O.K., I thought I'd never see a musical about the creation of an oil pipeline. I knew that Larry Hagman could sing, but this isn't about the Ewing's of Texas. It's about Randolph Scott, his singing bride Irene Dunne and oil wells in Pennsylvania. Like a monopoly game, this takes the viewer a chance to ride on the Pennsylvania railroad through a little town named Titusville, just spitting distance from Lake Erie.
Like many musicals set in this era, it starts with a medicine man (Raymond Walburn), introducing his daughter (Dunne) who sings the title song, an instant hatred between Scott and brutish Charles Bickford, a fire that destroys Walburn's wagon and their being invited to stay with Scott's no- nonsense granny (Elizabeth Patterson), and the sudden love between Dunne and Scott.
Songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II give the impression that this is an intended follow-up for Dunne after the previous year's tremendously successful film version of "Show Boat". It's certainly unique, but the story isn't anywhere near as groundbreaking as that was, although it is unique. Songs pretty decent too.
In her first scene, saloon singer Dorothy Lamour looks rather garish, like something out of a Carol Burnett show sketch. Her attempts to emulate Helen Morgan fall short, although she does play an important part in Scott's rivalry with Bickford and the equally ruthless Alan Hale Sr. whose overly high prices to ship Scott's oil causes him to create the pipeline. Patterson, as usual, has some great moments, even getting to sing a bit of the title song in a duet with Dunne. A youngish William Frawley also adds a few laughs as one of the medicine show employees, getting to sing solo as well.
Like many musicals set in this era, it starts with a medicine man (Raymond Walburn), introducing his daughter (Dunne) who sings the title song, an instant hatred between Scott and brutish Charles Bickford, a fire that destroys Walburn's wagon and their being invited to stay with Scott's no- nonsense granny (Elizabeth Patterson), and the sudden love between Dunne and Scott.
Songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II give the impression that this is an intended follow-up for Dunne after the previous year's tremendously successful film version of "Show Boat". It's certainly unique, but the story isn't anywhere near as groundbreaking as that was, although it is unique. Songs pretty decent too.
In her first scene, saloon singer Dorothy Lamour looks rather garish, like something out of a Carol Burnett show sketch. Her attempts to emulate Helen Morgan fall short, although she does play an important part in Scott's rivalry with Bickford and the equally ruthless Alan Hale Sr. whose overly high prices to ship Scott's oil causes him to create the pipeline. Patterson, as usual, has some great moments, even getting to sing a bit of the title song in a duet with Dunne. A youngish William Frawley also adds a few laughs as one of the medicine show employees, getting to sing solo as well.