which initially, he's paid by the judge to kill Guy. Instead, he accidentally kills the Deputy. A little later, he's hired by businessman Parnell to keep Guy alive until he reaches the wagon train destination. Parnell is paying him $10,000(a bundle in those days)to see Guy to safety, and to steal the document that releases Guy from guilt, said to be due to new evidence. Parnell wants to bargain with Rhonda a 1/2 interest in her fur company for the return of the document. This almost happens, but Guy arrives just in time to snatch the contract and the document.
See it in color at YouTube.
For me, the main benefit of watching this mixed up story was to experience Rhonda, with her flaming hair, gorgeous eyes, slim figure, and stubborn attitude toward giving up her independent dominance to Guy.
James Griffith, as 'Slow' Karp, has an interesting role, in which initially, he's paid by the judge to kill Guy. Instead, he accidentally kills the Deputy. A little later, he's hired by businessman Parnell to keep Guy alive until he reaches the wagon train destination. Parnell is paying him $10,000(a bundle in those days)to see Guy to safety, and to steal the document that releases Guy from guilt, said to be due to new evidence. Parnell wants to bargain with Rhonda a 1/2 interest in her fur company for the return of the document. This almost happens, but Guy arrives just in time to snatch the contract and the document.
See it in color at YouTube.