Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Dalbert Pringle (*Calamity Jane-character movie-quote*) - "You thought I was a man!!??"Hey! - Are you ready for a 1953, Hollywood Western/Musical/Comedy/Romance that's a total.... And I do mean "total" gender-bender?.... Well - Then get ready for Calamity Jane.So - As this gender-bending story goes - Even though she's really, truly, hopelessly in love with Katie Brown (and vice-versa) - Calamity Jane (an implied tomboy/lesbian) totally reforms herself (discarding all of her infantry drag, cussing lingo, and macho mannerisms) and (get this!) (in frilly frock and a sweet, feminine demeanour) agrees to marry Wild Bill Hickok.... (Groan!) Anyway - When it came down to her utterly embarrassing, over-the-top portrayal here - (Believe me) - Doris Day's scenery-chewing "Calamity" was completely cringe-worthy from start to finish.I mean - Isn't it just too ironic for words that (years later) Day would claim that her Calamity character was, indeed, her absolute fave of her entire career?.... (Spare me!)

dimplet The opening of Calamity Jane suggests the movie is going to be a stinker, with a song consisting of the lyrics: Whip crack away, whip crack away, whip crack away, interspersed with whistling and singers going "dumb dumb de dumb, dumb de dumb, de dumb dumb dumb dumb," and then two actors repeating these exciting lines: The Deadwood stage!, the Deadwood stage!, (chorus) the Deadwood stage! as we watch a stagecoach going across a barren landscape. (I tried to write "DUM" but the IMDb spell checker kept changing it to "DUMB." I didn't think spell checkers were supposed to editorialize.)We then see a very butch Doris Day (or pretending to be butch) riding shotgun on a stagecoach making mechanical motions like a marionette. She starts singing the tune and the passengers inside the coach join in. Trouble is, the words are kinda goofy and the melody annoying. This is not looking like first-rate music. The further along this song goes, the worse it gets. Day's over the top acting is atrocious, and reminds me of a puppet from the Howdy Doody Show. When they get to town and she starts singing and talking some more, it just gets worse. OK, she's a tomboy, a woman trying to out macho the men, I get it, but she way overdoes it. And you are stuck watching this cloying performance for more than an hour before she finally mellows out a bit for a few minutes of the movie. If it weren't for her great looks and super singing, she wouldn't have gotten away with it.I've watched it at least twice now, but there are only two memorable songs, Whip Crack Away and Secret Love. I went back into it and was surprised by how much forgettable music there is. Secret Love is a classic, but the lyrics don't really fit with the story line, and the music is inconsistent with the rest of the faux cowboy tunes, so I assume it was written before the movie, and was looking for a home. The good part is there actually is a plot, (a formulaic mix and match romance plot) and the rest of the acting is good. But Day's performance is so bad and much of the music is so mediocre that there is little to recommend this musical. It could have been pretty good if Day's acting had been more nuanced and interesting, instead of a mechanical caricature. And how many times do we have to endure the same, "Give me a sarsaparilla!" joke? (Actually, in those days sarsaparilla was alcoholic, like beer.) I do love musicals, and don't expect them to be too realistic, but I don't like them to get too silly, either. I have seen Doris Day movies that I have enjoyed. Day demonstrated she could really act in Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, not to mention sing. I have read that Calamity Jane, 1953, was a knock off of Annie Get Your Gun, 1950. In addition to better music, Annie had the fine director George Sidney, who had experience directing many solid musicals, including the first Western movie musical, The Harvey Girls. David Butler did not have this finesse, and the result, in my opinion, is an awkward film lacking style. Calamity Jane is not quite the stinker the opening scene suggests, and it is not awful. There are probably worse musicals out there, but I have never encountered one, and if I did, I wouldn't watch it. I find this corny movie so annoying that I think it's actually worth avoiding. There are much better musicals out there. If you want to see Doris Day in one, watch The Pajama Game. Music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross includes: Hey There, Hernando's Hideaway, Steam Heat, and plenty of other memorable numbers.

Jem Odewahn This musical-western-comedy-romance (yes, it packs a lot of genres in!) is a terrific musical treat that shows star Doris Day to her best advantage. She's the lady of the title, but the Deadswood townsfolk certainly don't think this gun-toting tomboy is a lady. It takes a "Woman's Touch" to turn Calamity into a stunner, and by then, her best friend Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel)has lost his heart. Doris Day is so likable in this film-- full of charisma, talent and enthusiasm for her role. If Oscars voters in 1953 had any sense, she would have gained a nomination for her wonderful work here. This Warners Bros musical was obviously influenced by the big success of MGM's version of the stage hit "Annie Get Your Gun", which also starred Howard Keel. Keel gets a similar role, perfect partner for the independent lady if they ever stop disagreeing. Keel and Day worked very well together, and their number "I Could Do Without You" is energetic, fun and one of the best in the film. Keel is so sexy and charming. As with "Annie Get Your Gun", with Betty Hutton as the sharpshooter, Day's Calamity has to have a make-over first for men to notice her finer qualities. Yep, it's probably sexist now but I see it more as an encouragement for women to embrace their femininity, which, like it or not, is always there. I'm a tomboy myself, and I enjoyed seeing Day mix it with the boys--even if she does end up in a dress by film's end.

vitaleralphlouis 55 years ago there were only a few musicals on Broadway, there were few Broadway road show tours, and there were very few local theater groups; but what they did have -- and we ain't got no more -- is original screen musicals. CALAMITY JANE was one of the best.......Forget that clean cut nice girl DORIS DAY was nothing like the real booze soaked, filthy, ugly-as-sin Calamity --- just kick back and enjoy the most hootin' tootin' shootin' musical you ever did see. The story is rapid fire, the music is truly memorable (one of the best ever written for the screen) and the performances by top flight musical stars are just perfect.DORIS DAY was one of the stars I call "legless." Oh, she was bound to have legs, my guess is two, but despite her high powered dance numbers in this film there are no legs to drool over. Just like Janet Leigh and Debra Paget, Miss Day stayed covered. Aw, shucks! I hadn't seen a movie musical (the most stone cold dead genre) in decades; but I started humming the songs from memory when HBO did the "Deadwood" series. "Calamity Jane" is available on DVD and is worth your time and $1.35. Rent it and enjoy the best.