Red Garters

Red Garters is an exceptional musical comedy western that was released in the year 1954. This pioneering technicolor post-modern film was directed by George Marshall and it starred the vivacious and mellifluous Rosemary Clooney, the versatile Jack Carson, and charismatic Guy Mitchell. Bursting with vibrant colours, this film literally incorporates theatrical artistry together with coalescent plot developments, engaging performances, and mesmerizing musical numbers.

Red Garters is a playful and abstract interpretation of the Western genre. It takes place in the fictitious 1870s California town of Limbo, a place where horrors of the Wild West are reduced to their representational essence and presented with a knowing irony. The setting is a mandatory part of the plot, which ensures the surrealistic and artistic appeal through the film's use of colourful minimalist and non-realistic design. The sets are painted in striking colours with clearly visible two-dimensional structures such as trees, mountains, buildings, and even doors.

The film stars Rosemary Clooney, known for her observing and magnetic performances, as Calaveras Kate. Clooney shines in the lead role, with her songs forming noteworthy parts of the movie. She’s a saloon owner with a golden heart, who becomes involved in a love triangle with two very different suitors. Her strength, charisma, and charming flaws make Kate one of Western films’ notable female characters. On the other hand, Jack Carson plays the role of the silver-tongued Jason Carberry who adds a humorous tilt to the whole narrative. Guy Mitchell, in his film debut, splendidly enacts Reb Randall, a young and brave sharpshooter who becomes a part of various adventures and romantic encounters.

The film begins with the commemorating of the death of a local hero, followed by a series of chaotic and engaging episodes filled with gunfights, love triangles and hidden treasure. The storyline has a unique appeal where characters are direct and candid about their motives, removing any elements of deception or manipulation to a great extent. The typical elements of a western film such as contract killings and vengeance have been lightened with offbeat humor and music. Red Garters playfully satirizes conventional Western themes and its playfulness adds a unique texture to the film that leaves viewers both charmed and amused, appealing to audiences beyond the conventional boundaries of Western genre enthusiasts.

The fantastic and well-choreographed musical numbers in Red Garters are absolutely irresistible. The songs, performed by the lead cast, perfectly illustrate the characters' emotions and motives and serve to heighten the drama, joy, and conflicts in the story. From Rosemary Clooney's delightful singing to the catchy tunes, the film engages with music as its indispensable part. Clooney's solo renditions leave a mark, especially 'This Is Greater Than I Thought' and 'Meet a Happy Guy', which serve as musical highpoints.

The stunningly vibrant cinematography by Lionel Lindon adds a fantastic expression to the film and the abstract production design by Roland Anderson and Hal Pereira echo the aesthetic of a stage set with great appeal. The film also showcases excellent costume designs that perfectly match the film’s overall decidedly non-realistic, stylized cinematic approach. One scene that particularly stands out features Clooney in a voluminous red dress against a green background, a testament to the film's dedicated color coordination.

Red Garters is a must-watch for those who want to experience something beyond the traditional realms of Western or comedy genres. Not only does it satirize the stereotypical Western tropes, it also offers a feast for the eyes with its abstract and colorful sets, well-composed musical numbers, and delightful performances, making it a movie experience to remember. This is a film that showcases genre deconstruction with playful integrity, resonating both as a parody and an homage to the frontier tales of old.