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Pretty Good

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Blistering performances.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

(*Calamity Jane-character movie-quote*) - "You thought I was a man!!??"Hey! - Are you ready for a 1953, Hollywood Western/Musical/Comedy/Romance that's a total.... And I do mean "total" gender-bender?.... Well - Then get ready for Calamity Jane.So - As this gender-bending story goes - Even though she's really, truly, hopelessly in love with Katie Brown (and vice-versa) - Calamity Jane (an implied tomboy/lesbian) totally reforms herself (discarding all of her infantry drag, cussing lingo, and macho mannerisms) and (get this!) (in frilly frock and a sweet, feminine demeanour) agrees to marry Wild Bill Hickok.... (Groan!) Anyway - When it came down to her utterly embarrassing, over-the-top portrayal here - (Believe me) - Doris Day's scenery-chewing "Calamity" was completely cringe-worthy from start to finish.I mean - Isn't it just too ironic for words that (years later) Day would claim that her Calamity character was, indeed, her absolute fave of her entire career?.... (Spare me!)

A rollicking musical western, featuring Doris Day and Howard Keel both singing their hearts out. It's a simple story and none the worse for that. Above all it's a vehicle for Doris Day - showcasing that sparkling voice. The opening sequence is memorably vibrant and her exuberance also comes to the fore in "Windy City". Howard Keel has a fine solo but perhaps the most memorable moment is Doris's rendition of "Secret Love". This whole sequence has a serenity that is absent from the rest of the film and Doris wears a wonderfully elegant shirt and trouser combination - which shows that a more casual look - a very simple outfit- is what makes a lady look her best. I find it amusing that designer gowns about which so much fuss is made in the media and whose labels and creators are so over praised are here comprehensively put in the shade. These few minutes of film show how bogus the fashion industry is!

Calamity Jane is directed by David Butler and written by James O'Hanlon. It stars Doris Day, Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie, Phillip Carey & Dick Wesson. The score features music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. Out of Warner Brothers, the film is seen as a response to the success of MGM's production of Annie Get Your Gun in 1950, where Keel was also starring. Plot here is loosely based on the life of Wild West heroine Calamity Jane (Day) and explores the relationship between Wild Bill Hickok (Keel) and herself. I guess the first thing that should be said is that this is no biography of one Martha Jane Cannary Burke (AKA: Calamity Jane), In truth this is more a comedy musical romp built around the famous frontiers woman. And with it being very basic on narrative and direction, this really only appeals to the film fan with musical leanings. But on that score the film is delightful, with spirited lead performances from Day & Keel and a handful of truly great tunes headed by the Oscar winning "Secret Love". The film also earns some bonus points for giving Day the chance to play something other than the naive innocent girl next door type (it was a personal favourite role of hers). She gets to be spunky and brash without ever losing that adorable appeal that carried her throughout her career. The play on sexual stereotypes is rather humorous without being twee, something that you feel Butler was under appreciated for, and Wilfred M. Cline's colour photography enhances the playfulness of it all. Seen now as a feminist fantasy with a gay following thanks to "Secret Love", there's no denying the film is all very Hollywoodized; with characters so animated they could burst. But all told, if one is able to forgive and see past its flaws then it's a film guaranteed to light up the darkest of wintry days. 7/10

This is a great Doris Day vehicle, showcasing all of her talents: singing, dancing, acting and comedic ability. It is also a perfect example of Hollywood's mutilation of truth, unfortunately. Watch this for pure entertainment, and completely disregard any historical accuracy about the people who are depicted.Let us not forget that Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok were REAL people. As legends of the old west, the folklore, tall tales and blatant lies blind us to facts. All the truth about them will probably never be known.The script represents Wild Bill Hickok as an honest, honorable, gentlemanly fellow, and Calamity Jane as a buffoon, blow-hard, liar and farce. Hollywood mixed up the people. It is true that Wild Bill Hickok had been a scout, fought in Indian wars, … and had many accomplishments. But he was also a known for embellishing his feats as he retold them, fabricating exploits, was more of a buffalo hunter for the army than a scout, drank, brawled and got into shoot-outs too much, was habitually in trouble with the law – in short, a rather colorful, lawless, wild frontiersman who ran out of frontier. (He was shot in the back of the head during a card game.) Martha Jane Canary, a.k.a. Calamity Jane, was no polished or dainty lady, but was generous to the needy and sick. In reality, she could out-do most men at their own activities in an even more male-dominated world. As a result, many simply denied her accomplishments. Others embellished stories as they were retold, and she did as the men of the time – told some lies about herself. Please be aware of some actual facts. She did work for the U.S. Army as a scout for 6 years. This was an extremely dangerous job requiring great knowledge of the territory, Indians, wilderness survival skills, and the ability to kill to stay alive. Do not forget that survival alone was insufficient; accurate and useful reports were required to maintain one's position, as well as joining the fighting. Calamity Jane did save passengers of the Deadwood Stagecoach, by grabbing the reins after the driver was killed. (Some reports state she drove for another line for a while.) Most men did not have the skill to drive a stagecoach. She nursed miners through a smallpox epidemic. She was a very good shot. She could hold her own at the bar and in a bar brawl, as well as work the women's side. She originally joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as a western legend, sharp shooter and trick rider, but eventually became a sideshow attraction and was fired after too much drinking and fighting. (And let us not forget that William F. Cody was adept at gaining the public's interest by having dime store novels published about tales of the west. Many of them were extreme exaggerations and blatant lies.) She did eventually marry, but not Wild Bill Hickok. (She claimed she did, but there is no sufficient substantiating evidence.) Numerous reports corroborate that she was infatuated with Hickok, but he was not interested in her. Calamity Jane was a unique collection of diverse talents, obsessed with adventure and danger, but also caring, who never seemed to find peace. (She died of pneumonia in a drunken stupor.)