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Annie Get Your Gun
MGM, 1950 (Color, 107 minutes)
Judy Garland was originally cast in the title role of Annie Oakley in this MGM screen production of Irving Berlin's 1946 stage production starring Ethel Merman. Due to health problems, Judy left MGM during production and was replaced by Betty Hutton. Judy had completed pre-recording of all musical numbers, and she had completed filming of two numbers. The soundtrack and film have been recovered and are generally available to the Judy Garland collector today, as are a number of photos.
The problems MGM had with this production are legendary. Keel's horse fell on him and broke his ankle, forcing the crew to shoot around him for about six weeks. Busby Berkeley's early work on the film was unacceptable to Arthur Freed, and he was replaced with Charles Walters. Charles Walter's MGM contract expired, and negotiations for a new contract took so long that he was replaced by George Sidney. Judy Garland was suspended from MGM, and she was replaced by Betty Hutton. Frank Morgan died of a heart attack, and he was replaced by Louis Calhern. Filming was delayed so many times that the children had to be replaced, too, as they were maturing enough to be noticeable.
But, when the film was finally released in the spring of 1950, it did very well at the box office, netting more than $4.5 million in gross profits. And the public's interest in musicals was renewed, allowing MGM to turn out another volley of musicals in the early- and mid-1950s.
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Crew
Producer: Arthur Freed
Director: George Sidney
Screen Play: Sidney Sheldon (based on the play by Irving Berlin, Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields
Musical Numbers Staged By: Robert Alton
Musical Director: Adolph Deutsch
Songs: Irving Berlin
Womens Costumes: Helen Rose and Walter Plunkett
Mens Costumes: Walter Plunkett
Makeup: Jack Dawn
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse
Set Decorators: Edwin B. Willis and Richard A. Pefferle
Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa and James Gooch
Sound: Douglas Shearer
Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie and Warren Newcombe
Montage: Peter Ballbusch
Camera: Charles Rosher
Editor: James E. Newcom
Production: April 1949 - Spring, 1950
Cost: $3.7 million
Gross: Over $8 million
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Cast
(replacing Judy Garland) ... Annie Oakley
... Frank Butler
(replacing Frank Morgan) ... Buffalo Bill
... Chief Sitting Bull
... Pawnee Bill
... Charlie Davenport
... Dolly Tate
... Foster Wilson
James H. Harrison ... Mac
Bradley Mora ... Little Jake
Susan Odin ... Jessie
Diana Dick ... Nellie
Chief Yowlachie ... Little Horse
Robert Malcolm ... Conductor
Lee Tung Foo ... Waiter
William Tannen ... Barker
Anne O'Neal ... Miss Willoughby
... Queen Victoria
... Ship Captain
William Bill Hall ... Tall Man
... Footman
... Constance
Elizabeth Flournoy ... Helen
... Mrs. Adams
... Mr. Clay
... President Loubet of France
Nino Pipitone ... King Victor Emmanuel of Italy
John Mylong ... Kaiser Wilhelm II
Eleanor Brown ... Minnie
Carl Sepulveda, Carol Henry, Fred Gilman ... Cowboys
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Musical Program
With Judy:
(Judy Garland)
(Judy Garland)
(Judy Garland and Howard Keel)
(Judy Garland and Howard Keel)
(Judy Garland)
(Judy Garland)
(Judy Garland)
(reprise, Judy Garland)
(Howard Keel)
(Howard Keel)
(Judy Garland, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern, Keenan Wynn)
As Released:
(Betty Hutton and Children)
(Howard Keel)
(Betty Hutton)
(Keenan Wynn, Louis Calhern, Howard Keel and Betty Hutton)
(Betty Hutton and Howard Keel)
(Howard Keel and Chorus)
(Betty Hutton and Chorus)
(Betty Hutton and Howard Keel)
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Notes
The songs recorded by Judy are included on the CD: , and also on the soundtrack CDs (shown right).
The two numbers Judy filmed ("I'm an Indian Too" and "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly") are included on the videotape and laser disc, as well as on the film issue VHS and DVD (shown right).
Berlin Adds Tune to 'Annie Get Your Gun' Irving Berlin has composed a new tune, 'Let's Go West Together,' which will be added to the 15 songs Metro's upcoming 'Annie Get Your Gun' filmusical will use from the original score of the stage hit. Judy Garland heads the cast of the pic, which Busby Berkeley will direct for Arthur Freed. Berlin himself is due in from NY within fortnight to sit in with Freed on mapping the production." - Variety, March 2, 1949
"Judy Garland reports today for 'Annie Get Your Gun' fittings." - Variety, March 14, 1949
For more information on the film as it was released, see on Class Act.
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