Make sure you also read the other comments for this fascinating early talkie from Monogram Pictures... they each add excellent insight to the creation of this mosaic production. The DVD I have is from Alpha in the US and their output contains inconsistent standards, whilst the titles are often 'must see'. As a 1932 Monogram Production in some form of magnacolor (I can only guess which bits as this now is all just black and white) THE GIRL FROM CALGARY is essential viewing for fans of this company or this era. Fifi D'Orsay and Astrid Allwyn are both certainly gorgeous women, and tough guy Paul Kelly is a great leading actor, all three add a lot to what is clearly a film made of many unrelated bits. Fifi is a lot like Betty Boop, and Astrid is a sublime blonde, in the same style of Monogram star Belita who made SUSPENSE in 1944. The footage of the long long parade in reel one and later, the huge musical filmed from a major theater and show of the period add disjointed but workable storyline settings. It is because both are real with this movie filmed around them and shunted in through editing. It is as if the Monogram production office got the footage and then fashioned a story line to use them. Monogram repeated this very successfully using Navy props and footage in their 1952 drama FLAT TOP. This makes for enjoyable if peculiar presentation... but it does give great insight into low budget film making aspiring to be bigger entertainment, Sooo Monogram.
Review of The Girl from Calgary
