GOLDEN GIRL

James Barton and Mitzi Gaynor

GOLDEN GIRL (1951). Director: Lloyd Bacon. Produced by George Jessel.

When tippling and irresponsible John (James Barton), loses the family boarding house in a casino, his wife, Mary Ann (Una Merkel of The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown) and daughter, Lotta (Mitzi Gaynor), along with singing boarder Mart (Dennis Day of I'll Get By), take off to tour the west as a stage troupe during the Civil War. Lotta, who becomes a celebrated entertainer, falls in love with a man named Tom Richmond (Dale Robertson of The Outcasts of Poker Flat) who may be keeping more than one secret. Meanwhile Mary Ann, Lotta and John are reunited in a surprising and unexpected fashion. 

Mitzi Gaynor and Dale Robertson

Golden Girl is the first of two films (both produced by George Jessel and directed by Lloyd Bacon) in which Mitzi Gaynor starred as an entertainer of the past, the second being The I Don't Care Girl. Lotta Crabtree actually existed, and her mother was her manager and looked out for her and her money. Her father was quite different from the way he is portrayed in the movie, and Tom Richmond is an entirely fictional creation as Lotta never married. She became a household name in the 19th century and acquired a fortune, much of which she gave to charitable causes. Aside from the character of Richmond, Golden Girl is a bit more faithful to the facts than was I Don't Care. In Golden Girl the real-life dancer Lola Montez arrives in town in a flurry of excitement, but Lotta was already a friend of the woman's at the time. Golden Girl pretty much ignores the realities of the war until Lotta is asked to transport Union gold in her wagon, and when she sings Dixie to the initially unreceptive audience, after the North has defeated the South, because she thinks Richmond, a rebel, is dead. 

Una Merkel and Dennis Day

As usual, Gaynor gives an excellent performance playing a somewhat self-centered character who is not entirely likable. Barton, who appeared on Broadway in Lerner and Loewe's Paint Your Wagon (and many other stage shows), is wonderful as Pop Crabtree, matched in perfection by the feisty Una Merkel. Dennis Day reveals a sterling operatic tenor voice when he gets to burst out in song by himself. His somewhat goofy looks doomed him to playing second fiddle and comedy relief -- mostly as foil to Jack Benny --  but there was much more to the man than that. As for Dale Robertson, well he's handsome and competent enough, but even he would have been the first to admit that he was more of a personality than an actor. He had his greatest success on television as the star of Tales of Wells Fargo. 

Verdict: Entertaining Hollywood look at the life of the once-famous Lotta Crabtree. ***.

THE OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT (1952)

THE OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT (1952). Director: Joseph M. Newman.

The film begins with a tense, well-executed bank robbery in the town of Poker Flats, but then goes downhill from there. This is the third of several film versions of Bret Harte's famous short story, and is a very loose adaptation. After the robbery the town decides to turn loose certain immoral elements and several people are told to get out or be hanged. A gambler, John Oakhurst (Dale Robertson) suggests they go to a cabin he knows of; they are joined by a young couple about to have a baby. Not only is there a storm on the way and no food, but along comes bank robber Ryker (Cameron Mitchell) looking for his wife Cal (Anne Baxter), who's developed a tender feeling for Oakhurst. Miriam Hopkins is apparently the town's madam. What might have been developed as a strong drama turns into a mediocre melodrama that wastes most of its cast. The main problem is that the characters aren't developed enough for us to give a hoot about them. Generally well-acted, although Robertson is a bit of a lightweight compared to the others.

Verdict: Lost in a snow storm all right. **.

TAKE CARE OF MY LITTLE GIRL

TAKE CARE OF MY LITTLE GIRL (1951). Director: Jean Negulesco.
Jeanne Crain plays Elizabeth, a young woman who goes off to her mother'salma mater and hopes to join her mother's sorority. But she discovers that many of the young ladies are rather heartless when it comes to accepting those who aren't the right type. Jeffrey Hunter plays the archetypal drunken frat boy who wants an easy ride through life; and Dale Robertson is pleasant but mediocre as the older veteran whom Liz prefers. Mitzi Gaynor is fun in a small role as a co-ed who disdains sororities; ditto for Carol Brannon as a misfit member of Liz's sorority who has a sarcastic attitude toward their silly rules and regulations. Jean Peters makes a definite impression as Dallas, the chic, sexy head of the sorority, but Natalie Schafer hasn't enough to do as a den mother. Lenka Peterson is effective as shy Ruth, the "hopeless" girl that gets blackballed. One could easily argue that this presents a very stereotypical view of sororities and fraternities, but that misses the point: this is a surprisingly nice movie that makes a point about accepting those who don't fit in, and rejecting those who reject them. Warning: if you're looking for obligatory hair-pulling cat fights, drunken scenes of rape and debasement and the like, look elsewhere. This is not an exploitation film (although it would probably have been more fun if it were. )
Verdict: Pleasant timepasser. ***.