Monday, February 24, 2014

Musical Movie Review: ***Paint Your Wagon (1969)


This is not your blockbuster musical, but it does have its interesting parts.  This is an Lerner and Loewe musical (Alan Jay Lerner book and Frederick Loewe music).   Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood star as partners (Ben Rumson and Pardner) in the gold business, and then they take on a third partner, as Rumson buys a wife from a Mormon polygamist Jean Seberg as Elizabeth.  This is not a flattering portrayal of a Mormon polygamist but uses the stereotypic portrayal.  Eventual the partnership also become polygamous with two husbands and one wife.  This suits everyone until civilization comes to town, and Elizabeth wants a proper family.  Both men decide to leave, but when Pardner learns Rumson is leaving town, he stays.  Noted music includes “They Call the Wind Maria” and “I talk to the Trees.”  This show is cast as characters, not for singing ability.  However the saloon, Rotten Luck Willie (Harve Presnell)  who sings “Maria” does a good job.  Cast also includes Ray Walston as Mad Jack Duncan

No comments:

Post a Comment