Belle of the Yukon *** (1945, Randolph Scott, Gypsy Rose Lee, Dinah Shore, Bob Burns) – Classic Movie Review 7493

Producer-director William A Seiter’s 1945 RKO movie Belle of the Yukon pairs manly Randolph Scott with burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee (aka Rose Louise Hovick), whose autobiography was the basis of the all time great musical Gypsy. It was nominated for two Oscars: Best Original Song for ‘Sleighride in July’ (Johnny Burke lyrics, Jimmy Van Heusen music) and Best Scoring of a Musical Picture (Arthur Lange).

Based on a story by Houston Branch, with a screenplay by James Edward Grant, Belle of the Yukon is a bright and engaging musical satirical comedy Western about the Klondike gold rush, with Scott as a conman called Honest John Calhoun who has a fling with the eponymous Belle of the Yukon entertainer Belle De Valle (Gypsy Rose Lee), while he tries to get away with the miners’ gold dust. Meanwhile Dinah Shore plays Lettie Candless, sings and romances piano player Steve Atterbury (William Marshall).

The lively, appealing performances of both the stars and support cast, Ray Rennahan’s lovely Technicolor cinematography and the Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen tunes (‘Sleighride in July’ was Oscar nominated) are the best of quite a good job.

Also in the cast are Charles Winninger, Florence Bates, Robert Armstrong, Bob Burns, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams, Wanda McKay, Edward Fielding, Victor Kilian and Chief Soldani.

Belle De Valle: ‘The day you turn platonic is the day that wolves become vegetarians.’

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7493

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Gypsy Rose Lee (1911–1970).