I love this movie. The plot is kind of Taming of the Shrew, with Kate as a cowboy and Petruchio as a saloon singer, although "Kate" does the chasing and the taming is more of an uncalculated group effort. Like the best movies, it makes you laugh but develops into a story that is both deep and complex.
This movie shows Marilyn's incredible acting skills in a way her more popular movies definitely don't. She's hilarious and adorable in the beginning, when Bo is pursuing her and she's trying to get away. At the end, she's completely convincing as she talks about her (back then) promiscuous past and how she feels Bo is better off without her because of it. Throughout, she shows that complete vulnerability that at times is uncomfortable to watch - it's like she has no barriers around her personality. Even in the funny parts, she seems like she could be squashed by the merest touch. No actress before or since has compared in this area.
Don Murray is underrated in this movie. He plays an insensitive bulldozer who pursues Marilyn like she's one of the calves on his ranch, and a man who can be both tender and gentle, and is completely convincing in both roles. He's really obnoxious in the first role, but that's the whole point. Possibly he could have toned it down a LITTLE, but all in all, he does a great job. The chemistry between him and Marilyn is great - especially at the end, you totally believe they just can't keep away from each other.
The rest of the cast is fine, with the bus depot operator Grace standing out - very funny woman. All in all, a great movie, and one that shows how much Marilyn was wasted in roles that only let her play an airheaded sexpot.
This movie shows Marilyn's incredible acting skills in a way her more popular movies definitely don't. She's hilarious and adorable in the beginning, when Bo is pursuing her and she's trying to get away. At the end, she's completely convincing as she talks about her (back then) promiscuous past and how she feels Bo is better off without her because of it. Throughout, she shows that complete vulnerability that at times is uncomfortable to watch - it's like she has no barriers around her personality. Even in the funny parts, she seems like she could be squashed by the merest touch. No actress before or since has compared in this area.
Don Murray is underrated in this movie. He plays an insensitive bulldozer who pursues Marilyn like she's one of the calves on his ranch, and a man who can be both tender and gentle, and is completely convincing in both roles. He's really obnoxious in the first role, but that's the whole point. Possibly he could have toned it down a LITTLE, but all in all, he does a great job. The chemistry between him and Marilyn is great - especially at the end, you totally believe they just can't keep away from each other.
The rest of the cast is fine, with the bus depot operator Grace standing out - very funny woman. All in all, a great movie, and one that shows how much Marilyn was wasted in roles that only let her play an airheaded sexpot.