The Groom Wore Spurs

Whoever or whatever is responsible, the flick's a flop. Maybe it's the hefty staff of 4 writers, each apparently in his own room with no inter-com; or maybe it's unsteady director Whorf soon to flee into TV; or maybe the trail's traceable to both camps. But whatever the case, the promising parody of a kids' cowboy hero who can't ride a horse, shoot a gun, or throw a punch, goes down the drain amidst a mish-mash of contrasting styles and themes. And pity poor Ginger Rogers looking lost in a role that defies description anywhere on planet Earth. Too bad Astaire's not in the wings. Nonetheless, the movie's potential is there with comedic actor Carson in the lead, along with stand-out Joan Davis adding her feisty bits. Unfortunately, their occasional bursts of nutty humor are lost among the off-putting mix of blackmail, jealousy, and murder. Too bad, since the flick's a real lost opportunity for its cowboy time, and even for today's space age.

(In passing - watch for soon-to-be, big-time producer Ross Hunter in minor role of Austin Tisdale. Check out his list of box-office biggies from late 50's through 1960's. So I guess the movie wasn't a complete failure.)

Jack Carson is a singing cowboy star who can't sing, can't ride, and is afraid of guns. He can lose $60,000 to gambler Stanley Ridges. So his studio hires lawyer Ginger Rogers to negotiate with Ridges. But on spending the evening with him in Las Vegas, they get married. Ridges, who was a friend of her father, forgives the debt as a wedding present. That, it turns out, was Carson's plan all along. Miss Rogers decides, at the advice of roommate Joan Davis, to make a man of Carson.

It's one of those movies which are occasionally amusing without being actually funny. Miss Davis certainly tries, but the script goes from post-war, Code-compliant grouchiness to over-the-top frantic with no build-up. Everyone tries hard under director Richard Whorf (who makes an uncredited appearance as a motion picture director). Also appearing are John Litel, Victor Sen Yung, George Meader, Franklyn Farnum, and Ross Hunter.

Ben Castle (Jack Carson) is a big-time cowboy...much like Roy Rogers or Gene Autry. But he's also a complete phony. He hates horses, doesn't do his own singing and relies on stuntmen to do most of his tricks. And, he also seems really, really dumb...so dumb he's gotten himself into a deep hole due to his gambling. So he contacts a lawyer for help and A.J. Furnival happens to be a lady (Ginger Rogers). Soon, she's doing a great job with Castle...and Castle, out of no where, proposes to her. And, in a whirlwind romance, they marry. But soon it becomes obvious that Castle just isn't good husband material and A.J. regrets her decision. In the midst of this, out of the blue, comes a murder...and Castle is set up to take the fall! Can A.J. once again help her stupid hubby? And, can they actually make a go of their crazy marriage?

Often this film straddles the line between dopey and clever....and it doesn't always do this well (such as the pregnancy scene late in the film). While it's very watchable, it's also not exactly subtle or sophisticated....and the ending sequence with the plane was just terrible.

"The Groom Wore Spurs" is a comedy romance that most who enjoy comedies should enjoy. It was made by a Poverty Row studio where Jack Carson could get lead roles from time to time. Carson was a very good actor, and played some wonderful supporting roles in comedies. And, Ginger Rogers, who has billing ahead of him here, was still making films for various studies during the years toward the end of the musicals in which she appeared, especially dancing with Fred Astaire.

The plot for this film is quite wacky, but not solid enough with a very good screenplay to make the grade as a screwball comedy. The script is very loose and not tightly written, and the direction and production leave room for much improvement. But Carson and Rogers do well together for comedy, and the dialog has just enough comedy to put this film over. It's not worth running out to buy, but if one comes across it on one of the TV movie channels, it can be a fun flick. It has no small amount of poking fun at the film industry for its hyping of stars.

In this case, it's Carson who plays Ben Castle, a celebrity Western cowboy star. He even needs help getting on a horse, and the only thing he likes about the West is chuck wagon food. Carson's public image has to be maintained, so he talks with a Western drawl. Ginger Rogers is Abigail (A. J.) Furnival, a young attorney, who gets mixed up with the carousing Castle to help him settle a gambling debt. Well, they get hitched quite soon, and the comedy starts after that.

Here are the best lines.

Las Vegas Hotel Desk Clerk, "Oh, uh, Mr. Castle." Ben Castle, "Hmmm?" Clerk, "If you are planning on entertaining any friends in the hotel this weekend, uh, remember hotel furniture costs money too."

A. J. Furnival, "No, that's all right. I trust you." Ben Castle, "You do?" Abigail, "Intrinsically.

A. J. Furnival, "Oh, he doesn't want a wife. He doesn't need one. What he needs is somebody to grab hold of him and make a man out of him." Alice Dean, A. J.'s roommate, "Well, don't they call those things wives?"

Alice Dean, "Don't you know the one way a woman can really get even with a man is by living with him?"

Mrs. Forbes, "Mr. Castle, I think you should be embalmed and I've just received notice." Ben Castle, still in bed, "Hmmmm?" Mrs. Forbes, yelling, "I've just received notice." Ben Castle, "Well, aren't you a little too old for the draft?" Mrs. Forbes, "I'm not talking about the draft, Mr. Castle. I've just been discharged." Ben Castle, "Already? But, hu.. how can you be discharged before you're drafted?"

Ben Castle, "Can I look sad in this picture? I feel happier that way. Oh, well."

Ben Castle, "You, uh, do you like chuck wagon food?" Abigail Furnival, "Mm hmm. You?" Ben, "It's the only thing about the West I do like."

Ben Castle is a Hollywood sensation as a singing cowboy, with his horse Pancho. But Ben can't sing, draw a gun or ride a horse. Heck - he even needs a step-ladder to get on Pancho! Ben seems to have bad luck gambling too, as he owes a $60,000 debt to Las Vegas gambler Harry Kallen. Hoping to find a way to settle the debt, he hires a lawyer - 'A.J.' Furnival, played by Ginger Rogers.

Ben and A.J. fly to Vegas to try to settle the matter. In just a few hours, Ben and A.J. get married. As a wedding present, Harry says the debt is forgiven. After that, we're treated with the ups and down of life married to a big-time celebrity. Things take a drastic change when an unexpected event changes everything.

A little comic relief is provided by Ben's house-boy, Ignacio, played by Victor Sen Yung. What we get from Ignacio is your stereotypical Chinese man for the time. By today's standards, some people might find this - and one scene in particular - very offensive. But back in the early 50's, it was considered funny.

The Groom Wore Spurs is a decent light, breezy sort of romantic comedy that Hollywood used to crank out all the time. What makes it special - for me at least - is the joy of being able to watch Ginger Rogers!Fans of her will really enjoy this movie and they made sure to have a scene where we get to look at Ginger's legs in high heels. Now isn't that reason enough to watch the movie? For me it is!