The Gal Who Took the West

Other than THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, I do not know of another Western that as accurately captures the true nature of the West - and the men and women who settled it. The plot is that of a romantic comedy, but the characters are wonderfully written and acted - far better than in most 'serious' films.

The two brothers battling each other for the affection of one women is both funny - and dramatically believable. And the telling of the story from three different points of view is superbly done.

In my opinion, this is one of the most under-rated films ever made in Hollywood.

Don't miss it!

I have always been deeply in love with actress Yvonne De Carlo, she was so beautiful, magnificent, flaming, and what a shame, a disgrace, that the Academy Awards did not even noticed her death during the 2007 ceremony. But beware this is not a true authentic western, but rather a light hearted vaudeville adventure yarn taking place in the olfd west. Universal Studios used us to tougher, grittier than this one, that looks more like a Republic Pictures western, those taking mostly place in cabarets or gambling house. It is however agreeable, fun, not boring and Yvonne De Carlo justifies any plot, any script, the most important is that she was the most gorgeous woman on screen in the movies where she played. And director Frederic De Cordova was a comedy specialist, who was also able to deliver real westerns and adventures too. I prefered SALOME WHERE SHE DANCED, also starring the great De Carlo, and also a "false" western but totally crazy, incredible.

Wonderful Yvonne De Carlo! This story of two cousins,vying with each others for a valuable property ,waiting for the ancestor's death (but it seems he is not about to kick the bucket) is a comedy where nobody seems to take things seriously ;there's a very long fight between the two heirs towards the end and Yvonne's choice does not seem to be the wisest,if we consider the very last picture of the movie.

But it does not matter;the only thing that matters is miss De Carlo:when she appears ,we only have eyes for her;her two songs are a true delight (the second one is witty,funny and infectious);generally I do not go much for those saloon ballads but those are the highlights of the movie.

The story is told by three old "witnesses";thus the arrival of the lady is filmed three times,each one giving his own version of the facts.

The fun of this film is telling the story from three different viewpoints -- each version diametrically opposed to the others -- what is the truth? probably a mixture of all of them -- it's a fun film with DeCarlo in fine form and the feuding brothers fighting it out for her affections is half the fun.

When Charles Coburn builds an opera house, vaudeville singer Yvonne De Carlo grabs the gig, so she can sing "Frankie and Johnny". Meanwhile, Coburn's grandsons -- Scott Brady and John Russell -- wrangle over her in this silly but entertaining Technicolor western from Universal.

I first encountered Miss De Carlo in TV's THE MUNSTERS. She was born Margaret Yvonne Middleton in British Columbia in 1922. She first appeared in the movies in tiny unbilled roles like "Showgirl" or "Handmaiden", occasionally arising to the dignity of being credited as "Princess Wah-Tah". She shot to stardom in ens of SALOME, WHERE SHE DANCED. She spent the next decade playing the mildly astonished vamp in dozens of B pictures. She died in 2007.