Calamity Jane (1953)

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

Director:

David Butler

Writer:

James O'Hanlon

Stars:

Doris Day, Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Deadwood, Dakota Territory, is largely the abode of men, where Indian scout Calamity Jane is as hard-riding, boastful, and handy with a gun as any; quite an overpowering personality. But the army lieutenant she favors doesn't really appreciate her finer qualities. One of Jane's boasts brings her to Chicago to recruit an actress for the Golden Garter stage. Arrived, the lady in question appears (at first) to be a more feminine rival for the favors of Jane's male friends...including her friendly enemy Wild Bill Hickock.

---

Plot Keywords:

calamity jane character | wild bill hickok character | cigarette smoking | cigar smoking | sarsaparilla | 

---

Taglines:

Brand-new song hits by the stage load!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Schwere Colts in zarter Hand

Filming Locations:

Stage 1, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's director, David Butler, would later direct 58 episodes of the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver.

---

Goofs

The woman who plays Frances Fryer's date for the Ft. Scully ball is also seen in the chorus line for the Adelaid Adams finale in Chicago and then again with the group of ladies catching the wedding bouquets at the end of the movie.

---

Quotes

[Bill is dressed as an Indian woman with a baby]
Calamity Jane: Gosh almighty, it's Bill Hickok!
[proceeds to laugh along with everyone else]
Wild Bill Hickok: [hands baby over] Here take him.
[stands up]
Wild Bill Hickok: The next man that laughs is gonna get his head ventilated.
[silence and Bill sits down. Calamity laughs again after a few moments]

---

Connections

Featured in Doris Day: A Sentimental Journey (1991)

---

Soundtracks

I Can Do Without You
Written by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Performed by Doris Day and Howard Keel

User Reviews

Mighty Pretty

For a film that is fifty years old 'Calamity Jane' still entertains. It is usually compared unfavorably to 'Annie Get Your Gun' but I always enjoy this more. Doris Day dominates the film; dressed in buckskin or in frills, toting a gun or wielding a broom, belting out a song or doing a pratfall. Certainly a high point of her varied career. Her sheer energy is breath taking and it is no wonder that the rest of the cast seem subdued in comparison. Even Howard Keel is a bit wooden.

The songs are great, scattered through the uncomplicated plot like jewels, from the bouncy 'Deadwood Stage' to the combative 'I Can Do Without You' to the under rated 'High As A Hawk' and climaxing with the anthemic 'Secret Love'. 'A Woman's Touch' is not proof to our modern cynicism (for good reason) but it is still jolly song.

Looking back we can give other readings of the film; the cross dressing, the gay resonances, the treatment of the native Americans, the ownership of land. Which may all be true but it is basically what it is, a colourful and tuneful film that can be enjoyed time after time. It is mighty pretty and on its own terms pretty mighty.