Leonard Maltin calls this a minor musical, and that it surely is, but it is still something you can enjoy. I've always enjoyed Randolph Scott and he plays a role much like that role he had in The Spoilers--but with a happier ending--here he reforms! Gypsy Rose Lee is fun and a looker; Dinah Shore's singing is, of course,terrific--though why they didn't do a hair style that would have been more attractive we'll never know. Charles Winninger and Florence Bates are both old pros and always add to anything of which they are a part. The ongoing feud between Bob Burns (how many people know who he was) and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams is fun and brought a number of laughs for this reviewer. The plot is weak so if you're looking for a great movie you'll be disappointed, but if you're looking for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon--enjoy!
18 Reviews
Gypsy Rose Lee in the frozen north.
bkoganbing19 July 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Randolph Scott tones it down a might, but he continues in the role he had in The Spoilers as a con man in Alaska. He's running a gambling establishment in Malamute and has taken great pains to establish his identity as HONEST John Calhoun. Up pops Gypsy Rose Lee an old girl friend who heads a group of chorus girls who support her act. She's rightly suspicious and Randy has a con working with the help of Bob Burns, Charles Winninger and especially Victor Killian. I'm not going to say more, except it's a beaut.
The main problem with the film is Gypsy Rose Lee can't act. But with those two prominent weapons of mass destruction she's sporting, who cares. William Marshall who's the second lead also can't act worth anything and he doesn't have what Gypsy has for a distraction.
Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke wrote two of their biggest songs from the 40s for this film and interestingly enough NOT introduced by Bing Crosby although he did record them. The introducer is Dinah Shore who plays Winninger's daughter in the film and she sings Sleigh Ride In July and Like Someone In Love and does them well. What she saw in William Marshall I can't figure out.
If you like Randolph Scott and Gypsy Rose Lee's assets that's a good enough reason to watch this.
The main problem with the film is Gypsy Rose Lee can't act. But with those two prominent weapons of mass destruction she's sporting, who cares. William Marshall who's the second lead also can't act worth anything and he doesn't have what Gypsy has for a distraction.
Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke wrote two of their biggest songs from the 40s for this film and interestingly enough NOT introduced by Bing Crosby although he did record them. The introducer is Dinah Shore who plays Winninger's daughter in the film and she sings Sleigh Ride In July and Like Someone In Love and does them well. What she saw in William Marshall I can't figure out.
If you like Randolph Scott and Gypsy Rose Lee's assets that's a good enough reason to watch this.
Klondike Belle
richardchatten5 October 2016
Supposedly set in the old Klondike at the time of the gold rush; we get a jokey opening narration similar to the prologue three years earlier to 'Louisiana Purchase' (1941) advising us in advance that we will be getting glossy escapism, not gritty realism. We see little of the film's hinterland setting beyond a brief shot of what looks like a black & white photograph of a couple of mountains; and the story could just as easily have been set in a speakeasy during prohibition or a contemporary New York nightclub. However, 'Belle of Chicago' or 'Belle of Brooklyn' wouldn't have had quite the same ring - or accommodated Don Loper's colossal saloon set in which most of the action takes place; and which along with his costumes and choreography (dressed in Technicolor by veteran cameraman Ray Rennahan) look as if they consumed about half the film's budget. All those chorus girls in glossy red lipstick flinging their legs in the air would also have been more likely to have encountered problems with the Hays Office in a contemporary setting.
No one character ever seems to be the focus of the film; but being the tallest - as well as being Randolph Scott - a smiling Scott just about qualifies as the film's central hero. Although in the title role, Gypsy Rose Lee functions more as Dinah Shore's female buddy; and with their long faces, matching blood red lipstick, alarmingly corseted dresses and vertical hairstyles could pass for sisters. The 'action' tends to consist mainly of the two girls singing about their burgeoning romantic passions, until there is finally a conclusion appropriate to a western when Robert Armstrong (who alone appears to be acting in something more rugged) organises a bank robbery to end the film with something passing for action.
Some of the sets are sufficiently stylised to have possibly helped ten years later to inspire those for 'Red Garters'; or Vienna's saloon in 'Johnny Guitar'. The film's most eye-popping use of colour is saved for the final scene when the chorus are shot from below energetically dancing the Can-Can, although their pale green dresses flicking about their rose red petticoats manage to look remarkably like costumes from a two-colour rather than a three-strip Technicolor production.
