Born Reckless (1958)
6/10
Romance on the Rodeo Circuit
28 September 2014
Kelly Cobb (Jeff Richards) is a cowboy who travels the rodeo circuit. This All-American hunk might resemble Clark Kent, but he knows his way around the ladies. Jackie Adams (Mamie Van Doren) is a trick rider who finds time to sing in the dance halls of the cow-towns on the tour. With her platinum hair and her voluptuous figure, she attracts men even when she is not trying--frequently requiring Kelly to rescue her.

With its rock and roll music and its obligatory fistfights, "Born Reckless" might be another vehicle for Elvis Presley. Although most of the music is performed by someone "on stage", note that Van Doren sings one ballad (backed by an orchestra and choir) on a front porch, lamenting the fact that it's difficult to be patient when a girl is waiting for her man to settle down. So, this film has some elements of a musical.

It also has rodeo stock footage, a lame ending, and a plot as predictable as a poolside fight. Ostensibly it's a story about dreams for the future, but it's mostly a chance for viewers to ogle the two stars. The story is not compelling, but--surprisingly--Mamie's voice sounds pretty good in a couple of her numbers.
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