The Cowboy and the Lady

Transparently masked as a "Western", this fairly standard & predictable Screwball Comedy from 1938 relied too greatly on the "Aw-Shucks!" appeal of actor Gary Cooper.

Not only that, but it also banked too heavily on the on-screen chemistry that was supposed to transpire between Cooper's character and that of actress Merle Oberon, as well.

For the most part this Chick Flick (which was typical of its era) was fairly good-natured and quite uncomplicated about the motives of its storyline - But the truth was that Gary Cooper (pushing 40 at the time) was clearly too old for his part and his character was just a little too "Golly-Gee!" wholesome and naive to be at all believable.

It really killed me how much rich girl Mary Smith loved the be roughly man-handled and repeatedly knocked off her high-horse by the likes of "Stretch" Hawkins (Cooper).

All-in-all - The Cowboy And The Lady was OK, as far as a stock, 1930's Romantic/Comedy goes. But, the truth is, there was nothing remarkable about this picture in any way, whatsoever.

I saw this movie recently on TCM and for the most part, loved it!

I liked the shy, bumbling character of "Stretch" and the sheltered, Mary who fell hard for him.

Of course, being sheltered, she was limited in her experience with men.

But fortunately, she fell hard for a man with character and who loved her truly.

I knew that when she lied and misrepresented herself that she would be caught.

I especially loved the night when they married. It was a sweet throwback to an earlier time when single ladies weren't in single men's rooms at night or any time for that matter! It wasn't proper in 1938. It was very sweet and romantic for Stretch to propose marriage. His search for a wife was over!

Here are my slight criticisms:

Also, unsure if I can believe that his REAL name was "Stretch".

Then, there are the scenes where Mary was at the rodeo cleaning up. She became filthy and her dress was torn as a result.

I would think that she could have had her maids send her some clothes or wire her some money so she could purchase some clothes and toiletries. Or even ask her new husband to purchase her some clothes. There was a scene where she attempted to purchase some pants but was interrupted by the phone call. Why didn't she or Stretch purchase clothing and toiletries for her she before she boarded the bus?

Even rich ladies have to bathe and look presentable. A rich lady with her background wouldn't travel on the train for 3 days in a filthy, torn dress and unwashed. Suppose her dad and his friends had ALREADY arrived when she got there? How would she explain her appearance?

Also, the scene in the framework of the house lasted a little too long, in my opinion.

But other than that: I enjoyed this movie! Gary and Merle were great in the leads!

The Cowboy and the Lady will never be listed among the top features of either Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon's careers, but it has a unique place in Hollywood lore. Supposedly producer Sam Goldwyn came up with this title and then set about hiring the creative title to fashion a story and then a film from it. Not the usual way the creative process flows even in Tinseltown.

Merle is yet another rich girl who's bored living in her mansion because politically minded dad, Henry Kolker who's running for president. This budding Theodore Roosevelt doesn't want an Alice on his hands, he keeps Merle on a tight leash. Even after she gets busted in a nightclub raid with her fun loving uncle Harry Davenport.

When two of her maids go out on a double date with a pair of traveling rodeo cowboys, Merle goes along because the cowboys have a third and she hits the jackpot because the third is Gary Cooper. Of course Merle pretends to be a third maid.

Anyone who saw even a couple of thirties screwball comedies knows exactly how this one is ending up. Director H.C. Potter borrowed rather liberally from Frank Capra, there are elements of Mister Deeds Goes to Town and It Happened One Night in the story.

Still it's a pleasant enough piece of fluff and sure didn't do anyone's career any harm who was associated with it. Look for good typecast performances from Patsy Kelly and Mabel Todd as the maids and Walter Brennan and Fuzzy Knight as Cooper's rodeo buds. They all perform strictly to type.

This film has about as far-fetched of a plot as you can find: a Presidential candidate's wily daughter goes on holiday, takes company with a brooding young cowboy and eventually marries him. Without a doubt, this film is a curio, but is still watchable for the performances of two of my favorite actors, Oscar-winner Gary Cooper and Oscar-nominee Merle Oberon. Won the Academy Award for Best Sound.

The film opens with a dinner scene, where we learn that someone is running for office; cut to the two brothers Hannibal (Harry Davenport, always played the kindly uncle or judge) and Horace Smith (Henry Kolker), lamenting about the antics of Horace's daughter Mary ( Merle Oberon ). There's the setup of the movie, and being filmed in the prime of the Hayes Code, we know there will be comical, but innocent , simple, misunderstandings. Love the symbolism of Mary knocking over the "house of cards" she has built on the coffee table. Great scene where she talks about the rules of dating with the maids (the hilarious Patsy Kellly & Mabel Todd). Enter Gary Cooper as the polite cowboy "Stretch Willoughby". Say no more. Just watch for the ups and downs as sidekick Walter Brennan makes wisecracks to help the plot along, along with some slapstick physical comedy. Also check out the cast of thousands in the writer category, which includes greats Anita Loos, Dorothy Parker. Directed by Henry Potter, who would make THREE movies with Cary Grant! Fun, but probably would have been more hilarious if it had been filmed prior to the production code.