1h 41min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 4 November 1953 | Color, FS
Director: David Butler
Stars: Doris Day, Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie, Philip Carey.
Jack Donohue ... musical numbers staged and directed by
Ernie Flatt ... assistant dance director (uncredited)
Edward Scott ... assistant: dance unit (uncredited)
OK, this has always been confusing: Annie Oakley (1860-1926) was associated with 'Buffalo Bill' Cody (but married Frank Butler); Calamity Jane Canary (1852-1903) was associated with Wild Bill Hickok (but married Clinton Burke, William Steers). No wonder I was confused. Here's an episode of The Real West ('92) covering them, Wild, Wild Women.
Songs performed (34 chapters with menu):
- ch2. The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Sung and whistled by chorus behind credits, then sung by Doris Day and chorus
- ch2. Introducing Henry Miller, Performed by Doris Day
- ch7. Hive Full of Honey, Performed in drag by Dick Wesson
- ch9. I Can Do Without You, Performed by Doris Day and Howard Keel
- ch11. It's Harry I'm Planning to Marry, Performed by Gale Robbins
- ch12. It's Harry I'm Planning to Marry, Performed by Allyn Ann McLerie
- ch15. Just Blew in from the Windy City, Sung and danced by Doris Day
- ch17-18. Keep It Under Your Hat, Performed (twice) by Allyn Ann McLerie
- ch21. Higher than a Hawk, Performed by Howard Keel
- ch23. A Woman's Touch, Performed by Doris Day and Allyn Ann McLerie
- ch26. The Black Hills of Dakota, Sung by Howard Keel, Doris Day, with Allyn Ann McLerie, Philip Carey, and Chorus; also danced at ball
- ch29. It's Harry I'm Planning to Marry, Performed by Allyn Ann McLerie
- ch31. Secret Love, Sung by Doris Day
The songs here are terrific, capped by the best of all. All were written by Sammy Fain, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster.
The dancing is mostly DD jumping around in her male impersonation of a woman who functions as a man in the world, and she's great at both (the male impersonation and the dancing).
The offensive part is DD switching to demure female (holding her hands over her heart) when she's been married to Bill (which didn't happen, although apparently she claimed it did). That only happens at the end.
PC (b. '25) is amazingly handsome.
Warner, dir. Butler; 8
