OK I can feel my credibility going down even as I type this, don't look at me like that, who was your favourite childhood actor? Well, mine was Miss Doris Day.

Yes, yes laugh if you want to, but I love all those corny musicals, they don't get you thinking dark thoughts, the most they can do is get you singing the chorus, now that can't be too bad can it?

Things you probably didn't want to know about this film in the first place:

Directed by: David Butler
Written by: James O' Hanlon
Certificate: U
Running Time: 101 minutes
Soundtrack: Classic cheese and I say that with the utmost affection. Songs such as ' Secret Love' and ‘Just blew in from the windy city'

You ain't gonna worry 'bout gittin' yorsel' all dirty are ya?

No Calam.

Here we are Deadwood, Dakota Territory, USA, it’s a little piece of MGM magic, where the people are good and the songs even better, where men are men and Doris Day is the most over the top tomboy to ever breathe.

Calamity Jane or Calam to her friends is a figure loosely based upon real life Wild Woman of the West Marthy Cannary Burke, who was apparently deeply involved in the Civil War, by being a scout for none other than Custer himself. She was friends with a man known as Wild Bill Hickok, but there was no singing or smooching involved…

The men in Deadwood are bored and longing for some female entertainment.
Calamity brags to the men of the saloon, that she can bring a real life entertainer from the Golden Garter stage all the way from Chicagee (Chicago). She sets her sights on glamour puss and entertainer extraordinaire Adelaide Adams (Gale Robbins).

Unfortunately the idea does not go according to plan as unbeknown to Calamity, she has in fact accosted Adelaide’s maid Katy Brown ( Allyn Ann McLerie).

However, Katy soon becomes the first female friend in Calamity
’s life, along with being the most sought after woman in Deadwood.

Even Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel), Calamity’s cantankerous rival does not seem immune from her female charms..

With a grand ball coming up in the town, Katy advises Calamity on womanly ways and even persuades her to wear a couple of dresses.

Calamity only agrees to do so because she has a secret love for Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin (Philip Carey), a handsome young man, who is also vying for the attentions of Miss Adams/ Brown.

What will become of this unlikely foursome?

It being a family musical and all you can bet that they’ll be nothing to sully the dazzling apple pie smiles….although there are a few hiccups along the way…
‘This town ain't big enough! Not for me and that frilled-up, flirtin', man-rustlin' petticoat, it ain't!’ declares Calamity, as she realizes Danny will never be hers.


This is an enjoyable bubblegum romp that can be enjoyed no matter how many times you’ve seen it before, maybe not one of the most politically correct films, but certainly one of the sunniest.

Keel does everything he did in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954, Stanley Donen) and then some. Day once again proves that although she may not be a classically trained actress, she sure can entertain.