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Calamity Jane Overview:

Calamity Jane (1953) was a Western - Musical Film directed by David Butler and produced by William Jacobs.

SYNOPSIS

Day is the famous cowgirl in this musical extravaganza about the legendary female sharpshooter and her up-and-down romance with Wild Bill Hickok.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1953 --- Ceremony Number 26 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Music - ScoringRay HeindorfNominated
Best Music - SongMusic by Sammy Fain; Lyrics by Paul Francis WebsterWon
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Calamity Jane BlogHub Articles:

Musical Monday: Calamity Jane (1953)

on Mar 8, 2021 From Comet Over Hollywood

It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week’s musical: Calamity Jane – Musica... Read full article

Calamity Jane (1953)

on Jul 19, 2016 From Journeys in Classic Film

Originally published March 21st, 2012 Calamity Jane was the latest film I watched for my Women in Film class and this movie is frustrating.  It’s cute and has some good songs and Doris Day is beautiful no matter how hard she tries, but the issue of femininity and female competition over men r... Read full article

Calamity Jane (1953)

By Beatrice on Oct 22, 2015 From Flickers in Time

Calamity Jane Directed by David Butler Written by James O’Hanlon 1953/USA Warner Bros. Repeat viewing/Netflix rental I have loved this movie since I first saw it on my parent’s black-and-white TV set. Calamity Jane was a real person.  This musical takes liberties with her story.  ... Read full article

Classic Films in Focus: CALAMITY JANE (1953)

By Jennifer Garlen on Mar 18, 2015 From Virtual Virago

Calamity Jane (1953) transforms a Western legend into a frontier Cinderella story, complete with the requisite ball, but instead of a prince our heroine is out to land a handsome cavalry lieutenant. This Warner Brothers musical, directed by David Butler, can't be faulted for its lack of historical v... Read full article

Classic Films in Focus: CALAMITY JANE (1953)

By Jennifer Garlen on Mar 18, 2015 From Virtual Virago

Calamity Jane (1953) transforms a Western legend into a frontier Cinderella story, complete with the requisite ball, but instead of a prince our heroine is out to land a handsome cavalry lieutenant. This Warner Brothers musical, directed by David Butler, can't be faulted for its lack of historical v... Read full article

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Calamity Jane Quotes:

Calamity Jane: I got a strange feelin' somebody's bein' hustled.
Calamity Jane: Look at these! Silk, pure silk! I'll bet her mother spun 'em!
Calamity Jane: [singing] At last my heart's an open door / And my secret love's no secret any more.
Henry Miller: [looks inside stage coach] Is there a woman in here?
[Indians are looking at and touching Frances clothes and bag inside the stage coach]
Francis Fryer: No sir. Just Indians.
Calamity Jane: [singing] Hi Joe / say where'd you get them fancy clothes? / I know / off some fella's laundry line. / Hi Bow / aren't you the prairie rose / Smell like a watermelon vine.
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Calamity Jane Facts
A Columbia Records album of selections from the Sammy Fain-Paul Francis Webster film score was comprised of four songs directly from the soundtrack (supervised by Ray Heindorf), and four tunes commercially rerecorded by Doris Day alone (arranged and conducted by Paul Weston). The original 10-inch LP has been transferred to CD in Britain by Prism Platinum. In 1995, another English label, Jay Records, re-created the complete film score, adding five numbers from the 1979 British stage production.
During early 1954, music from this film reigned supreme in "Billboard." Number one among the singles was a Doris Day trademark, the Oscar-winning, tender ballad, "Secret Love" (music by Sammy Fain, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster). Also, the Day-Howard Keel 10-inch LP of songs from the score, issued by Columbia Records, zoomed to second place amongst the popular albums.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the 1970s, Doris Day recalled seeing early dailies from this film, in which she was stomped about the set in buckskins and leather, speaking in a high, girlishly feminine voice. She immediately brought her line readings down several registers, so she'd sound as tough as she looked.
Doris Day has often cited this particular movie and title role as her personal favorite among her 39 film appearances.
Doris Day recorded the song "My Secret Love" in only one take.
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