Calamity Jane

source: Calamity Jane

Trailer—Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane

Not the most obvious subject for a movie musical, Calamity Jane is one of the best. Decked out with a variety of subplots (the drag artist, the dresser impersonating the star, the ensuing romantic triangle) the main thrust of the film - Calam's gradual progression from scruffy tomboy to feminine woman and proud of it, and her realisation that her heart has always belonged to Hickock - is hardly a story at all, yet informs everything else which happens. All the principals are delightful, but this is Doris Day's film. Her portrayal of Calamity Jane - a role which demands, and gets, overplaying - is a tour de force. Keel is also excellent playing a macho man who can deal with gentle self-deprecation. And above everything else are the songs. The majestic Secret Love dwarfs everything else, even the punchy and pithy Deadwood Stage and Windy City numbers, but my personal favourite is Higher Than A Hawk, one of the most underrated songs from Hollywood's musical heyday.

I absolutely LOOOOVE calamity jane and i always have since i first got hold of it,its oh so cheerful! doris day is so beautiful and legendary and howard keel is handsome and talented.the songs are all great and/or beautiful.i saw this movie as a young kid and i think i know it word for word including the songs.i really do!i wore out the video cassette! my favourite part of the whole movie is when they are on the way to the dance and calamity is wearing that old coat that custors gave her.i love that song take me back to the blackhills....but it is the best scene of all when calamity takes off her jacket and she is so so stunning, and when bill looks at her he doesn't realise at first thats its her.his face is priceless when he does realise.she really steals the show at the dance...i love it.it is the ultimate makeover movie without question.i will watch this movie one day with my kids and they most likely will love it as much as i do

... who else could put across the Deadwoodstageis number like Doris Day in the opening sequences of this wonderful movie? Right through to her mushy ballad 'Secret Love' she is perfect for the role of the butch cowgirl who gets a feminine makeover and snares her shooting buddy (the excellent Howard Keel, in fine voice here). Doris was a true star, a great actress and singer, game for a laugh and a pretty blonde who transcended her rather trite public image through her talent. Calamity Jane is possibly her best work, and certainly one of the best musical movies of the 1950s (against some pretty stiff competition). They might be making musicals again, but they won't make them quite like this.

From her first appearance aboard the stagecoach, singing "Deadwood Stage," Doris Day dominates the movie in exuberant—possibly too exuberant—fashion, with strong assistance from Howard Keel and his virile voice Returning home from a visit to Chicago, Day gives her account of the "Windy City" in a song that suggests Oklahoma!'s "Kansas City" in more ways than the title… Her quarrelsome duet with Wild Bill—"I Can Do Without You"—echoes Annie Oakley's competitive duet with Frank Butler in "Annie Get Your Gun." But one song is all Doris Day's—and the film's—very own: walking through the countryside on a beautiful morning, Calamity realizes that she loves Bill, and in a voice exuding warmth and tender feeling, she sings the Academy Award-winning song "Secret Love."

Make it this one ! With so many wonderful performances to pick from, I think of this as her best performance. She is so dynamic and alive in this role.It's a very cute story. The supporting cast members are all excellent. It's a beautiful movie to look at. The songs are wonderful. They're infectious. I love the Deadwood Stage - Whip crack away ! It's not just one of the best Doris Day musicals - it's one of the very best musicals on film. Doris Day is an amazing powerhouse. She looks incredible in her leather outfit and stunningly beautiful in her dress for the ball. There's a wonderful scene where she transforms a run-down cabin into a darling cottage while singing a merry song. Not very realistic, but that's why musicals are so fun. I now call Chicago "Chi-caw-gee" because of this movie. Really cute. Don't miss.

Calamity Jane is a wonderful way to lose yourself. We have three daughters who love this a lot. Great, great fun all so professionally packaged that you just lose yourself in the moment. Great tunes, a great looking cast, and sets, and above all an enormous sense that everyone was really enjoying themselves while making this, make Calamity Jane one of the best musicals for escapist entertainment. Very easy to watch, and nothing that would shock a six year old it is impossible not to be carried away by Doris Day's and Howard Keel's performances. While it won't change the world, it will make it a brighter place instantly. Recommended to bring a genuine smile to anyone's face.

This film is one of my favourites. It is funny and touching, has great songs and superb performances. The opening song, is probably the most rousing opening song in a musical. The other songs "Windy City", "Secret Love" "Woman's touch" and "Take Me To The Black Hills" are all outstanding and beautifully staged. The costumes and sets were fabulous too. The performances are fantastic.The always lovely Howard Keel is excellent as Wild Bill Hicock; maybe I'm biased because I can never get enough of Keel's wonderful singing voice. The scene where he dressed up as an Indian, cracked me up. But the main strength of the movie is the wonderful Doris Day, and I seriously can't imagine anyone else who can do Calamity better. She put great energy into "Windy City", and "Secret Love" was beautiful. Her change of heart at the end was so believable, and for the songs and Day, watch this musical! 10/10 Bethany Cox