Starring Rhonda Fleming, Gene Barry, Teresa Brewer, and Agnes Moorehead
Directed by Lewis R. Foster
Music and Lyrics by various
This is another lesser-known film with a lot of history behind it. It was the only musical made by Paramount's B-movie unit Pine-Thomas, and one of their most lavish productions up to that point. Along with the Technicolor, it reflected another major trend of the time. Movie makers had experimented with 3-D films - that is, making a film look like it had three dimensions and could jump off the screen - since the dawn of cinema, but it really took off after innovations in the 50's made the images easier to watch, even in the cardboard-and-plastic glasses required for the effect.
Leading lady Fleming had become known both for 3-D and Technicolor by the time Pine-Thomas put together what would become the screen's first 3-D musical, beating MGM's Kiss Me Kate to theaters by a month. Brewer, who was one of the most popular singers in the country in the early 50's, was snapped up after Arlene Dahl fell through. How do they and Barry fit into the story of the redheads of the title who make their way in the gold-rush Alaska of 1898? Let's begin in Alaska as a man is killed and find out...
The Story: That man is Vance Edmonds (Frank Wilcox), the owner of the newspaper in Fairbanks. His wife (Moorehead) and their four daughters come down from Seattle to live with him, only to find he's dead and they have no money. Oldest daughter Katherine (Fleming) takes over her father's position as the head of the paper. Middle daughter Patricia (Brewer) is determined to sing on the stage. Connie (Cynthia Bell) nurses the men hurt in gunfights. Youngest Nell (Kay Bell) is more interested in taking care of her many kittens than a career.
Katherine is convinced that shady Johnny Kisko (Barry), the owner of the Fairbanks saloon, killed her father. She fills her newspaper with articles speaking out against him and corruption in general. Her mother is shocked with Pat, desperate for a singing career, takes a job at the saloon. Katherine agrees to marry the kindly Reverend Louis Petrie (William Pullen), despite her not really loving him. Pat, despite being shunned by her family, knows who is really responsible for their father's death. Katherine ends up pursuing Johnny across the snow-covered Alaskan landscape to save him from being attacked by his partner Joe Keenan (Guy Mitchell), who isn't as innocent as his clear-as-a bell singing voice.
The Song and Dance: This wound up being a real surprise. It's a robust, enjoyable north-western with a strong plot and a great cast. Fleming is as fiery as her hair as the crusading journalist who is determined to take down her father's murderer, even if she doesn't check all the facts first. Barry oozes smarmy charm as Johnny. Brewer, in her only movie, isn't at their level, but is funny enough, especially in her numbers. The brilliant color and gorgeous costumes leap off the screen even without the 3-D gimmick.
The Numbers: Our first song isn't until nearly 10 minutes into the movie, but it's Pat singing "Mr. Banjo Man" in her blue petticoat and undergarments. Connie and Katie are shocked at first, but Pat eventually has them joining in, wearing rouge and doing can-cans too. Connie and Nell perform a spoof of old-time melodrama at a family party, "Take Back Your Gold." We don't get another number until almost mid-way though the movie, but it's our first chorus routine at the saloon, Joe's lively "Chick-a-Boom." Brewer ended up having a hit with the second saloon chorus number. "Baby, Baby, Baby" is more unique, with Pat stepping out of a curtain lined with lovely lady arms and legs clad in sherbet-colored gloves and stockings. Despite the romantic backdrop and Joe handing her a bouquet, Pat's not really feeling "I Guess It Was You All the Time" after her family shuns her.
Trivia: This was Paramount's first wide-screen movie.
There was to have been a duet for Barry and Fleming at the campfire during the sled trip, "Once More," but it was cut from the film for time.
This would be Brewer's only movie, and the first of two movies for the Bell Sisters.
What I Don't Like: It's the backdrops that reveal this movie's B-origins all too plainly. The "Alaskan snow fields" are frequently projected backgrounds and look as fake as they are, especially on modern TVs and computers. Despite this being 3-D, you'd never know it from how flat this all is. Frankly, the ending seems way too sudden. Katie's about-face on Johnny comes too little, too late. She goes from wanting to see him hanged to chasing after him almost in the blink of an eye. Despite the popularity of "Baby, Baby, Baby," the music is no great shakes...and I really wish this could have been even more of a musical, with more numbers for the sisters together and "Once More" restored to show just when Katie started to have feelings for Johnny.
The Big Finale: A surprising gem with a lot to offer for fans of Brewer, Fleming, or the rousing Technicolor westerns and historical musicals of the 1950's.
Home Media: Kino Lorber restored the 3-D version on disc in 2017, though DVD and Blu-Ray are both on currently on the pricey side.
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