No one character ever seems to be the focus of the film; but being the tallest - as well as being Randolph Scott - a smiling Scott just about qualifies as the film's central hero. Although in the title role, Gypsy Rose Lee functions more as Dinah Shore's female buddy; and with their long faces, matching blood red lipstick, alarmingly corseted dresses and vertical hairstyles could pass for sisters. The 'action' tends to consist mainly of the two girls singing about their burgeoning romantic passions, until there is finally a conclusion appropriate to a western when Robert Armstrong (who alone appears to be acting in something more rugged) organises a bank robbery to end the film with something passing for action.
Some of the sets are sufficiently stylised to have possibly helped ten years later to inspire those for 'Red Garters'; or Vienna's saloon in 'Johnny Guitar'. The film's most eye-popping use of colour is saved for the final scene when the chorus are shot from below energetically dancing the Can-Can, although their pale green dresses flicking about their rose red petticoats manage to look remarkably like costumes from a two-colour rather than a three-strip Technicolor production.
A very lightweight musical/western
jeffhanna315 December 2005
Although the plot of Belle of the Yukon is so tired that its not worth recounting (but isn't this true of most old musicals?), this gorgeously technicolored musical/western has some pleasing elements of interest for fans of 1940's nostalgia. The young, brunette Dinah Shore (with an eye-poppingly voluptuous figure) sings beautifully two lovely standards, "Like Someone in Love," and "Sleighride in July." What a warm, pleasing voice she had. One of the all-time great singers. Her blonde, blue-eyed love interest, William Marshall, is so ridiculously pretty that he looks like a vintage comic book hero come to life. Gypsy Rose Lee is relaxed and fun with her foot-high pompadours and Belle Epoque gowns by Don Loper, and a very handsome Randolph Scott is clearly enjoying himself.
Gold Rush Gypsy
jjnxn-18 May 2013
Colorful minor musical is of interest mostly as a chance to get a glimpse of Gypsy Rose Lee in one of her few movie appearances. She offers a pleasant performance, nothing special but full of personality. It also has some eye popping costumes in vivid Technicolor and Gypsy's hair is done up in some truly gravity defying styles throughout. Dinah Shore doesn't make much of an impression, her high sweet thin voice is put to service on some forgettable songs but in the acting department she is woeful. Fortunately the supporting cast of old pros is there to prop up the shaky leads with Florence Bates, usually cast as stuffy matrons, fun as Gypsy's flashy traveling companion.
It's enjoyable enough, but, oddly, there's almost no plot!!
planktonrules27 March 2010
This is a weird Randolph Scott film, as it's not exactly a western (it's set in the Yukon, not the American west) and practically nothing really happens in the film! Seriously, it's a nice assemblage of characters and they act and interact but there really is very little tension and not much of a consistent plot. Odd, but still likable enough.
Aside from Scott, the film has a good collection of character actors. Guinn Williams plays a typical affable idiot (like he played in almost all his films), though where his character goes at the end of the film was VERY unlike his other roles. Dinah Shore is on hand to sing a few songs. Charles Winninger plays the usual Winninger type character. Robert Armstrong is kind of a villain....sort of. Now here's the odd one--Gypsy Rose Lee (the famous stripper) is Scott's love interest, though in this film she keeps her clothes on and shows no signs of her former career.
The plot, for what it is, is about all the characters. Scott, in an odd move, isn't even the main focus of the film--he's just there. While I could try to explain them and what they did, it seemed like the film makers just told everyone to wing it! There is some sort of plot near the very end about stolen gold, but it occupies very little of the film.
Overall, watchable and not a bad film...just not a really good one either.
Aside from Scott, the film has a good collection of character actors. Guinn Williams plays a typical affable idiot (like he played in almost all his films), though where his character goes at the end of the film was VERY unlike his other roles. Dinah Shore is on hand to sing a few songs. Charles Winninger plays the usual Winninger type character. Robert Armstrong is kind of a villain....sort of. Now here's the odd one--Gypsy Rose Lee (the famous stripper) is Scott's love interest, though in this film she keeps her clothes on and shows no signs of her former career.
