Elena Rossi
Paint Your Wagon is an American Western musical film that was released in 1969. It was directed by Joshua Logan and stars Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg. The film is an adaptation of the 1951 musical of the same name by Lerner and Loewe. It is set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California and follows the story of prospector Ben Rumson, who discovers gold dust and adopts a surviving brother after a wagon accident. The movie was shot in picturesque locations across Oregon and California, including Baker City, Oregon, and Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest. Despite its impressive settings, the film received mixed reviews from critics, with some considering it a flop due to its timing of release during the Vietnam War.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1969 |
| Genre | Comedy, Musical, Western |
| Director | Joshua Logan |
| Screenplay writer | Paddy Chayefsky |
| Producers | Alan Jay Lerner |
| Budget | $10 million initially, eventually doubled to $20 million |
| Rating | M |
| Cast | Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Jean Seberg, Alan Dexter, Ray Walston |
| Runtime | Nearly three hours |
| Release date | 15 October 1969 |
| Locations | Baker City, Oregon, Big Bear Lake, California, San Bernardino National Forest, Paramount Studios |
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What You'll Learn
Paint Your Wagon was released in 1969
The musical Western film "Paint Your Wagon" was released in 1969. It premiered at Loew's State II theatre in New York City on October 15, 1969, and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is an adaptation of the 1951 musical play of the same name by Lerner and Loewe.
"Paint Your Wagon" was directed by Joshua Logan and stars Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg. The plot revolves around prospector Ben Rumson, who, after a wagon accident, discovers two brothers and gold dust. He stakes a claim on the land and adopts the surviving brother, and they embark on a journey through California's gold country.
The film had a challenging production, facing delays, budgetary issues, and retakes due to Lee Marvin's heavy drinking. Despite these challenges, the movie reached number one at the US box office in its eighth week. However, it received mixed reviews from critics and is considered a flop by some.
"Paint Your Wagon" is notable for its musical numbers, including "Here It Is," "Hand Me Down That Can of Beans," and "Wanderin' Star." The movie's soundtrack has a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of the era when musicals dominated popular culture. Despite its mixed reception, "Paint Your Wagon" has gained a cult following and is remembered for its unique blend of comedy, music, and exploration of unconventional relationships in the Wild West.
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The film is a musical comedy
The film Paint Your Wagon was released in 1969 and is a musical comedy set during the California Gold Rush of the 1850s. It stars Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg. The film is based on a broadway musical of the same name, which opened in 1951, with music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe. The stage version was based on a novel by Rebecca Sprigg, published in 1941, titled 'Mining Camp: A Melodic Tale'.
Another memorable song is 'They Call the Wind Maria', which is a whimsical, light-hearted tune about the power and mystery of the wind. It's a fun, tongue-in-cheek number that showcases the vocal talents of Lee Marvin. The film also features a beautiful love song, 'I Talk to the Trees', which is a tender moment in the film, showcasing the softer side of a tough, gold-digging loner.
The dance routines in the film are also worth noting, with energetic and playful choreography. The dance numbers add to the light-hearted tone of the film and often involve the entire cast, with elaborate costumes and playful themes. One such number is 'Hand Me Down That Can of Beans', which is a fun, energetic routine with a Wild West feel. The film also features a more romantic dance number, 'A Million Miles Away Behind the Door', which is a graceful waltz that adds a touch of elegance to the otherwise rough-and-tumble setting.
Overall, the music and dance in Paint Your Wagon add a layer of humor and charm to the film, enhancing the comedic moments and providing a contrast to the more dramatic elements of the story. It's a unique and memorable approach to the musical comedy genre, blending the light-hearted with the adventurous spirit of the Gold Rush era.
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It was adapted from the 1951 musical of the same name
The 1969 film Paint Your Wagon was adapted from the musical of the same name, which was written by librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1951 and later in the West End in 1953.
The plot of the musical centres on a miner and his daughter, and it follows the lives and loves of the people in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California. Popular songs from the show included "Wand'rin' Star", "I Talk to the Trees", and "They Call the Wind Maria". The stage version was directed by Daniel Mann and featured set design by Oliver Smith, costume design by Motley, lighting design by Peggy Clark, and dance and musical ensembles by Agnes de Mille.
The film adaptation of Paint Your Wagon was directed by Joshua Logan, who also directed the film adaptation of Lerner's Camelot. The film's screenplay was written by Paddy Chayefsky, who made significant changes to the plot and added new songs composed by Lerner and André Previn. The film starred Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg.
Paint Your Wagon received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the depth of the dialogue and the performances of the lead actors, while others criticised the film's length and overblown budget. Despite its mixed reception, the film performed well at the box office, reaching number one in the US during its eighth week of release.
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The movie was shot in Oregon and California
The musical comedy-drama "Paint Your Wagon" was released in 1969. The movie was shot in Oregon and California.
The film is set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California. The plot revolves around two brothers whose wagon crashes into a ravine. Prospector Ben Rumson finds them, with one brother dead and the other with a broken arm and leg. During the burial, gold dust is discovered at the site, and Ben stakes a claim on the land.
The movie was shot near Baker City, Oregon, with filming beginning in May 1968 and ending in October of the same year. 'No Name City', the gold rush shanty town, was built at East Eagle Creek, in northeast Oregon, near Baker City, within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Other filming locations in Oregon included Holcomb Valley, which is a short drive north of Big Bear Lake, in the San Bernardino National Forest. This area is known for its gold deposits, as it's claimed that more gold per square mile was extracted from Holcomb Valley than anywhere else in Southern California.
Additional scenes were filmed at Big Bear Lake, California, and interiors were shot at Paramount Studios.
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It received mixed reviews from critics
The 1969 film Paint Your Wagon received mixed reviews from critics. Vincent Canby, in his October 16, 1969, review for The New York Times, described the film as "amiable". He wrote that "because amiability is never in over-abundant supply, especially in Hollywood super-productions, the movie can be enjoyed more than simply tolerated".
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2/4 stars in his October 31, 1969, review, describing the film as "loud and officially stereophonic, [...] But it’s studio music — cold, aloof". On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 45%, based on reviews from 20 critics. On Metacritic, it has a score of 50/100 based on 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
Despite the mixed reviews, some viewers praised the film's comedy, music, and performances. One IMDb user described the film as "FAB-U-LOUS", highlighting the story, scenery, comedy, music, and singing. They also noted that the film has "ample charms" and is "bawdy but funny". Another IMDb user praised Lee Marvin's performance, writing that he "saves the show". They also noted that the film is a "great Western" despite being marketed as a musical.
However, some viewers criticised the film's overproduction and departure from the stage version. Ebert described the film as a "curse of overproduction" that destroyed small, private scenes. He also noted that the film's rating had changed from 'G' to 'M', presumably due to its suggestive and puritanical themes. Another IMDb user commented that the film was "too corny, old-fashioned, and bloated".
The film's release coincided with a decline in the popularity of movie musicals, particularly among younger audiences. Its high budget and lengthy runtime also drew criticism.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie Paint Your Wagon was released in 1969.
The film starred Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg.
Paint Your Wagon is a comedy musical Western.
The film is set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California. Prospector Ben Rumson discovers gold dust and adopts an injured man as his "Pardner".
