Two legendary characters of the Old West are the stars of this 1953 musical by Warner Brothers. "Calamity Jane" is a rip-snortin', shoot-'em up musical and comedy Western that's set in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok are undoubtedly the most famous of the former residents of Deadwood. They weren't sweethearts in real life (Hickok evidently disliked Jane), but their presence in the 1870s Dakota Territory is the basis for a wonderful film. These decades after my first viewing, "Calamity Jane" still is superb entertainment. This10-song musical is lots of fun with comedy galore and a little romance to boot.
And who was there to play the legendary frontier woman and sharpshooter, but Doris Day? While Calamity may not have been quite as robust in real life, Doris Day's athletic and acrobatic portrayal is a real hoot. Calamity also had a rep for spinning some fine yarns. So, Doris meets that fete very well, in between the songs with her great voice. And she has the perfect match with Howard Keel, who lends his voice to a tune or two. Together, and with a fine supporting cast, and a very good plot and script, Day and Keel deliver a great Wild West musical and comedy.
The film was a big hit in its day and finished 30th in box office sales for the year, when Hollywood made a few hundred movies. It earned three Academy Award nominations, and won the Oscar for best original song. "Secret Love" by Sammy Fainn and Pual Webster became a smash hit tune that reached number one on the charts. Several artists since have recorded it, but none have topped the original recording by Doris Day. Two more of the 10 songs in the film became popular tunes of the day - "Windy City" and "The Deadwood Stage."
The real stories of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok were as big as their legends. Wild Bill (James Butler Hickok) was killed while playing poker in a Deadwood saloon in 1876. Jack McCall shot Hickok in the back of the head and was later hanged for the murder. Hickok was just 39 years old, but had led quite a life by then, He served various times as a marshal or deputy sheriff in Missouri and Kansas. And he and Buffalo Bill Cody served as scouts for Col. George Custer's Calvary regiment. Wild Bill was quick on the draw and had killed several men, most, bot not all, as a lawman.
Calamity Jane was born Martha Jane Canary in Princeton, Missouri, on May 1, 1852. Both of her parents died early, and she raised five younger siblings in the Wyoming Territory. Calamity took various jobs. Little is known about those years except for her own stories, until she wound up on her own in the Dakota Territory. She was a definite sharpshooter, and was involved in the area campaigns and conflicts with Native Americans. Her reputation grew as quite a story teller during that time. While she apparently had a yen for Hickock, he had been married and didn't have much to do with her. Later, Calamity joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as a storyteller. She moved around quite a bit and was a heavy drinker, which led to her death near Deadwood at age 51 in 1903.
There are many places of interest to visit in the Black Hills of South Dakota. A visit to Deadwood is like a look into the Old West. One can gamble yet today in one of the saloons. During the tourist season, the reenactment of the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok takes place. And a must stop while there is the Mount Moriah Cemetery atop the hill above the town. That's where a few legends of the Old West are buried. The most famous, of course, are Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Their graves are right next to each other.
And who was there to play the legendary frontier woman and sharpshooter, but Doris Day? While Calamity may not have been quite as robust in real life, Doris Day's athletic and acrobatic portrayal is a real hoot. Calamity also had a rep for spinning some fine yarns. So, Doris meets that fete very well, in between the songs with her great voice. And she has the perfect match with Howard Keel, who lends his voice to a tune or two. Together, and with a fine supporting cast, and a very good plot and script, Day and Keel deliver a great Wild West musical and comedy.
The film was a big hit in its day and finished 30th in box office sales for the year, when Hollywood made a few hundred movies. It earned three Academy Award nominations, and won the Oscar for best original song. "Secret Love" by Sammy Fainn and Pual Webster became a smash hit tune that reached number one on the charts. Several artists since have recorded it, but none have topped the original recording by Doris Day. Two more of the 10 songs in the film became popular tunes of the day - "Windy City" and "The Deadwood Stage."
The real stories of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok were as big as their legends. Wild Bill (James Butler Hickok) was killed while playing poker in a Deadwood saloon in 1876. Jack McCall shot Hickok in the back of the head and was later hanged for the murder. Hickok was just 39 years old, but had led quite a life by then, He served various times as a marshal or deputy sheriff in Missouri and Kansas. And he and Buffalo Bill Cody served as scouts for Col. George Custer's Calvary regiment. Wild Bill was quick on the draw and had killed several men, most, bot not all, as a lawman.
Calamity Jane was born Martha Jane Canary in Princeton, Missouri, on May 1, 1852. Both of her parents died early, and she raised five younger siblings in the Wyoming Territory. Calamity took various jobs. Little is known about those years except for her own stories, until she wound up on her own in the Dakota Territory. She was a definite sharpshooter, and was involved in the area campaigns and conflicts with Native Americans. Her reputation grew as quite a story teller during that time. While she apparently had a yen for Hickock, he had been married and didn't have much to do with her. Later, Calamity joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as a storyteller. She moved around quite a bit and was a heavy drinker, which led to her death near Deadwood at age 51 in 1903.
There are many places of interest to visit in the Black Hills of South Dakota. A visit to Deadwood is like a look into the Old West. One can gamble yet today in one of the saloons. During the tourist season, the reenactment of the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok takes place. And a must stop while there is the Mount Moriah Cemetery atop the hill above the town. That's where a few legends of the Old West are buried. The most famous, of course, are Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Their graves are right next to each other.