Annie Get Your Gun (1950)

If you grew up listening to the Broadway soundtrack of Annie Get Your Gun, you'll come to associate Ethel Merman's fantastic, belting voice with Irving Berlin's songs. It's completely understandable that you'd watch the film adaptation and be disappointed by Betty Hutton's less-than-stellar vocals. But I appeal to you, as a fellow musical lover, to give the film a fair shot. The original casting choice for the tomboy cowgirl Annie Oakley was Judy Garland, and if you buy the DVD, you can watch her perform a couple of songs. Only after watching the outtakes can you see just how far she would have dragged the film down. Her energy was low, her timing was slow, she was too old for the part, and her expressions were too troubled. Annie is supposed to be innocent, fresh, exciting, and endearing: all qualities a 1950 Judy Garland wasn't. Betty Hutton might not have been able to sing all the songs as well as the immortal Ethel Merman, but she was young, innocent, fresh, exciting, and endearing. Her energy was off the charts! And while the part was practically made for Doris Day-Warner Brothers wrote and filmed a knock-off version, Calamity Jane, for the blonde star three years later-Betty was an excellent choice. She made the audience care about her, and she delivered the lines with such sincerity, she even made the audience take the silly story seriously.Howard Keel played the big-voiced, ridiculously handsome, self-assured Frank Butler. Every time Betty looks at him during their first few scenes together, her jaw drops and she turns to jelly. It's very funny, and I'm sure you'll find yourself mimicking her-I did! He's so incredibly handsome and charming in this movie, it's no wonder he was cast in basically the same role in Calamity Jane-Hollywood just didn't want him to take his cowboy hat off! His handsomeness aside-I know, it's impossible not to notice-he does a very good job in what was only his second film! Louis Calhern plays Buffalo Bill, and when he meets Betty, she asks if he's really the famous Colonel. He says he is, and he's so convincing throughout the movie, I found myself believing that he really was! I didn't even recognize the veteran actor until the movie was almost over, and he actually looked handsome and distinguished in his long hair and goatee. Also, he was very warm-hearted, a choice of delivery that was welcomed, since Betty wasn't often met with warmth throughout the film. All in all, this is a great film adaptation of a Broadway show, combining elements that seem to come directly from the stage-hammy but lovable songs-with additions that could never have been seen onstage-rodeo performances. The production values are very good, including breathtaking costumes by Walter Plunkett. Give it a try, even if you're skeptical of Betty Hutton. She's cute as a button!

Now,I'm the first one to abhor overacting (there is one particular leading lady that I can't watch anymore) but I think Betty Hutton is the perfect Annie Oakley. I'm not interested in comparing her to anyone else;Betty is in the finished product and that's it.Most of the other reviews indicate that "Annie Get Your Gun" is remembered,and newly appreciated,with joy and affection.That's what entertainment is all about.Every song bounces off the screen and I love all of them.'There's No Business Like Show Business' is thrilling and Betty responds to the men with both vulnerability and unbridled enthusiasm.By the time 'They Say It's Wonderful' comes along we are ready for romance and I relish the way Betty positively purrs in response to Howard Keel's masculine charm (the whisper in her voice is exactly right for this lovely duet).Betty Hutton may have been a force to be reckoned with,on and off screen but she deserves recognition as a truly unique talent,never more so than with her ebullient interpretation of Annie Oakley.

I had seen the DVD cover for this western themed musical movie so many times, and it was annoying me that I still hadn't watched it, so I'm glad I finally got the opportunity to do so, directed by George Sidney (Anchors Aweigh, Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate). Based on the stage musical of the same name, with the story being loosely based on the true story of famous American sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Basically Annie Oakley (Betty Hutton) started out as a trapper, with no school education and unable to read, then her talent for shooting is spotted. A bet is put on that Annie can beat marksman Frank Butler (Calamity Jane's Howard Keel, in his first film) in a shooting match, and she succeeds. Colonel William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody (Louis Calhern) believes that Annie and Frank working together could create a buzz of business for his travelling circus, and rival travelling circus businessman Pawnee Bill (Edward Arnold), in the process Annie sheds her original dirty image and becomes a beauty. Annie and Frank bring success to the circus business, and they become very close to each other, although they also have an awkward relationship, trying to outdo each other, to the point when Frank leaves for some time. Annie continues her success, and also forms a friendship with Chief Sitting Bull (J. Carrol Naish), adopting her as part of his tribe, as an Indian, he becomes an ally to Buffalo Bill when going against Pawnee Bill as well. Annie discovers Frank is coming back to an area that her act is touring, they are pleased to see each other, but the awkwardness between reignites as well, to the point when they want to have another shooting match. In the end, Annie decides that the only way to win Frank back, and for the two circus businesses to merge, is to let him win, but Frank realises her feelings for her, and that they will be successful together, so everyone joins forces and everyone gets a happy ending. Also starring Keenan Wynn as Charlie Davenport, Benay Venuta as Dolly Tate and Clinton Sundberg as Foster Wilson. Originally the leading role was intended for Judy Garland, but due to illness she pulled out (she probably wouldn't have suited anyway), Hutton is perfectly cast as Annie Oakley, who turns from dirty backwoods bird into glamorous shooting star, and Keel is equally fantastic as the fellow gunman who falls for her rough charms, they make a perfect duo, both bickering and falling for each other. This film has a fantastically funny and adorable script, great characters, colourful costumes, and brilliantly catchy songs you can sing along to, including "Doin' What Comes Naturally", "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun", the most recognised "There's No Business Like Show Business" and the hilarious "Anything You Can Do", I highly recommend this brilliant musical Western comedy. It won the Oscar for Best Music for Adolph Deutsch and Roger Edens, and it was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Film Editing. Outstanding!

World's greatest sharpshooter Howard Keel (as Frank Butler) arrives in Cincinnati, with his troupe, to put on a show for the locals. The late 1880s crowd is excited. Dressed in ragged clothing, local "hillbilly" Betty Hutton (as Annie Oakley) is smitten with the handsome playboy, but Mr. Keel likes women in satin and frills. Keel is seen with a coach full of them and ducks into a hotel with one pretty, well-dressed woman. Although she's also a sharpshooter, Ms. Hutton realizes "you can't get a man with a gun." Hutton must change her style to attract Keel. She enters a sharpshooting contest against Keel, but may lose him if she wins...A book could be written about the problems occurring during the production of "Annie Get Your Gun", with the most obvious being the dispensing of original star Judy Garland, who was taking too long to bounce back from her increasingly health-threatening ingestions. The show was a huge Broadway hit with Ethel Merman and most of the Irving Berlin songs were already popular. Casting Betty Hutton in the lead seemed like an excellent decision. However, it doesn't work. Hutton is energetic and appealing, but her "Annie" is strained and manic. And, producer Arthur Freed's film crew throws it up on the screen in huge close-ups...Editing is an occasional concern. Observe the change in Hutton's gaping mouth when she begins "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun". Her most physically impressive number should have been opened with more care. Later, she's thrown to the ground under a heavy necklace, dragged around, and seems annoyed (or angry) while performing the humorless "I'm an Indian Too". There is not enough humor in this version of the play. TV sitcom writers spent years making sexism, hillbillies and Indians funny, but there isn't much wit in the script or performances. This material needs to be more playful, and fun. The film simply doesn't add up.**** Annie Get Your Gun (5/17/50) George Sidney ~ Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern, J. Carrol Naish