Calamity Jane (1953)

Doris Day as Calamity Jane Well, they don't make them like this any more; don't be put off by the fact that it's a musical, or that it's fifty years old, or that some of the acting is a bit larger than life. Just enjoy Doris Day's characterisation of the tomboyish, but not mannish, Wild West Calamity Jane.

In 1953 making a feel-good movie required there to be no unorthodox overtones, so the lesbian interest of the original real-life character isn't emphasised.


Fryer has to go on as a woman Being in remote parts, the town's music hall proprietor sometimes has to book acts by post, and in this case a terrible mistake has been made. Frances Fryer has been booked, and as a female song and dance act has been widely advertised in the town, but it turns out to be Francis Fryer, a man, played by Dick Wesson. There would be a riot if the planned female performance were cancelled, so the show must go on.


Hickock has lost his bet Later, Wild Bill Hickock (Howard Keel) has been pouring scorn on Jane's boastfulness and this leads him to promise to turn up as an Indian squaw if Jane succeeds in persuading a top singer to come to Deadwood. When she apparently does so, he keeps his promise.

HF June 2001


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