'Go West, Young Lady' is a surprisingly delightful little film that easily straddles at least three different genres: it's a comedy western with a couple of full-fledged musical numbers, but which never quite becomes a full-scale musical. This film features the only good comedy performance I've ever seen by Glenn Ford, who is usually a dead loss in comedies. (He ruined 'Pocketful of Miracles'.) I actively dislike Penny Singleton, partly because she's so annoying onscreen and largely because (in real life), as the inept president of Agva, she nearly drove that union into bankruptcy. But Singleton gives an enjoyable performance in this film. Even Ann Miller (whom I usually dislike) gives a fine performance as Lola, the dance-hall girl in the local saloon.
Allen Jenkins, one of my favourite character actors, is hilarious (as usual) as sheriff Ford's deputy. A high point of this film is the 'Yip-Ay-Yay' number performed by Ann Miller and Jenkins. For possibly the only time in his prolific career, Jenkins sings onscreen! His gravelly voice (with his prole New York accent) is completely unsuited to carrying a tune, but Jenkins sings gamely (in both senses of the term) while Miller does a couple of simple tap steps (less elaborate than usual for her) alongside him.
SLIGHT SPOILER. There's a very funny running gag, well executed. Ford keeps getting into brawls with various tough guys who are bigger and stronger than him. Each time this happens, Penny Singleton tries to help him by coshing the other man ... but she always misses him and beans Ford instead. The payoff comes when she tries this one more time. As Ford looks up in horror to see Singleton bearing down on him with a bottle, he shouts: 'Don't hit him! It'll be me!' Very funny indeed, and several other scenes in this movie are funny too. I'll rate this charming low-budget gem 9 points out of 10.
Allen Jenkins, one of my favourite character actors, is hilarious (as usual) as sheriff Ford's deputy. A high point of this film is the 'Yip-Ay-Yay' number performed by Ann Miller and Jenkins. For possibly the only time in his prolific career, Jenkins sings onscreen! His gravelly voice (with his prole New York accent) is completely unsuited to carrying a tune, but Jenkins sings gamely (in both senses of the term) while Miller does a couple of simple tap steps (less elaborate than usual for her) alongside him.
SLIGHT SPOILER. There's a very funny running gag, well executed. Ford keeps getting into brawls with various tough guys who are bigger and stronger than him. Each time this happens, Penny Singleton tries to help him by coshing the other man ... but she always misses him and beans Ford instead. The payoff comes when she tries this one more time. As Ford looks up in horror to see Singleton bearing down on him with a bottle, he shouts: 'Don't hit him! It'll be me!' Very funny indeed, and several other scenes in this movie are funny too. I'll rate this charming low-budget gem 9 points out of 10.