The plot, for what it is, is about all the characters. Scott, in an odd move, isn't even the main focus of the film--he's just there. While I could try to explain them and what they did, it seemed like the film makers just told everyone to wing it! There is some sort of plot near the very end about stolen gold, but it occupies very little of the film.
Overall, watchable and not a bad film...just not a really good one either.
Mixing Western, Musical and Comedy stay palatable for all tastes!!!
elo-equipamentos9 February 2020
Definitely it wasn't fit as a true western as supposed to be, a Musical maybe or a Comedy, certainly it was all them, mixing three genres at once, a colorful picture on the exact meaning of the word, set at Yukon on gold rush it's really enjoyable, not Randolph Scott's trademark who plays a honest Saloon's owner John Calhoun with big stage set to present dancing girls and fabulous brunette singer as Lettie Candless (Dinah Shore) when arrive his newest hired star Belle De Valle (Gypsy Rose Lee) an old acquaintance of Calhoun, the plot is bit silly, however works, there are several gorgeous girls, plenty humor in every single scene, although no action at all, but easy to see, the songs are outdated by now, nevertheless it doesn't hurt anyone, the power trio Charles Winninger as Pop, Guinn Williams as rough Sherriff and the newcomer Bob Burns as Sam Slade bringing together an outstanding performance and became the movie palatable for all tastes!!
Resume:
First watch: 2010 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.5
Resume:
First watch: 2010 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.5
Good Rainy Afternoon
zboston36 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
One could envy the first movie viewers who saw this flick in 1944. It's a gorgeously colorful film with a lot of good looking women floating around. You would quickly realize that the so called Western plot is just something strung between the comic and musical numbers, most of which are good old fun. There's a number of regulars among the actors, as well as some newcomers and less familiar faces. Dinah Shore takes some getting used to, but she sings and handles humor quite well. Gypsy Rose Lee is sort of a slimmed down Mae West who tosses off her lines like she's throwing gloves to a cheering crowd. It would have been nice if Hollywood had made more use of her.
And Randolph Scott is a good sport about it all.
So when you've got the time and want some light entertainment, this is it.
And Randolph Scott is a good sport about it all.
So when you've got the time and want some light entertainment, this is it.
ODD and DISAPPOINTING Randolph Scott Movie!
vitaleralphlouis13 September 2007
There weren't many Technicolor movies made during World War II because of military needs, but Hollywood generated a few. A 1944 RKO Radio Picture with a title like BELLE of the YUKON led me to expect a hootin' tootin' shootin' western yarn with an up-north setting. Wrong, McGee! This one is 75% musical comedy and 25% western, with big Broadway style production numbers rigged-up on the saloon stage. What you get is songs by Dinah Shore and Gypsy Rose Lee, quite a few running-gags, and a minor plot about a bank robbery. Almost no gunfire, no horseback chases, no real action.
The 3-strip Technicolor of 1944 yielded stunning photography, but do not look for it here. Hollywood studios were poor caretakers of their old movies and this one is badly faded. Call this Exhibit A about Hollywood's snow job to the public concerning the quality of sound and image on DVD's. What they did was a careful clean-up job on a very few old films (such as To Have and Have Not) in order to sell the concept. But that's done with. Now they give us DVD's with C- to D+ quality, no better and often worse than VHS.
The 3-strip Technicolor of 1944 yielded stunning photography, but do not look for it here. Hollywood studios were poor caretakers of their old movies and this one is badly faded. Call this Exhibit A about Hollywood's snow job to the public concerning the quality of sound and image on DVD's. What they did was a careful clean-up job on a very few old films (such as To Have and Have Not) in order to sell the concept. But that's done with. Now they give us DVD's with C- to D+ quality, no better and often worse than VHS.
Wonderful light comedy/western
hmflashgordon7 March 2008
I like this movie as it represents a different style & is refreshing. The costumes & scenery are outstanding & quite something to see especially in colour. I can watch this movie over & over again without being bored. The characters are well played & entertaining. I'm glad I came across it & thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a nice change to see Randolph Scott play a different type of role & I think he must have had 'fun' doing this movie. Gypsy Rose Lee is perfect in her role as the "Belle of the Yukon". Dinah Shore is well suited as the 'Nightingale of the North' with her singing. The comedic undertones add a lift to the movie & keeps it rolling. All in all this is a light & entertaining type of movie.
