This film is commonly described as a spoof of the tall silent western gunslinger, epitomized by Gary Cooper. But, it's primarily a comedy-drama combo of 3 relationships centered around 'Melody' Jones(Gary Cooper), a timid wandering cowboy who likes to sing while he rides around. First, there is George(Bill Demarest), his wandering companion. They play off each other, rather like Laurel and Hardy, through the whole film, with occasional interludes involving the other 2 key relationships, those with Cherry(Loretta Young) and one Monte Jarrad(Dan Duryea), a notorious outlaw and gunslinger. The latter two are romantically involved, adding further complexity to the developing web of duplicities..
From their facial expressions, it's clear that Melody and Cherry marked each other as special at first sight(at a fair distance). But, until near the end, they act as if this is only a temporary fling, since Cherry supposedly is emotionally tied to Monte and Melody supposedly is heading far south for a cowboy job. Increduously, Melody is assumed by most of the town to be the recently arrived Monty, because his saddle bears the initials MJ. Thus, he is treated by most as if he were a rattlesnake. Initially very perplexed by this attitude, Melody soon comes to revel in his unexplained fearsome celebrity status. He doesn't realize that there is a handsome reward for the capture of Monte and that he will soon be in the line of fire of a variety of firearms. Cherry has plans to use Melody's mistaken identity to advantage in allowing Monte to escape the area. Thus, she saves Melody from being shot as Monte. In the ending, she will also save him from being shot by Monte, having made up her mind which man she wants to be with in the future. A disbelieving Melody gets a surprise demonstration of her crack marksmanship that saved his life(probably,the funniest moment in this film). "I aim at what I hit" quips Cherry, as she stalks off, chagrined that Melody still seems to believe that she still cares more for Monte than him.(Cherry doesn't wear her macho sharpshooting skills on her sleeve, in contrast to Doris Day in 'Calamity Jane' or Ella Raines in 'Tall in the Saddle', which came out the previous year).
This film is primarily for fans of Cooper or Loretta, although Bill Demarest also added much to the interest. Loretta and Cooper have great chemistry and she is great to look at. Intentionally or not, otherwise this film has the look of a minimal budget western of the period or '30s. It differs from the later color slapstick western farces starring Bob Hope or Don Knots in that a laconic real western film star is playing a real cowboy, who happens to be unbelievably clumsy and incompetent when it comes to firearms handling. Also, it turns into a more serious western at times, with occasional killings. May be worth a look,and now is inexpensively available on DVD as part of a four Cooper film package
From their facial expressions, it's clear that Melody and Cherry marked each other as special at first sight(at a fair distance). But, until near the end, they act as if this is only a temporary fling, since Cherry supposedly is emotionally tied to Monte and Melody supposedly is heading far south for a cowboy job. Increduously, Melody is assumed by most of the town to be the recently arrived Monty, because his saddle bears the initials MJ. Thus, he is treated by most as if he were a rattlesnake. Initially very perplexed by this attitude, Melody soon comes to revel in his unexplained fearsome celebrity status. He doesn't realize that there is a handsome reward for the capture of Monte and that he will soon be in the line of fire of a variety of firearms. Cherry has plans to use Melody's mistaken identity to advantage in allowing Monte to escape the area. Thus, she saves Melody from being shot as Monte. In the ending, she will also save him from being shot by Monte, having made up her mind which man she wants to be with in the future. A disbelieving Melody gets a surprise demonstration of her crack marksmanship that saved his life(probably,the funniest moment in this film). "I aim at what I hit" quips Cherry, as she stalks off, chagrined that Melody still seems to believe that she still cares more for Monte than him.(Cherry doesn't wear her macho sharpshooting skills on her sleeve, in contrast to Doris Day in 'Calamity Jane' or Ella Raines in 'Tall in the Saddle', which came out the previous year).
This film is primarily for fans of Cooper or Loretta, although Bill Demarest also added much to the interest. Loretta and Cooper have great chemistry and she is great to look at. Intentionally or not, otherwise this film has the look of a minimal budget western of the period or '30s. It differs from the later color slapstick western farces starring Bob Hope or Don Knots in that a laconic real western film star is playing a real cowboy, who happens to be unbelievably clumsy and incompetent when it comes to firearms handling. Also, it turns into a more serious western at times, with occasional killings. May be worth a look,and now is inexpensively available on DVD as part of a four Cooper film package