Paramount, 1954
Starring Rosemary Clooney, Jack Carson, Guy Mitchell, and Gene Barry
Directed by George Marshall
Music by Jay Livingston; Lyrics by Ray Evans
Can't Help Singing wasn't the last time Hollywood attempted to mix westerns and musicals. This one trades romantic comedy trappings for a straight-on, stylized satire that makes it more closely resemble the limited animation of the time than a typical musical. The eye-popping sets and costumes were made to be seen as a 3D "theater" experience. By the time this finally came out, a year late, the 3D fad was on the wane, and the movie was released on the regular 2D screen. Audiences at the time didn't quite understand what they were going for...but how does this truly bizarre spoof look today? Let's begin with Paramount's spiel that flat-out tells you this isn't to be taken seriously and find out...
The Story: A stranger (Mitchell) arrives in fictional Lingo County, California, and ends up taking pretty young Susan Martinez De La Cruiz (Pat Crowley) to the local barbecue. Turns out the barbecue is also a funeral for local bad man Robin Randall, whom almost no one is unhappy to have seen shot in the back. Turns out the stranger is Reb Randall, Robin's brother, who is searching for his killer. He thinks it may have been Mexican local Rafael Montero (Barry), who was one of several men to have taken a shot at Randall the last time he was seen alive.
Saloon singer Calaveras Kate (Clooney) just wishes her boyfriend and Susan's guardian Jason Carberry (Carson) would end this madness, but there's a strict "Code of the West" that says all men have to kill their brother's murderers, even if they weren't fond of the guy. Not to mention, the killing is good for Carberry's saloon business. When the visiting Judge Wallace Winthop (Reginal Owen) from Boston proves to be ineffectual at making Randall and the townspeople see to reason, Kate takes it on herself to stop the violence and make sure no one joins Robin six feet under.
The Song and Dance: Hoo boy, is this a weird one. The eye-popping two-dimensional sets, with primary colors that go on forever, is the real-stand out. It was made for 3D, to give the audience the sensation of watching the movie in a live theater. The flat cardboard buildings and brilliant colored walls and floors give the film a truly unique identity that you won't see anywhere else. Look for goofy little throwaway details like Reb's horse thinking he's human and hating his own species.
Clooney comes off the best of the cast as Kate, who wishes Carburry would get his mind off codes and onto her. Owen and Carson also do relatively well as the prudish judge who doesn't understand all this macho western violence and the saloon owner who stands to profit off that "code."
Favorite Number: "Dime and Dollar" introduces us to Reb and the lemon-yellow set as he rides into town, singing about his horse and what he plans on doing. He and Kate argue about the differences between "Man and Women" at the barbecue funeral. Kate laments that Carburry has "Good Intentions" that often lead him to be overprotective of his ward. Rafael boasts of being a "Lady Killer" to most of the townspeople, but Judge Winthrop's daughter Sheila isn't impressed. When she finally admits she loves him, she claims "This Is Greater Than I Thought."
Clooney does the spirited title song with the chorus in appropriately scanty scarlet costumes; a later instrumental version brings bartender Ginger Pete (Buddy Ebsen) in for a quick number with the girls. Kate's dark "Bad News" is a fairly touching rumination on how violence gets out of hand...and how loved ones deal with their grief when it does.
What I Don't Like: If you're not into satire, westerns, or musicals, this is not the place for you. It's definitely not for someone looking for a darker or more sharply-plotted musical, either. There's a reason this flopped in 1954, despite earning an Oscar nomination for those sets. Even today, many people who aren't familiar with western or musical clichés probably won't be able to roll with the theatrical vibe they're going for.
We also need to discuss the stereotypes. Once again, they're supposed to be part of the fun, but some folks today might find white people playing hot-blooded Latin lovers and comic Native squaws more offensive than funny. Cass Daley as Minnie Redwing does get some funny bits, especially in the second half, but she's mostly annoying.
The Big Finale: This is too weird to be for everyone, but if you love satire and can understand that this is basically a live-action 50's cartoon, you may find it as cute and (mostly) funny as I did.
Home Media: Was re-released last June on made-to-order DVD from the Warner Archives; can be found streaming for free at Amazon.
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