Good
manitobaman8129 August 2014
Set in the days of the great Canadian Gold Rush, this rousing musical stars Randolph Scott as a "reformed" con artist-turned-dance hall owner whose girlfriend, singer Gypsy Rose Lee, tries to keep him on the straight and narrow. I really like this type of film, as it reminds me of French movies where it's more about the characters and their environment. It also reminds me of some of those sombre Chinese films that were popular back in the 1990. From an artistic standpoint, it holds its own. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose. 7 outta 10.
"You can carry this honesty thing too far!"
classicsoncall7 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is what - a romantic, musical Western? I challenge anyone to figure out what the story was about, even though on the surface it looks like 'Honest' John Calhoun (Randolph Scott) is setting up the folks of Malemute, Alaska to steal their gold, which they willingly deposit into the bank that Calhoun just founded! The picture is really perplexing because for all the emphasis put on Calhoun running an honest gambling joint, he's this far away from absconding with the town's funds with the help of willing allies in crime. On top of that, Calhoun has a romance in waiting with the appearance in town of Gypsy Rose Lee, the picture never really settling on whether her name is Belle De Valle or Belle Del Valle, both seem to be used interchangeably. And what would a Randolph Scott flick be without the addition of Dinah Shore as saloon singer Lettie Candless? I swear, this 'Western' had one of the most eclectic casts I'd ever encountered, and it's not even set out West - just check the title! With too much happening to reasonably keep track of, the early going is slowed down by the film's selection of songs introduced by Miss Shore, so much so that you might wonder if the filmmakers had any idea what they were going after. When it's finally over, the question of 'Honest' John Calhoun's honesty is settled for him by default, leaving him just about as puzzled as the viewer watching this picture.
Now here is a Stinker!
dougandwin8 August 2005
If you combine the worst acting , the worst songs, the worst script and the worst direction you will describe "Belle of the Yukon" - one wonders how Randolph Scott ever got convinced that he should be in this travesty of , I guess, a Western, but he was able to go through the movie with one expression only. As for Gypsy Rose Lee the less said the better, as her acting attempts were pathetic, and the odd one-liners she had to deliver fell flat in the worst way, and when she tried to look seductive, I was amazed Scott could keep a straight face. Dinah Shore was terribly miscast and looked past it, while two old stagers in Charles Winninger and Florence Bates must have dreamed of their good old days when they had been in good films rather than one of the great disasters of the era! The only redeeming feature was the color photography. Do not waste your time.
Pretty to look at, otherwise awful!
mark.waltz5 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The color of the Canadian territory of the Yukon is proudly displayed in this beautiful to look at semi-musical about a Saloon owner (Randolph Scott), his former flame (Gypsy Rose Lee) who arrives to entertain, the saloon's manager (Charles Winninger), and his pretty daughter (Dinah Shore) who is in love with a man supposedly married with children (William Marshall). Scott is involved in a scheme to defraud the local residents thanks to a phony professor ("Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" grandfather Victor Kilian) and when he is on the verge of being exposed by Ms. Lee, he changes his plans. Another villain (Robert Armstrong) uses this as an opportunity to take away the gold stashed in Scott's newly opened bank, while Sheriff Guinn "Big Boy" Williams has various supposedly humorous encounters with hick Bob Burns that usual end up with Burns holding Williams' gun. The last minor plot is unfunny, and gives Burns (a "B" star at Paramount in the 30's and early 40's) no sense in being there.
However, the major plots of the story are the romances between Lee and Scott, and Shore and Marshall. There are obvious problems in the first romantic storyline; Scott is ill-defined as a supposedly honest saloon owner who would cheat his customers out of their gold. Also, Ms. Lee is a very wooden actress. When her character in the musical "Gypsy" exclaims that June (Havoc), her sister, was the one with all of the talent, she wasn't kidding. She was fine when making specialty appearances in the Fox musicals of the 30's, but to star in a film is downright silly of the producers. In the opening musical number, she has to keep saying over and over "Every girl is different". Not looking unlike MGM comic Virginia O'Brien, here she acts like her too, but without the hilarity that the delightful Ms. O'Brien had. (Watch "The Big Store" to see Ms. O'Brien "rock it baby" and try not hold your sides from laughing too much!) I laughed here, but it was more on account of how bad it was. And how many Saloons in the Yukon of this era had a stage that large? The production number has some elaborate costumes, but is simply bad. It's not even camp like "The Lady in the Tootie Frootie Hat".
