Go West, Young Lady

Delightful slice of western slapstick from Columbia Studios. The humor is pretty broad, the musical numbers frequent, and the cast especially appealing. It's a really young Glenn Ford showing why a big, versatile career lay ahead; a tomboyish Penny Singleton showing why she was more than just Blondie; and bad girl Ann Miller (!) still tap dancing her way into our hearts. And mustn't overlook an outstanding supporting cast, e.g. Ruggles, Jenkins, Waffles. I especially like that Miller-Jenkins tap dancing number with her in cowboy boots and him tripping the light fantastic.

Oh yeah, the plot's something about a masked bad guy terrorizing the town. Turns out it's a town bigwig, just like in a kid's western. But who cares since that's just a way of stringing together the other, better elements. I'm not sure who the intended audience was since the result is neither a kid's matinée nor an A-production (the guys ride around greater LA). I doubt that the audience was ever found since the release date was right before Pearl Harbor! Anyway, for me the 70-minutes came as a pleasant surprise, though that opening stagecoach chase seems an unnecessary body-count. Nonetheless, the music's delightful and the acting appealing, so there's a lot to like in this unheralded Columbia production.

This is yet another movie that is not on video and few have heard of that's well worth the viewing if you can catch it on cable. It's enough of western and musical to hold the interest of fans of both, plus good comedy thrown in. It's not too much of either western or musical to make the other seem out of place. Good numbers, good acting, funny lines all in 70 minutes and a chance for those not familiar with Western Swing to catch what that is. Ironically, the two best fight scenes include women. I gave it a 7, it's well worth the watch, much better than some 7's, well deserving and fun.

A Fun movie that will leave you wishing it had been another 45 minutes. The fight between Ann Miller and Penny Singleton is astounding! Ann Miller's Dance scenes are very good, and there is even an appearance by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Penny was a great talent and her vaudeville experience shows. This movie even includes Glenn Ford.

This is not a comment- rather, I would like to point out a goof: When Penny Singleton and Ann Miller are having their cat fight towards the end of the movie (incidentally, one of the all-time great cat fights) it really looks like those girls are belting each other), Ann Miller's blouse buttons and unbuttons during the scrimmaging.

But, as long as I am here... This was a truly enjoyable western. Glen Ford is actually funny in this movie, and the relationship between him and Penny Singleton is very well developed and quite touching, in an amusingly innocent sort of way (inotherwords, exactly the opposite of most movies today). The rise of the townswomen to thwart the evildoers plans is also very well done.

This is a rare western comedy that actually delivers some jocular moments. I've seen it three times, and enjoyed it all three times. And, if it comes on the Westerns Channel again when my boy is home from school or doesn't have practice or a game, We'll watch it together.

It's just a fun movie. period.

PENNY SINGLETON gets top billing in this diverting little programmer made at the height of her fame as "Blondie". This film, directed by the same man who did that series, has Singleton in her "Blondie" mode, as a prim and proper but ditsy blonde who acquits herself well when Indians are shooting at the carriage she's riding in during the opening scene.

She's so prim and proper that she refuses to even engage in conversation with the man sitting opposite her in the coach--GLENN FORD--on his way to the town of Headstone to become its new sheriff.

Ford has one of his rare comedy roles and plays it to the hilt. He's continually getting in the way of Singleton's pie-throwing finesse or taking a crack on the head with a pan, accidentally of course.

ALLEN JENKINS, as a cowardly interim sheriff, ANN MILLER, as a dance hall gal, and CHARLIE RUGGLES, as Singleton's uncle, all give fresh and funny performances. Miller is especially good in a couple of her dance routines, including a sing-and-dance number with Jenkins that comes as a delightful surprise.

Very enjoyable romp, it seems to borrow a lot of its material from other similar westerns. It features at least a half a dozen unpretentious musical numbers that make for easy listening.

Summing up: One of Columbia's better programmers.