Wonderland Burlesque: 2025

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Wonderland Burlesque's Let's All Go To The Movies: She's A Lady! - Part XXXV

Wonderland Burlesque's

Let's All Go To The Movies

She's A Lady!

Part XXXV

Yes, sometimes? It takes a lady.

And sometimes that lady best come packing some heat!

Or so these films would have us believe.

They promise lots of drama, the occasional comedy or musical, and a little bit of dirt!

Let's take a walk down Hollywood Blvd. and shine a light on these magnificent classic films.

This way, if you please. But remember...

Ladies first!

--- ---

Waterfront Lady

(1935)

When a young man is befriended by a gambling ship operator and made a partner in the business, he becomes involved in a police manhunt after he covers up a murder committed by his new partner.

This American crime drama was directed by Joseph Santley and stars Ann Rutherford, Frank Albertson, Barbara Pepper and Jack La Rue.

Film debut of Ann Rutherford. She got the part after actress Anne Darling walked off the film and out of her contract to marry an insurance executive. At the time Ann was performing on a Los Angeles radio show. A producer at Mascot Pictures saw her picture in the newspaper and thought she looked enough like Anne Darling that casting her would enable the studio to complete the movie. Decades later, Ann recalled that she was delighted at the prospect of playing, at the age of 17, a "waterfront lady," and this began for her a long and fruitful career in motion pictures.

Therese Rutherford was a Canadian-born American actress in film, radio, and television. She had a long career starring and co-starring in films, playing Polly Benedict during the 1930s and 1940s in the Andy Hardy series, and appearing as one of Scarlett O'Hara's sisters, Careen O'Hara in the film Gone with the Wind (1939).

Barbara Pepper

Barbara Pepper started life in show business with Goldwyn Girls, a musical stock company where she met Lucille Ball, with whom she would remain friends, during production of Eddie Cantor's Roman Scandals in 1933. Pepper was Ball's first choice for the role of Ethel Mertz on the I Love Lucy series. However, Pepper had a drinking problem and William Frawley, who also had a drinking problem, was already cast and the powers that be thought it unwise to have two actors with alcohol issues on the same show - so she was passed over. Instead, she ended up playing the original Doris Ziffel on Green Acres.

Ann Rutherford

You can watch this film in its entirety for free on YouTube!

--- ---

Vagabond Lady

(1935)

Josephine Spiggins is thinking of marrying John Spear, the stuffed-shirt son of a department store owner. When John's free-spirit brother Tony returns from touring the South Seas in his boat, the 'Vagabond Lady', Jo finds herself attracted to him instead.

This American comedy was directed by Sam Taylor and stars Robert Young, Evelyn Venable and Reginald Denny. The film was released on May 3, 1935, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Robert Young was on loan to Hal Roach Studios from MGM.

Director Sam Taylor caught the flu in mid-February 1935, so assistant director Edmond F. Bernoudy filled in for him during his illness. And he wasn't the only one who became ill...

Evelyn Venable and Reginald Denny

Joseph Cawthorn was initially cast as Mr. Spiggins but became ill and was replaced by Frank Craven. All of Cawthorn's footage had to be scrapped.

Robert Young and Evelyn Venable

The New York Times reviewer described the film as "a frothy, bubbling and sparkling farce."

--- ---

River Lady

(1948)

When the loggers arrive at a mill town on the upper Mississippi drainage, the gambling riverboat is there to meet them, with river queen Sequin who loves logger Dan Corrigan. Sharp businessman Beauvais also wants Sequin, as well as all the sawmill business. To keep Dan near her, Sequin manipulates him into managing the local Morrison Mill; but her plans go awry once Morrison's daughter Stephanie sets her eyes on Dan.

Based on a novel by Houston Branch and Frank Waters, this American lumberjack Western was directed by George Sherman and stars Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea, Rod Cameron, and Helena Carter.

Film rights were bought by Universal in March of 1941 for a reported $50,000 plus 10 cents for every copy sold over 70,000. The sale was done even before the novel had been written, simply on the strength of its synopsis.

Originally, Frank Lloyd was set to direct and he wanted Loretta Young for the leading lady. After Lloyd left the studio, the project remained in limbo until 1946.

The role played by Helena Carter was originally offered to Ann Blyth.

Filmed on the Universal Studios Backlot, the river boat used in the film was originally built in 1929 for the silent film Show Boat. Shot in Technicolor the film was one of Universal's most expensive productions that year.

Filmink magazine thought the best thing about the movie was Carter who played her part "with a twinkle in her eye, lively, full of spark and clearly intelligent… a good girl who wouldn’t mind being 'bad' for the right guy. She was no shy, retiring violet – she goes after Cameron actively, in part because it's a rebellious act and she's clearly sexually attracted to him – but she's no dummy either."

Yvonne De Carlo

--- ---

Two-Gun Lady

(1955)

Trick-shot artist Kate Masters, billed as 'The Two-Gun Lady' begins an engagement at 'Big Mike' Dougherty's saloon, and immediately arouses the jealousy and suspicion of his sweetheart, Bess. Among those attracted to Kate are Dan Corbin, a U.S. Marshal posing as a drifter, and Ben Ivers, outlaw son of crooked town-boss Jud Ivers. Ben has returned to hide his loot from the robbery of a federal bank. Kate learns that the Ivers were the men who had killed her father and mother and burned their house years ago. She tells Corbin and he heads for the Ivers' ranch to arrest Ben. Meanwhile, Ben is heading to the saloon for a showdown - a fast-draw shootout with Kate.

This American western was directed and produced by Richard Bartlett and stars Peggie Castle, William Talman, and Marie Windsor.

The working title for this film was Six Gun Lady.

The film's heavies (Lyon, MacDonald and Jolley) are all played by members of the production staff.

Peggie Castle

Peggie Castle was an American actress who specialized in playing the 'other woman' in B-movies. She was Miss Cheesecake in 1949. Castle was discovered by a talent scout at a restaurant in Beverly Hills and signed to a seven-year contract with Universal-International. She appeared in over 30 films, 11 of which were westerns, and later co-starred in the popular television series The Lawman. Castle married four times, struggled with a drinking problem and died from cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 46.

--- ---

The Buckskin Lady

(1957)

Dr. Bruce Merritt is enticed to Bitter Water by 'Doc' Medley, a phony poker swindler, who persuades Merritt to pay him $250 for the use of his 'medical practice'. Doc's daughter Angela vows to pay back Merritt's money. She gambles and loses to her ex-lover, Slinger. They fight when she discovers the deck is marked. Merritt arrives and mistakes the meaning of her torn clothing. Disgraced, Angela leaves town with Slinger who, showing his appreciation, immediately holds up a bank and wounds Angela in the process. Merritt, learning that he had been mistaken about Angela, sends a messenger after Angela, but Slinger shoots him. Grabbing the only loaded gun left, Angela keeps the killer at bay all night.