Friday, September 27, 2013

WILD WEST MOVIE HEROINES - Meg Mims


We loved them, we cheered for them, we cried for and with them, we sighed if/when the hero finally returned the heroine's love, devotion, loyalty... etc. Previously, I'd explored sidekicks and villains in western films. Today, it's time for the women who stood by and behind their men.

Here's a few I've found - many I've seen in movies and on television. Several have interesting backgrounds and awards. I'll start with my favorite.

MAUREEN O'HARA - The fiery-tempered red-headed Irish actress was a hit in several westerns with the Duke. Pictured to the right is the duo in McLintock! Maureen also starred with John Wayne (and shared remarkable on-screen chemistry with him) in two non-westerns, The Wings of Eagles and The Quiet Man. In her own words - "I was tough. I was tall. I was strong. I didn't take any nonsense from anybody. He was tough, he was tall, he was strong and he didn't take any nonsense from anybody. As a man and a human being, I adored him." (Chicago Tribune, May, 2013) Maureen starred in a few other westerns but McLintock! and Big Jake are my favorites.

GAIL DAVIS - I barely recall seeing Gail Davis in Annie Oakley when ABC rebroadcast the TV series after the 1950s show ended. But I enjoyed her portrayal. Strong, gutsy women, that's what I loved seeing, and Gail starred in many western films with Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. She also had roles in many television western shows. In her own words - "Back then I knew (Annie Oakley) was having a positive impact, especially on little girls. It wasn't until years later that I realized just how much. Little girls had turned into influential women, thanking my portrayal of Annie for showing them the way." (from the Gail Davis exhibit, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame) Loved the pigtails, too.

JENNIFER HOLT - I don't remember seeing her by name, but I'm sure I watched a few films with my dad that had Jennifer featured as the heroine. She joined the cast of movies starring Hopalong Cassidy, Russ Hayden, Rod Cameron, Johnny Mack Brown, Tex Ritter, Eddie Dean and Lash LaRue. The B-westerns were popular then and are still replayed (on occasion) on the TMC channel - usually on Saturday mornings or afternoons. All but eight of the 48 films she made were westerns. Maybe ya'll remember her, even if I don't. That's a lot of film credits, so I figured she belonged here in the list.

AMANDA BLAKE - I was fascinated by the actress' name (born Beverly Louise Neill.) We ended up naming our daughter Amanda, by the way, since it was so unusual (although the poor kid shared the name with at least three others in every school class.) Her beauty mark also intrigued me. Was it real? Ha! I missed the earlier shows where she was more than just owner of a saloon (wink, wink, nudge, nudge.) Ahem. As Miss Kitty, she had a heart of gold on the television western show Gunsmoke and kept Marshal Dillon company for 19 long years. Did you know Beverly first worked as a telephone operator? In 1968, Amanda Blake was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at Oklahoma City's National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - the third actor, after Tom Mix and Gary Cooper! Not bad, Miss Kitty.

BARBARA STANWYCK - Well, I can't leave her out since she ruled the roost as Victoria Barkley in The Big Valley. I have to admit I preferred watching Bonanza over this show and Gunsmoke (sorry, but Little Joe caught my fancy along with his paint horse.) Barbara ruled in Hollywood as a first-rate actress in many roles, both villainous and heartfelt, and she was successful as the wealthy widow of a 1,000 acre California ranch based loosely on history. The Hill ranch, established in 1855 and owned by Lawson Hill until his 1861 murder, was taken over by "Auntie Hill" - his wife Euphemia - who was the matriarch over their three sons and one daughter. Today the ranch lies beneath Lake Camanche in Calavaros County, near Stockton.

HAILEE STEINFELD - Give me some leeway here. My favorite book is Charles Portis' True Grit, and I knew back in 1969 that actress Kim Darby was too old for the role of Mattie Ross in the film True Grit with John Wayne. So when the Coen brothers remade the movie in 2010, the year before Double Crossing was published, I cheered for Hailee's wonderful performance. She was perfect. Even the Duke would have agreed! Hailee portrayed Mattie with the right blend of innocence, savvy perspective about life's low points and die-hard determination. I'd suggest her to portray Lily Diamond if I had input and a film contract for my book. I hope to see her in more westerns.

Well, that's my list. Who are your favorite western film and television heroines? Leave a comment below. Happy trails!


Meg Mims is an award-winning author with two western historical mysteries under her Eastern belt. She lives in Michigan, where the hills are like driveway slopes and trees block any type of prairie winds. LIKE her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter or check out her books on her website

 

 

12 comments:

  1. You picked several of mine including Amanda Blake. I grew up on Gunsmoke. Her staring down Mannon (Matt Dillon's enemy) in an old episode is one of the greatest performance's ever.

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  2. I loved Miss Kitty. I think if that show was on today, some serious shippers would force a little more loving between Matt and Miss Kitty.
    And Big Jake is a terrific western.

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  3. Don't forget Stella Stevens in THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE!

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  4. Enjoyed Jennifer Holt and see her often on Encore's Westerns channel. (and on netflix westerns) Of all I admired Maureen O'Hara and Barbara Stanwick the most. Both were amazing talents who could work in any genre and bring a wealth of depth to any performance. Nice list. Doris

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  5. Howdy, Meg. Great list. Amanda Blake and Maureen O'Hara are two of the best, but my absolute favorite Western heroine was Michele Carey's portrayal of Josephine MacDonald in El Dorado.

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  6. Have not seen Stella Stevens, Pete. Sorry, Matt, haven't seen El Dorado either. Two for the movie list! :-D I also liked Katherine Ross in Butch Cassidy/Sundance Kid as Etta, but she basically looks pretty. I guess I could add Shirley McClain in Two Mules for Sister Sara - I did see that, and she was hilarious!

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  7. Meg, thought I had commented but I didn't--getting old. My favorites are Maureen O'Hara and Amanda Blake. I love both of those ladies so much. They both play such strong characters and really do hold their own. Thanks for a wonderful blog today. I loved the pictures, too.
    Cheryl

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  8. Miss Kitty was one of my favourites, but Marlene Dietrich as Altar Keane, the saloon singer in Racho Notorious probably takes my first place.

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  9. Agree whole-heartedly with all your choices - especially Miss Kitty and Maureen O'Hara!

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  10. Katherine Ross has been a good western heroine also both when young and older.

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  11. Western heroines are very underrated, and one of the reasons I ended up writing western historical romance. What would Matt have been without Kitty? She brought out a whole dimension in him we wouldn't have seen otherwise. (For the record, I have always greatly admired all the Gunsmoke regulars.) As for Maureen O'Hara, she'd be my first choice to play Jake O'Keefe, my six-foot redheaded heroine in Much Ado About Mavericks, so you know she's one of my all-time favorites. :)

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  12. Barbara Stanwyck is my favourite actress in any genre. Growing up I liked Virginia Mayo, though I have not seen much of her recently. I also like Dorothy Malone who did her share of horse operas.

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