Marilyn Monroe plays a hillbilly bar-hostess in Arizona who is swept off her feet by young Montana cowboy Don Murray; he isn't worldly and knows nothing about women, but his naïve romantic notions nearly convince her this might be true love. William Inge play becomes a decent, glossy vehicle for Monroe, here showing a bit more depth and emotion than in her Hollywood comedies of the early 1950s (though her twang alternates between heavy and soft). Murray (in his film debut) has more enthusiasm than talent, but the supporting cast (Arthur O'Connell, Hope Lange, Eileen Heckart) is strong, Joshua Logan's direction is jaunty, and the production is surprisingly rich and colorful. Monroe memorably warbles "That Old Black Magic" in one of the film's best sequences. Retitled "The Wrong Kind of Girl" for early TV distribution. **1/2 from ****
Review of Bus Stop
