Calamity Jane (1953)

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

"Calamity Jane" is the story of a girl (Doris Day) who doesn't quite know she's a girl. She has dressed in buckskins her whole life, knows how to shoot better than most men, can lasso, ride, and drink just like a man. But beneath all that bravado beats the very real heart of a woman - she's in love with Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin (Philip Carey, who later went on to play Asa Buchanan on "One Live to Live.") After all, didn't she ride in and save him from a band of Indians? But no matter what she does, she just can't get his attention.

Meanwhile, all the men in town have fallen in love with an actress named Adelaide Adams whose picture is found in cigarette packages. Calamity decides that she's going to go to Chicago and get Adelaide Adams to come perform in their local saloon, and she takes off to go get her. But when she arrives at the star's dressing room, she finds instead Katie (Allyn McLerie), Adelaide's maid, who has always dreamed of going on stage. With this case of mistaken identity, Calamity takes Katie back to Deadwood with her, thinking she's done a wonderful thing until she discovers that Katie really isn't a great actress after all, and that Danny Gilmartin has a crush on Katie.

Throughout the movie, Calamity takes jibes from her old friend Bill Hickok (Howard Keel), also known as "Wild Bill." He too develops a crush on Katie, and Calamity just can't understand why both men are so ga-ga over Katie and won't give her the time of day. With a little help from Katie, she gets herself cleaned up and starts turning heads all over town.

This movie is full of great musical numbers. You'll probably recognize some of them -- "Secret Love" was one of Doris Day's biggest hits, as was "The Black Hills of Dakota." My personal favorite is "Hive Full of Honey," sung by one of the performers at the saloon.

Interestingly enough, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock are both historical characters and were friends. Rumor has it they were involved, although the jury is still out on that one.

You'll have a rip-roarin', rootin'-tootin' time with this classic hit.

Related Blogs:

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

And That's Why They're Called Classics!

HMS Pinafore

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I am a stay-at-home mom, author of eight published books, a freelance editor, and the mother of four incredible children. I enjoy scrapbooking, watching good movies, and taking naps.

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