THE GROOM WORE SPURS
US, 1951, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Ginger Rogers, Jack Carson, Joan Davis, Stanley Ridges.
Directed by Richard Whorf.
The Groom Wore Spurs is a minor romantic comedy. It is a programmer, for the lower half of a double bill. The film was directed by actor-turned-director, Richard Whorf who directed Till The Clouds Roll By and Luxury Liner but who worked mainly in television.
In a way, Ginger Rogers is too good for this film. She brings a strength and vitality to her role as a hard-headed lawyer who is infatuated with a cowboy who hates being a cowboy film star. Jack Carson is the cowboy – good at the comedy but lacking any kind of charisma that might explain why a lawyer like Ginger Rogers might fall in love with him. There is supporting comedy from Joan Davis, very popular on radio and television in the 1940s.
1.The popularity of this kind of small programming film? The star power of Ginger Rogers? As romance, as comedy, as spoof? The touch of the thriller at the end?
2.The black and white photography, Los Angeles settings, Las Vegas – 1950s style? The comedy of the credits animation, the song? The song sung by Ben? Spoofing cowboys and cowboy movies?
3.The plausibility of the plot – the film star, the lawyer, immediately falling in love, disillusioned, getting back together, the murder sequence, the farce with the plane at the end?
4.Ginger Rogers as Abigail Furnival, her memories of her father, her work, with Ben Castle, the decision to go to Las Vegas, meeting Harry Kallen, forgetting the debt? Dancing, the wedding? Disillusionment with the way that Ben spoke, being used? The return home, her discussions with Alice, her roommate? Going back to the house, dismissing Mrs Forbes, the argument? Ben and his being drunk? The photo opportunities, the reporters interested in her because of her father? The contract, her standover tactics with the film producer? The murder, her going to the DA, her skill in manipulating her uncle, getting rid of the police by tricking them, going to the lawyers, finding out the possible killer? Going to the airport, the previous attentions of Steve, his helping? The farcical driving of the plane?
5.Ben, Jack Carson’s comedy style, his hating being a cowboy, not knowing much about it? The put-on talk? With A.J., the shock, going to Las Vegas, the dancing, the debt, the marriage, her walking out, his drinking, the photo opportunity, his being ignored, difficulty of getting on the horse, going to his producer, the contract, getting the sixty thousand dollars, Harry Kallen burning the cheque? The murder? His arrest, helping A.J., the plane? The happy ending?
6.Alice, the comedy of the roommate, deadpan?
7.The police, the D.A? The investigations?
8.Harry Kallen, admiring A.J’s father, forgetting the debt? His death? The murderer? The lawyers and their knowing who did the murder?
9.Steve, the pilot, in love with A.J? Ignacio, the houseboy, Asian? The ageing bellboy at the hotel, not wanting to be called boy, calling Ben cowboy?
10.How well did the various ingredients mix?