As for Dinah Shore, I enjoyed her TV show as a youngster and found her to be charming in some of her other films ("Thank Your Lucky Stars" and "Aaron Slick From Punkin' Crick"), but here, she is not only directed badly, but outfitted and made-up badly as well. She wears a red wig that does not suit her, and the scarlet lipstick and corsets make her appear to look like a cartoon character. I instantly thought of Helena Hyena from "Roger Rabbit" when I saw her in a too-tight corset that seemed to squish her waste down to 12 inches and give her an enormous backside and an outlandishly large top. I've heard of hour glass figures, but that sand couldn't get through the tiny little tube between the top and bottom! Obviously, Ms. Shore was not a trained actress, so one can't expect much, but she did much, much better in her other films, so obviously the director must be faulted. She did better in her cameo as herself in "Oh, God!" than she does here. William Marshall is handsome, and a good fit with Ms. Shore, but it is very obvious that he is innocent of what Shore's father (the delightful Charles Winninger) has accused him of.
Winninger is hysterically funny with the little he has to do, drinking sasparilla throughout and choking on it. As Ms. Lee's companion, the delightful Florence Bates shines as well. They have a very cute romance that is quickly passed over. I would have loved to seen more of them, even though they are both past their prime. They are adorable together! It's hard to think of a worse color musical of the 40's (perhaps "The Kissing Bandit", but that had a few good songs and a few more good performances). Here, the songs are weak, the leading couple (Lee & Scott) have no chemistry, and the beautiful landscape is only fleetingly viewed. Unless you are a film connoisseur who must try to see every major release of every year movies were made, skip this one!
However, the major plots of the story are the romances between Lee and Scott, and Shore and Marshall. There are obvious problems in the first romantic storyline; Scott is ill-defined as a supposedly honest saloon owner who would cheat his customers out of their gold. Also, Ms. Lee is a very wooden actress. When her character in the musical "Gypsy" exclaims that June (Havoc), her sister, was the one with all of the talent, she wasn't kidding. She was fine when making specialty appearances in the Fox musicals of the 30's, but to star in a film is downright silly of the producers. In the opening musical number, she has to keep saying over and over "Every girl is different". Not looking unlike MGM comic Virginia O'Brien, here she acts like her too, but without the hilarity that the delightful Ms. O'Brien had. (Watch "The Big Store" to see Ms. O'Brien "rock it baby" and try not hold your sides from laughing too much!) I laughed here, but it was more on account of how bad it was. And how many Saloons in the Yukon of this era had a stage that large? The production number has some elaborate costumes, but is simply bad. It's not even camp like "The Lady in the Tootie Frootie Hat".
As for Dinah Shore, I enjoyed her TV show as a youngster and found her to be charming in some of her other films ("Thank Your Lucky Stars" and "Aaron Slick From Punkin' Crick"), but here, she is not only directed badly, but outfitted and made-up badly as well. She wears a red wig that does not suit her, and the scarlet lipstick and corsets make her appear to look like a cartoon character. I instantly thought of Helena Hyena from "Roger Rabbit" when I saw her in a too-tight corset that seemed to squish her waste down to 12 inches and give her an enormous backside and an outlandishly large top. I've heard of hour glass figures, but that sand couldn't get through the tiny little tube between the top and bottom! Obviously, Ms. Shore was not a trained actress, so one can't expect much, but she did much, much better in her other films, so obviously the director must be faulted. She did better in her cameo as herself in "Oh, God!" than she does here. William Marshall is handsome, and a good fit with Ms. Shore, but it is very obvious that he is innocent of what Shore's father (the delightful Charles Winninger) has accused him of.
Winninger is hysterically funny with the little he has to do, drinking sasparilla throughout and choking on it. As Ms. Lee's companion, the delightful Florence Bates shines as well. They have a very cute romance that is quickly passed over. I would have loved to seen more of them, even though they are both past their prime. They are adorable together! It's hard to think of a worse color musical of the 40's (perhaps "The Kissing Bandit", but that had a few good songs and a few more good performances). Here, the songs are weak, the leading couple (Lee & Scott) have no chemistry, and the beautiful landscape is only fleetingly viewed. Unless you are a film connoisseur who must try to see every major release of every year movies were made, skip this one!
