La farfelue de l'Arizona

Film buffs love to say Debbie Reynolds is 'underrated' as an actress--but most of her fluffy output from the 1960s look suspiciously like Doris Day cast-offs. Finally, in "The Second Time Around", she gets a sparkling comedy, a disarming concoction with Reynolds in good form as a widowed mother of two who relocates to Arizona in search of work and ends up the new mayor of a tumbleweed town. Sharp script, colorful supporting work from Andy Griffith, Thelma Ritter, Juliet Prowse and the reliable Steve Forrest, and a fine sense of atmosphere and nuance makes this one of Debbie's best comic vehicles. *** from ****

The Second Time Around 1961 Directed by: Vincent Sherman and star's: Debbie Reynolds as Lucretia or Lu Rogers. Steve Forest as Dan Jones and Andy Griffith as Pat Collins.

you can't not love this movie, Lu Rogers travels to Charleyville Arizona looking for work, her husband was dead and she face's the unknown with the kind of gumption that overpowers her small flame, and it didn't take long for the men to see it to, the towns people are amazed at her ability not to be afraid and to stand up for herself and those around her and after a few run in's with outlaws she's made Sheriff. I think this movie was well made and would watch it again

I remember seeing this movie at the theater and thoroughly enjoying it. I would very much like to see it again and cannot understand why it is not available. I loved Debbie Reynolds, of course, but Thelma Ritter as always is truly splendid as are all other cast members. Steve Forrest is a handsome romantic lead with Andy Griffin and Juliet Prowse creating a colorful background. The whole concept of a very proper young Boston widow with two adorable children trying to make a new life in the West working as of all things a ranch hand makes for most enjoyable entertainment. Why is this movie not available for purchase on DVD?

IIRC, women got the vote in AZ in 1912, so that'd mean they did their homework, but who cares. I love early 60's movies. Love Debbie Reynolds. It moved along at a good pace and all in good fun. Better than any flick produced in the past 10 years or more, in the good fun genre. Character actors include Andy Griffith being Andy. Thelma Ritter. Eleanor Audley (oft seen on old Lucy show, Bev Hillbillies, etc.), Marie Blake (Grandma on the Addams Fam). Best scene was when Lu (Debbie Reynolds) shot at a fellow in the street and he expired, watch it and see how. And fwiw I have mixed feelings about Andy G so it felt satisfying to see him punched into the crick, LOL.

Say what you like about Debbie Reynolds, she gave each of her roles everything she had. Here she throws herself into the part of a widowed mother of two who who moves to Arizona and becomes an unlikely Sheriff.

Also unlikely is Steve Forrest as a leading man for a major, wide-screen motion picture in color in 1961. Forrest actually does a creditable job, but Reynolds buries him. He never stood a chance.

Also among those present is Andy Griffith, peddling the same laid back southerner soft soap he tried on in Mayberry and Ritz cracker commercials. Reynolds is caught between tricky saloon owner Forrest and goody-goody Griffith.

It has a few innovation, such as a brawl, not in a saloon but an ice-cream parlor.

From her first big break in "Singin' in the Rain" until her ultimate decline, Reynolds was wonderful. But this story was too slight (as were her co-stars) to merit the big-screen treatment. It would have served Reynolds better as a huge musical opposite a singing star. Or a Robert Preston type.

Still, it's not a total disaster. It's just not "special" enough (nor funny enough, nor anything enough) to justify the treatment it got. It's basically for people who can't get enough of Reynolds in the upper end of her cute-as-a-button phase.