CALAMITY JANE
US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jane Alexander, Frederic Forrest, Ken Kercheval, Walter Olkewicz, Talia Balsam, Walter Scott, David Hemmings.
Directed by James Goldstone.
There have been many films about Calamity Jane and she has been played by many actresses including Jane Russell, Yvonne De Carlo and, possibly best known, Doris Day in the musical with Howard Keel as Wild Bill Hickok.
Jane Alexander, who excelled as a stage actress as well as on-screen, was in her early 40s when she made this film – and served as one of the producers.
There is a visual collage at the opening of the film outlining Jane’s life but the narrative takes up with her work as a scout, her skill as a shooter, her promotion of women in the Army and in other professions, when she encounters Bill Hickok, lawman, and is attracted to him and a drunken Congregational Reverend performs a marriage ceremony and documents it in a page from his Bible.However, the couple did not want people to know, although Jane was in love with Bill and would have been happy to settle down. She and he worked together successfully but he is restless and accepts an invitation from Buffalo Bill Cody to join his travelling actors.
Jane is pregnant, goes out into the mountains, gives birth, and is found by visiting English Captain O’ Neill and his wife who get her some help and then offer to adopt the child. She is reluctant but eventually sees that this would be better for the little girl – and there is secrecy.
Jane has her ups and downs, begins to drink, offends the respectable women in the town, wins money at poker – and visits her daughter during a trip to America from England. She reluctantly accept a proposal of marriage but this is not successful. Later, she is offered a position as a sideshow in the carnival and encounters her daughter once more. Her adoptive father says that Jane can reveal the truth to her daughter who has put her on a pedestal – Jane is unable to tell her the truth. She does accept an invitation from Bill Cody enjoins his travelling troupe.
Many of the Calamity Jane films have a lighter touch – this one moves towards presenting some greater realism. Frederic Forrest is Bill Hickok and in a sympathetic performance David Hemmings is Captain O’ Neill.
1. The popularity of Calamity Jane in American history and folklore? Life, her legend, a cowgirl of the 19th century, performing in Buffalo Bill’s travelling circus? The many film versions contributing?
2. The West in the 19th century, the towns, the open countryside, stagecoach routes, law and order in the towns? The contrast with the American cities, New York City? The popularity of performances by Wild West characters?
3. The opening collage, suggesting the life and the career of Martha Jane Cannery? Origins in the West, upbringing, in the West, action, skill at shooting, the work as a scout, with the Army, a woman in this role?
4. Jane Alexander as Jane, her age, appearance, skill in shooting, her swagger, the feminine touches, the masculine touches, clothes, work, reputation?
5. The stagecoach, the driving, the encounter with Bill Hickok, the two reverends going to the convention, the attack, the driver being shot, cared for, camping overnight, the drinking, the Reverend and his performing the wedding, the document from the Bible? The effect on Jane, on Bill? Their being comfortable with each other?
6. Bill Hickok, his reputation, law and order, his wanting to move on? His relationship with Jane, the marriage? The visit of Bill Cody, Jane dressing up, the gaudy presentation, punching the girl, the effect on Cody, with Hickok and his deciding to move on?
7. Jane, her pregnancy, going out into the cave, surviving there, giving birth? Discovered by Captain O’ Neill and his wife? Their providing the maid and her assistance? The offer to adopt the child? Jane and her devotion to her daughter, thinking that the O’ Neills would offer a better life and education, handing over the baby, Captain O’ Neill and the donation of money, the secrecy?
8. Jane, going back to work, writing the cattle, her reputation? Charlie and his devotion? The continued friendship with Will?
9. O’ Neill and his suggestion that she write her memoirs for her daughter? Learn to write? The manuscripts? The letter to say that O’ Neill and the daughter were in America? The skill at gambling, playing poker, winning the money, turning up to visit her daughter? O’ Neill and his support? The death of his wife? That girl, becoming friendly with Jane, sharing the stories? Jane and offered to live nearby, even to marry Captain O’ Neill, or to go on travels with them?
10. Charlie Burke, his admiration for Jane, his coming to find her, the proposal, heard wariness? Deciding to settle down, the marriage ceremony, the farm, Charlie and his laziness, Jane letting the cattle go, confronting him, leaving?
11. The return, the drinking, the coach, pursued by the Indians, the gymnastics and the riding away, getting older, not looking after herself? Will and his bar? The respectable women of the town objecting – and a huge ruckus and her attack on them? Her going into the sideshows, the continued drinking, Captain O’ Neill and Jean, coming to see her, Jean talking, the invitation to the social? Her dressing up, going, the autographs, the gossip of the women? Captain O’ Neill willing that she reveal to Jean that she was to her daughter? The intention, Jean and her admiration, Jane as a role model? Unable to tell her daughter the truth?
12. The offer from Bill Cody, seeing her practising, her manoeuvres on the horse? Going to Europe, the audiences – and the final close-up on the image of Jane in the moccasins?
13. Bill Hickok, his death, her love for him, buried next to him? The memories of Deadwood?
14. The romanticising of Calamity Jane in other movies? This one moving towards greater realism?