Belle does no harm, and while Gypsy Rose Lee can't act, with a 37-23-36 figure who needs acting?
Terrell-423 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Belle of the Yukon is the kind of mid-Forties Hollywood misfire that can lead earnest cinephiles to make clever wisecracks. My advice...put the rented DVD in the player, start folding the laundry on the coffee table and enjoy yourself. The movie is something of an uncertain romantic comedy-musical-western with a clever con. Randolph Scott is Honest John Calhoun, charming and untrustworthy. Gypsy Rose Lee is Belle De Valle, a high class music hall entertainer. The river town of Malamute plays the Yukon during the gold rush days. Honest John and Belle have a history that goes back to Seattle, where Honest John, then Gentleman Jack, had to skedaddle just ahead of the law, leaving Belle in the lurch. When Belle shows up with her troupe of dancers to play the music hall in Malamute, she finds the owner is Jack, now Honest John. He swears he's reformed. She's not so sure...there's a lot of gold dust in the town. When Honest John, who doesn't gamble, suggests the town pick an upright, non-gambling man to start a bank, guess who gets picked. We know the con is on, but we're not sure what the con is.
Not to be too critical, but the director, William Seiter, gives us plodding direction even as the Technicolor photography looks like a million dollars. The dance hall costumes and Belle's dresses are so garish even Vincente Minnelli would have gawked. With one exception, the songs are no more than Hollywood professional. The acting varies from satisfying (Scott) to interesting in a kind of unformed way (Lee) to standard cliché (Charles Winninger and Guinn Williams) to pre-nostalgia (Bob Burns sounding like what Andy Griffith will) to really awful (Dinah Shore and William Marshall). The important thing to remember, while reining in the temptation for MST3K commentary, is that this is all done with good humor and good intentions. There are happy endings all over Malamute. Belle of the Yukon does no harm.
Gypsy Rose Lee with her 37-23-36 figure, her great voice and her ability to make dialogue sound like one-liners can be forgiven for being no actress. I doubt if she ever thought of herself as one except when she was stripping. She seems to be enjoying herself. She was an intelligent, honest woman with a fine, skeptical sense of humor. She even wrote a best- selling mystery, The G-string Murders. Even though she probably received some help from Craig Rice, a good friend, she did most of the heavy writing herself. Barbara Stanwyck played a bumping, grinding Gypsy Rose Lee, now named Dixie Daisy, in Lady of Burlesque: The G- String Murders, the movie made from the book. William Wellman directed. It's a movie worth seeing. I'd skip the lumbering movie made from the Broadway hit Gypsy, based on her autobiography. The television special of Gypsy starring Bette Midler isn't bad. Gypsy Rose Lee had to grow up fast.
Dinah Shore and William Marshall play the young lovers. Shore is Lettie Candless, daughter of Honest John's saloon manager. Lettie is an innocent young woman who sings at the music hall. Shore has two major romantic songs that stop the movie dead in its tracks. "Like Someone in Love" is pleasant enough, but the numbers were used only to showcase Dinah Shore. They are as out of place as...well, as romantic ballads in a Yukon music hall. The makeup department did Shore no favors. Her bright red Technicolor lipstick emphasizes how much teeth she has, Reassuringly, the older Shore got the more interesting she became. Maturity suited her. William Marshall plays Steve Atterbury, the music hall's piano player. Marshall was a big, passive guy without, as far as I can tell, any acting talent. He got by on impressively blond good looks. Close your eyes and you'd think you were listening to the high school lead in Brigadoon.
Randolph Scott is just fine as a friendly, well-dressed saloon owner you'd be wise not to trust. He's often been the best thing in the movies he's starred in. I enjoy watching his old- fashioned (by current tastes) approach to good guy Hollywood leading men.
Not to be too critical, but the director, William Seiter, gives us plodding direction even as the Technicolor photography looks like a million dollars. The dance hall costumes and Belle's dresses are so garish even Vincente Minnelli would have gawked. With one exception, the songs are no more than Hollywood professional. The acting varies from satisfying (Scott) to interesting in a kind of unformed way (Lee) to standard cliché (Charles Winninger and Guinn Williams) to pre-nostalgia (Bob Burns sounding like what Andy Griffith will) to really awful (Dinah Shore and William Marshall). The important thing to remember, while reining in the temptation for MST3K commentary, is that this is all done with good humor and good intentions. There are happy endings all over Malamute. Belle of the Yukon does no harm.
