The Unsinkable Molly Brown

This screen adaptation of the musical by Meredith Wilson (also author of The Music Man, 1962) is in the tradition of Calamity Jane (1953) and Annie Get Your Gun (1950), although hardly of the same calibre. Not only are the songs far from memorable ("Belly Up To The Bar, Boys" being the catchiest) but the production suffers from the nostalgic, sweet-as-apple-pie wholesomeness that by the 60s had become tiresomely forced, the enthusiasm of child-like ingenuousness being supplanted by an exaggerated boisterousness.

Debbie Reynolds gives a performance that embodies the contrivance (and was nominated for an Oscar for her efforts) as Molly Brown, a Colorado backwoods gal whose miner husband (Harve Presnell) strikes it rich. They head off to Denver, where, much as soon would television’s The Beverley Hillbillies, they outrage polite society with their uncouthness. The title comes from the fact that the real life Molly Brown whist returning from Europe where she had gone to better herself actually survived the sinking of the Titanic (and set up a fund for survivors, although this is not mentioned). A minor musical that suffers from an overdose of faux naiveté. 

 

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