Red Garters

Though the bright, almost garish hues of nearly everything in this musical spoof of the western genre might look like it, this one was not produced in VistaVision (as is erroneously stated in another comment), Paramount's "High-Fidelity" motion picture process which didn't make its debut until several months later with the release of "White Christmas" starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney.

Rosemary has center stage in this one and, though the songs aren't up to Irving Berlin's standards in the later hit, she holds her own against Guy Mitchell's vigorous attempts to upstage her. The overall tone is a bit on the bawdy side but one thing's "fer shure, pardner!", those people behind the Technicolor cameras were given free rein (and probably a pretty hefty budget) to create a look that defines the term: "primary colors." It's not for those who prefer a muted palette or anything subtle about any aspect of their entertainment. As I recall, the ever-prudish Legion of Decency objected to various "suggestive" elements in this one, including costuming and some song lyrics, such as a line about "Try(ing) to be a mother without a man!" (or something to that effect.) Yep! "Red Garters" is definitely one-of-a-kind and I'm hard put to recall anything that attempts to duplicate its uniquely artificial look and its very lively take on the cliches of Hollywood's version of the Old West.

One of the most uniques musicals ever made, Paramounts "Red Garters" with Rosmary Clooney, Guy Mitchell, Jack Carter and Gene Barry was made entirely on inside sets and the results are spectacular. Director George Marshall has surrounded his stars with splashes of colorful sand, trees and rock and a picture perfect all white town that has to be seen to be believed. The set design was nominated for an Academy Award and should have won hands down. The songs were written by Oscar winners Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. It's a rootin' tootin' western funfest made in Vistavision and it shows on your TV.

For a change of pace - If you sometimes enjoy watching a "slap-happy" musical from Hollywood's heyday - Then - "Red Garters" is a Technicolor dream-come-true that really kicks up its heels.

Released back in 1954 - "Red Garters" is a clean and wholesome Western spoof that is imaginatively presented in the stylized fashion of an extravagant Broadway musical production.

In this singin', dancin', and romancin' comedy - (singer) Rosemary Clooney certainly gets plenty of opportunity to belt out a number of tunes that were specially scored to showcase her excellent vocal talents.

All-in-all - "Red Garters" is a high-energy musical production that is sure to please.

...and the opening credits say as much - but as a one of a kind it's entertaining. The sets are all done in primary colors and are highly stylized reminiscent of the UPA cartoons of the time, which had a considerable impact on art and design. They're more like theater sets than movie scenery.

The plot, such as it is, centers on Rosemary Clooney (who is very good) trying to convince a typically overbearing Jack Carson to marry her. We're expected to believe she would be more entranced by the beefy Carson over the handsome Guy Mitchill, who is a cowboy passing through town. The Jay Livingston and Ray Evans songs are lively if not memorable. Gene Barry does manage to enact a somewhat plausible Mexican. At any rate, he's far more convincing than Cass Daley as a Native American woman who has nothing to do with the story at all. She is covered in very dark "Indian" makeup and spends the film behaving like some kind of nut...it's an appalling performance.

Interesting and innovative settings and an excellent cast can't save this sophomoric satire. Clooney has a couple of nice songs and proves that she can act a little. Guy Mitchell has a couple of nice songs and proves that he was never meant to be an actor. Worth one viewing for the visuals but rent, don't buy!