Marcus Chen
In the 1969 American Western musical film 'Paint Your Wagon', Clint Eastwood stars alongside Lee Marvin and Jean Seberg. The film is set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California and features several songs performed by the cast. Eastwood performs I Talk to the Trees and Gold Fever, with his co-star Marvin taking the lead on the song Wand'rin' Star, which became a number one hit in the UK. Despite the talent involved, the film was not well-received by critics, with Roger Ebert describing it as loud and officially stereophonic. However, it has gained a following over the years, with a 68% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Clint Eastwood's character's name | Partner/Pardner |
| Songs sung by Clint Eastwood | I Talk to the Trees, Gold Fever |
| Other songs in the movie | Wand'rin' Star, They Call the Wind Maria, The Ballad of No Name City |
| Clint Eastwood's co-stars | Lee Marvin, Jean Seberg |
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What You'll Learn
Clint Eastwood sang his own parts in the film
Eastwood, who played the surviving brother "Pardner", and Marvin, who played prospector Ben Rumson, did their own singing in the film. Seberg's songs, however, were dubbed by Anita Gordon. Marvin's rendition of "Wand'rin' Star" became a number-one hit in the UK.
Despite the talent involved in the film, it received mixed reviews. Roger Ebert of the *Chicago Sun-Times* gave the film 2/4 stars, describing it as "loud and officially stereophonic, but [...] studio music — cold, aloof". On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 27% from critics and 68% from the audience.
Eastwood was frustrated by the long delays in the making of the film, and Marvin's heavy drinking during filming may have contributed to this. *Paint Your Wagon* is known for its large budget and nearly three-hour length. It has been described as "tonally disjointed" and "a hilarious garbage fire". However, it has gained a following over the years, with some viewers appreciating its glimmers of inspiration and unique take on the musical genre.
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Lee Marvin's song Wanderin' Star went to No. 1 in the UK
In the 1969 American Western musical film *Paint Your Wagon*, Clint Eastwood sang alongside his co-stars Lee Marvin and Jean Seberg. Eastwood played a frontier man in a throuple with Marvin and Seberg's characters.
Lee Marvin's rendition of "Wand'rin' Star" from the film became a number-one hit in the UK and Ireland, despite the film flopping at the box office. Marvin's voice was described by his co-star Jean Seberg as "like rain gurgling down a rusty pipe". The song was orchestrated and arranged by Nelson Riddle, and accompanied by the film's choir. Marvin's version kept the Beatles' "Let It Be" at number two in the UK. Marvin never released another single, so he is considered a one-hit wonder.
Paint Your Wagon was adapted by Paddy Chayefsky from the 1951 musical of the same name by Lerner and Loewe. It is set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California and centres on a polygamous relationship. The film was released at a time when movie musicals were going out of fashion, particularly with younger audiences. It had a large budget and a nearly three-hour runtime, which became notorious in the press.
Despite the film's poor reception, it has gained a following over the years. It is known for its talented cast and crew, memorable one-liners, and unique take on the Western genre.
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The film is based on a Broadway musical
The 1969 film Paint Your Wagon is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, which was written by librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. The musical premiered in 1951, and its plot centres on a miner and his daughter in Gold Rush-era California. It follows the lives and loves of the people in a mining camp, and popular songs from the show included "Wand'rin' Star", "I Talk to the Trees", and "They Call the Wind Maria". The film adaptation was written by Paddy Chayefsky, and starred Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg.
The film's plot differs from the musical, with a focus on two brothers, one of whom is killed in a wagon crash at the beginning of the film. The surviving brother, played by Eastwood, is adopted by prospector Ben Rumson (Marvin) as his "Pardner". Pardner falls in love with Elizabeth (Seberg), who comes to town as the second wife in a polygamous Mormon family. The film's songs were performed by the actors themselves, with the exception of Seberg's, which were dubbed by Anita Gordon.
Paint Your Wagon is notable for its attempt to appeal to audiences who typically disliked musicals, with most of the singing performed in a "sad, lonely whisper". It was released at a time when movie musicals were falling out of fashion, particularly with younger audiences, and received mixed reviews from critics. However, it has gained popularity with audiences in the years since its release.
The film is also known for its lengthy production process and large budget, which caused the studio to lose money. Despite this, the film has become something of a cult classic, with a dedicated fanbase.
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Critics gave the film poor reviews
Critics gave the film "Paint Your Wagon" poor reviews, with some describing it as a big, heavy lump that doesn't inspire any reaction, not even a put-down. The movie, a musical Western, was released at a time when movie musicals were declining in popularity, particularly with younger audiences. Its overblown budget, lengthy duration, and delays in production contributed to its poor reception.
Roger Ebert, for example, gave the film 2/4 stars, noting that while the film was loud and officially stereophonic, the music lacked feeling and came across as cold and aloof. He also mentioned that the large budget and scale of the production hindered the intimacy and feeling of the film. Ebert's review highlighted the challenges of balancing grand production values with the human scale of the characters.
The movie's musical numbers were also criticized. While some found the songs upbeat and catchy, others, like Ebert, felt the singing was studio music that lacked authenticity. The singing abilities of the cast, including Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin, and Jean Seberg, were questioned, with some reviewers stating that they couldn't sing. However, others, like Harve Presnell's performance of "The Wind They Call Maria," were praised.
The script and story of "Paint Your Wagon" also received mixed reactions. While some found the script broad and sly with memorable one-liners and gags, others criticized the film for being simultaneously suggestive and puritanical, resulting in snickers rather than laughter. The plot, which involves a ménage à trois in a family musical, was deemed offensive by some due to its treatment of adultery, frigidity, and homosexuality.
Despite the negative reviews, "Paint Your Wagon" has gained a following over the years, with a higher audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes than the critics' score. This suggests that while critics gave the film poor reviews initially, it has found an audience that appreciates its unique blend of Western and musical genres.
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The movie was popular with audiences
The 1969 American Western musical film Paint Your Wagon, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin, and Jean Seberg, was popular with audiences despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. The film is based on the 1951 Broadway musical of the same name by Lerner and Loewe and features a plot centred around the California Gold Rush.
While the film received a largely negative response from critics, with Roger Ebert describing it as "loud and officially stereophonic", it seems that audiences disagreed with this assessment. On Rotten Tomatoes, for example, only 27% of critics gave the film a positive review, while a much higher 68% of audience ratings were positive, with over 8,000 ratings. This suggests that the film resonated more with general viewers than with professional critics.
Paint Your Wagon also faced challenges due to its release timing and production issues. The movie musical genre was declining in popularity, especially among younger audiences, and the film's nearly three-hour length and bloated budget became notorious in the press. Additionally, there were delays during filming, and the final product had a tonally disjointed feel, with a lack of dancing and an over-reliance on whispered singing.
Despite these drawbacks, Paint Your Wagon has gained a following over the years, and some viewers have praised its comedy, music, and performances. Marvin's rendition of "Wand'rin' Star" became a number-one hit in the UK, showcasing the film's musical appeal. Ultimately, while Paint Your Wagon may have divided critics, its popularity with audiences has contributed to its lasting legacy in cinema.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Clint Eastwood did his own singing in the film.
Clint Eastwood sang "I Talk to the Trees" and "Gold Fever".
Yes, Paint Your Wagon was a musical western film.
