RED GARTERS

US, 1954, 91 minutes, Colour.
Rosemary Clooney, Guy Mitchell, Gene Barry, Jack Carson, Pat Crowley, Cass Daley, Frank Faylen, Reginald Owen.
Directed by George Marshall

Red Garters was an offbeat musical for its time. There are echoes of it in some of the M.G.M. musicals e.g. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Later stylised musicals were taken for granted - so in many ways this is a pioneering effort. Direction is by George Marshall, a veteran of many action films and comedies. The cast is lively, including Rosemary Clooney and comedian Jack Carson. Popular singer of the time Guy Mitchell has a comic role and later 'heavy' Gene Barry has a singing-dancing role. The sets were all stylised with striking use of colours. The screenplay was full of the conventions of the west which were being sent up. Audiences can enjoy the conventions as well as the satirising of them. Songs are by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

1. An entertaining musical? Western? The intentions for musical comedy, western spoof? How successful? 150s? Later? Influence on subsequent stylised westerns e.g. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers? Blazing Saddles?

2. Colour photography, sets and their stylised form, colours? Decor? The purpose of the stylised presentation of the musical? Editing and patterns? The stylised choreography: fights, dancing?

3. The pleasant musical score by Livingston and Evans? With a Hoot and a Holler etc.? The brightness of the music, the dancing? The satire on the west - and the message critical of western traditions? 'The code of the west'? The rowdiness? Songs about the roles of men and women - stereotypes? The ballads? The contribution of the various stars and their singing styles - especially Rosemary Clooney and Guy Mitchell?

4. The introduction, the westerns - being like the movies and movies being like the westerns! The invitation for spoof?

5. The conventions of the west and their being parodied? The hero and villain in white and black? The revenge themes? The mock shoot-outs? Heroines acting heroically? The code of the west, law and order? The visitor from Out East to investigate the west?

6. Limbo and Paradise Lost? The opening barbecue and picnic and celebrations? Life in the town? Hotels, saloons, dancing? Clothes, behaviour? The satire on California?

7. The code of the west and revenge? The serious side of the spoof? 'Goodbye Jay and Joe'? Expectations? The duel being thwarted and turned into a joke? The real killer - and the serious-comic ending?

8. The atmosphere of romance: the roles of men and women? The tough heroine? Jason and his eyes, pride? Sheila and her coldness? Adapting to the west? Susana as the town belle? Minnie and her comedy? Reb and his naivety? Calaveras Kate and her control of the town? The fall, the hurt, the shooting etc?

9. Rosemary Clooney as Calaveras Kate - strength, holding the town together? Jason and her control of him - and he thinking he was in control?

10. The comedy style with Cass Daley as Minnie?

11. The judge, the fuss, Boston background, being knocked out?

12. Satisfying entertainment? Another angle on the west? The blend of the Hollywood musical traditions with the humour of the west?