Musical: From Broadway to Hollywood
Shadow Watcher
Nobody Drowns in Mineral Lake

Released in 1954, this was a daring, original musical comedy; way ahead of its time.

Not only did it spoof western movies, a genre that was then considered "sacred," but it also did so in a surrealistic manner, utilizing colorful stylized sets and costumes.

The film, directed by George Marshall, concerns a gunslinger who rides into town to confront the man who killed his brother.

Sure, it's been done before, but thanks to some catchy songs by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and bright, tongue-in-cheek performances by a talented cast that includes the always marvelous Rosemary Clooney, Jack Carson, Guy Mitchell, Pat Crowley, Gene Barry and a dancing Buddy Ebsen, RED GARTERS remains an entertaining family film after more than fifty years.

© Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (available December 2008)

This was very different to what I expected, but if you are willing to think outside the box its not bad at all.

This movie is a stinko from one end to the other. The "plot" is contrived and predictable, the songs are dull- in fact I can't remember the tune or words to any of them off hand- and the only saving grace is Rosemary Clooney. Her character seems totally out of place- the one who seems more than just a cardboard cutout. If they had strung her songs together on a DVD, it would be worth the money for that.

This musical is directed by George Marshall who also directed such movies as Pot O' Gold, and How the West Was Won. Rosemary Clooney stars as beautiful Calaveras Kate, a saloon singer in Western town called Limbo County, California. The story revolves around a man called Reb Randall (Guy Mitchell) who comes to town seeking the killer of his brother. The people of Limbo County believe in the Code of the West, which simply means he has to fight the killer to avenge the death of his brother. The town refuses to accept the civilized laws with the recently arrived Judge Winthrop (Reginald Owen), who is there to enforce such laws. But soon it turns out that it is not a problem, because his beautiful niece falls in love with the killer, Rafael Moreno (Gene Barry); Calaveras is in love with the local leader Jason Carberry (Jack Carson), and Jason Carberry's niece Susana (Pat Crowley) is in love with Reb Randall. Love and romance conquers the terrible fight. Limbo County comes to believe that it is time to do away with the Code of the West.

This is an excellent musical with colored costumes and stylized décor, but the quality of DVD could have been better. Rosemary Clooney is attractive as ever in her colorful salon suit and red garters. She is captivating and entertains the audience with her beautiful voice and dancing skills. Buddy Ebsen has a minor role and delights with tap dancing. This DVD is highly recommended to all the fans of Rosemary Clooney.

A whole studio movie full of primary-colored costumes, floating fascia, stylized decor of rooms and trees. It's a surreal pacifist western musical with Guy Mitchell and Rosemary Clooney from 1954. A stranger film would be hard to find. I needed an open mind and some patience to get through it, an odd pre-widescreen color movie-stravaganza twice as silly and 10 times as expensive to make as anything on tv. Bat Masterson as a Mexican and a tap-dancing Buddy Ebsen at the cusp of playing Georgie Russell. Slick production, above average songs, very much a melodrama. Strong professional cast of talented women given much more to do than is usual in westerns. Points off for 1954-style total political incorrectitude and Guy Mitchell's unfortunately-designed riding pants, which suggest perpetual incontinence.