When Bernadette Peters won a Tony in the lead role as Annie Oakley on Broadway almost 50 years after this production was made, there should be no doubt it was modeled after Betty Hutton's comedic style in this movie version of "Annie Get Your Gun".
Although Judy Garland was forced from playing "Annie" due to illness, in part due to her drug addiction and her tardiness, MGM's second choice was terrific. It is true that Judy would have played the role in a more serious way then Hutton did, but, some scenes in this film (the song with Howard Keel, "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" for example), there could be no one better to play it than Hutton. Her comedic talent gave the film its ultimate character in a way no other actress could have at the time. Sure there are scenes where Betty was a little over-powering, but remember, the only person she could compare herself to as "Annie" at the time was Ethel Merman. Merman was the actress who created the role on stage in 1946, only three years before the film went into production.
Merman was great too because she was the first musical Annie, but ya gotta admit, compare to Merman singing "It's Wonderful", Hutton's Annie seems downright introverted.
More then Garland, Frank Morgan who was originally cast in the role as Buffalo Bill, was the biggest loss to this film. Morgan passed away in September 1949, just as filming began. His chemistry would have brought a vitality and warmth to Buffalo Bill that Louis Calhern never achieved.
This is on of those 40's feel good musicals that Hutton does so very well. It is photographed beautifully, and never drags throughout it's almost two hour running time. Irving Berlin's songs are arranged and choreographed lushly even though Berlin watered down the racy "Doin What Comes Nat'urly" for a movie audience.
Be prepared for some first-class entertainment in a way the only MGM could provide you with. Get out those Dr. Denton's! Put on those bunny slippers! Grab the hot chocolate and sink yourself in the sofa... you're gonna be in for a great time.
Although Judy Garland was forced from playing "Annie" due to illness, in part due to her drug addiction and her tardiness, MGM's second choice was terrific. It is true that Judy would have played the role in a more serious way then Hutton did, but, some scenes in this film (the song with Howard Keel, "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" for example), there could be no one better to play it than Hutton. Her comedic talent gave the film its ultimate character in a way no other actress could have at the time. Sure there are scenes where Betty was a little over-powering, but remember, the only person she could compare herself to as "Annie" at the time was Ethel Merman. Merman was the actress who created the role on stage in 1946, only three years before the film went into production.
Merman was great too because she was the first musical Annie, but ya gotta admit, compare to Merman singing "It's Wonderful", Hutton's Annie seems downright introverted.
More then Garland, Frank Morgan who was originally cast in the role as Buffalo Bill, was the biggest loss to this film. Morgan passed away in September 1949, just as filming began. His chemistry would have brought a vitality and warmth to Buffalo Bill that Louis Calhern never achieved.
This is on of those 40's feel good musicals that Hutton does so very well. It is photographed beautifully, and never drags throughout it's almost two hour running time. Irving Berlin's songs are arranged and choreographed lushly even though Berlin watered down the racy "Doin What Comes Nat'urly" for a movie audience.
Be prepared for some first-class entertainment in a way the only MGM could provide you with. Get out those Dr. Denton's! Put on those bunny slippers! Grab the hot chocolate and sink yourself in the sofa... you're gonna be in for a great time.