1h 29min | Comedy, Musical | 20 October 1951
Director: R.G. Springsteen
Stars: Judy Canova, Eddie Foy Jr., Alan Hale Jr., Walter Catlett.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043653/
Watched online; mediocre print.
I rather like this; it rings my feminist chimes.
Judy is a very accomplished lady. She appears to be raising her niece and nephew, running her ranch, cooking for her own large birthday party, writing and singing songs, trying to decide if she should be/look more feminine, and wondering whether to throw the covered wagon race to let her fiance (AH) win.
Meanwhile, her fiance is pleasant-looking, but inconsiderate of her: he plum forgot to get her a birthday present. He's also very weak: he heard that she'd decided to throw the race, and immediately got together with his friends to bet on himself, and chose to use the cattlemen's union money (embezzlement) to fund the bet. Then he decides he needs to make sure JC will lose, so he explains what he's done, and she seems disappointed, yet takes steps to get the money he needs to cover his embezzlement, and reverses her decision to hold back at the race.
The race itself is action-packed, and there's an extra dose of thrills when JC's kids are placed in jeopardy. JC heroically saves the day in multiple situations, and sings 4 songs. While her style of music is not to my taste, her high notes/yodels are fascinating to hear: will she climb that scale, transpose or screetch?
I was aware of JC in my childhood, I think from movies on TV. I'm very glad to have seen this one today.
Republic, dir. Springsteen; 6+
