Starring Randolph Scott, Dinah Shore, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Charles Winninger
Directed by William A. Seiter
Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke
We're ending the summer season beyond the Mississippi with two comic westerns. The presence of longtime western stalwart Randolph Scott makes this look like a typical oater, but the rest of the cast is more typical of a musical from this era. This would be one of the few film appearances of Gypsy Rose Lee, best known today as one of the most famous strippers in the world, and a rare film appearance by radio singer Dinah Shore in something other than a cameo. How does the unique story of a heist gone wrong during the Klondike Gold Rush look today? Let's start backstage with manager "Pop" Candless (Winninger) and his daughter Lettie (Shore) at Honest John's Saloon and find out...
The Story: Pop's goes to meet the saloon's newest attraction Belle De Valle (Lee). Also on the boat is Sam Slade (Bob Burns), who asks for Honest John himself. Honest John (Scott) was once Gentleman Jack, a gambler who just barely got out of Seattle before being arrested. He and Belle had a relationship, but they broke it off. John may claim to be an honest man, but he's really planning one last heist to get the gold dust out of the bank before his rival George (Robert Armstrong). Belle, however, finds out what's going on after he becomes the bank manager, and she's not about to let him put one over on the town.
Meanwhile, Lettie is in love with piano player Steve Atterbury (William Marshall). Pop doesn't think much of him, and he thinks even less when he receives a letter claiming Steve's married with children. Steve is kidnapped and dropped on a boat bound for Nome, but he still finds his way back to Lettie with more than one big surprise.
The Song and Dance: Even the opening spiel admits this is not your typical western or your typical musical. It comes off more as a Yukon-set heist caper with musical and romantic elements,and it's definitely unique in both genres. Scott gets a rare chance to stay in his natural cowboy element and still embrace comedy, and we get a rare chance to see what made the real Gypsy Rose Lee huge on the burlesque circuit. Winninger has a great time as the older man who wants in on the action...and for his daughter to be happy. There's some gorgeous Technicolor here, too, along with terrific costumes reflecting the real Yukon in 1899.
Favorite Number: We don't get our first number until 10 minutes in, but it's Gypsy Rose Lee and the chorus in their gorgeous period gowns showing us how "Every Girl Is Different." We even get a lively solo from dancer Jane Hale as she joins the guys. Dinah Shore sings the other major numbers. She performs "I Can't Tell You Why I Love You" twice, with Marshall after he tells her he wrote it for her, and later onstage when she's heartbroken over him taking off. She also gets the hits "Like Someone In Love" and the Oscar-nominated "Sleigh Ride In July."
What I Don't Like: Saying the plot is flimsy is like saying the Gold Rush was a big deal in the Yukon. The plot barely makes sense, as a musical or a western. As the opening spiel points out, those who are looking for something more action-packed, darker, or more overtly musical need to go elsewhere. Shore and Marshall are basically there to sing and look pretty. Other than "Sleigh Ride In July," the songs are even flimsier than the script, and are basically there to give Shore and Lee more to do.
The Big Finale: Worth seeing once for fans of the cast or 40's musicals or comic westerns.
Home Media: Easily found anywhere. It's currently on several free streaming sites, including Tubi.
No comments:
Post a Comment