Gypsy Rose Lee with her 37-23-36 figure, her great voice and her ability to make dialogue sound like one-liners can be forgiven for being no actress. I doubt if she ever thought of herself as one except when she was stripping. She seems to be enjoying herself. She was an intelligent, honest woman with a fine, skeptical sense of humor. She even wrote a best- selling mystery, The G-string Murders. Even though she probably received some help from Craig Rice, a good friend, she did most of the heavy writing herself. Barbara Stanwyck played a bumping, grinding Gypsy Rose Lee, now named Dixie Daisy, in Lady of Burlesque: The G- String Murders, the movie made from the book. William Wellman directed. It's a movie worth seeing. I'd skip the lumbering movie made from the Broadway hit Gypsy, based on her autobiography. The television special of Gypsy starring Bette Midler isn't bad. Gypsy Rose Lee had to grow up fast.
Dinah Shore and William Marshall play the young lovers. Shore is Lettie Candless, daughter of Honest John's saloon manager. Lettie is an innocent young woman who sings at the music hall. Shore has two major romantic songs that stop the movie dead in its tracks. "Like Someone in Love" is pleasant enough, but the numbers were used only to showcase Dinah Shore. They are as out of place as...well, as romantic ballads in a Yukon music hall. The makeup department did Shore no favors. Her bright red Technicolor lipstick emphasizes how much teeth she has, Reassuringly, the older Shore got the more interesting she became. Maturity suited her. William Marshall plays Steve Atterbury, the music hall's piano player. Marshall was a big, passive guy without, as far as I can tell, any acting talent. He got by on impressively blond good looks. Close your eyes and you'd think you were listening to the high school lead in Brigadoon.
Randolph Scott is just fine as a friendly, well-dressed saloon owner you'd be wise not to trust. He's often been the best thing in the movies he's starred in. I enjoy watching his old- fashioned (by current tastes) approach to good guy Hollywood leading men.
See It For The Costumes
atlasmb9 May 2014
Seriously, the costuming in this film is over-the-top but inspired. It helps that it's in brilliant Technicolor.
But this film is plagued by a story that is uneven. And by overacting.
The story takes place in the Yukon and features Randolph Scott as a conman gone straight. Gypsy Rose Lee is the new featured performer in his saloon. Dinah Shore comes up short (acting and singing) as the featured songstress. She may be the only one who underacts.
You might be able to figure out who double-crosses who, but I'm guessing you will eventually give up because you don't care. Better to sit back and enjoy the fashion.
But this film is plagued by a story that is uneven. And by overacting.
The story takes place in the Yukon and features Randolph Scott as a conman gone straight. Gypsy Rose Lee is the new featured performer in his saloon. Dinah Shore comes up short (acting and singing) as the featured songstress. She may be the only one who underacts.
You might be able to figure out who double-crosses who, but I'm guessing you will eventually give up because you don't care. Better to sit back and enjoy the fashion.
Belle Of The Brawl
writers_reign5 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
An intriguing entry whichever way way you look at it, unavailable for many years and even now I caught it in what may well be a one-off screening. In my case I had several reasons for catching it: 1) The score, which boasts two standards, 2) a chance to see Gypsy Rose Lee, 3)William Marshall had a featured role, and that's about it. The score was the work of composer Jimmmy Van Heusen and lyricist Johnny Burke, who got together in the early forties and were staff writers at Paramount supplying songs for five of the seven 'Road' pictures (Burke did the first, Singapore, with James V. Monaco and Van Heusen did the last, Hong Kong, with Sammy Cahn) plus virtually everything Crosby did in the forties at Paramount, so this was a rare sortie to another Lot. William Marshall was married to two outstanding French Actresses, Michele Morgan and Micheline Presle and I'm a French movie buff and thirdly I have never actually seen Gypsy Rose Lee herself although I have seen both the Broadway Musical and Film adaptation of Gypsy albeit it centres on her mother. I'm glad I finally got to see it if only to hear Dinah Shore - who they contrive to make look like a freak - perform Like Someone In Love and Sleighride In July.
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