Callaway Went Thataway is a 1951 comedy with western elements. The film was written, produced, and directed by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, and it stars Fred MacMurray, Dorothy McGuire, and Howard Keel.
Director: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Cast: Fred MacMurray, Dorothy McGuire, Howard Keel, Jesse White, Fay Roope, Natalie Schafer
US Box Office: $2,667,500 ($48,300,000 adjusted for inflation)
Film Format: Black & White
Genre: Comedy, Western
Release Date: November 15, 1951
Plot Summary: Mike Frye (Fred MacMurray) and Deborah Patterson (Dorothy McGuire) are the owners of an advertising firm, and have recently made a lot of money by airing old Smoky Callaway western films on television as a series. The films are enormously popular with children, and TV producer Tom Lorrison (Fay Roope) demands that Mike and Deborah make more films. The only problem is that the actor “Smoky” Callaway has disappeared. In their desperation Mike and Deborah find Colorado rancher “Stretch” Barnes (Howard Keel) who looks identical to Callaway, and even has a similar personality to the fictional character: being a humble, moral, and wholesome man. Mike promptly sends Stretch on a publicity tour as the character, where he begins to appreciate the positive influence the character has on children and he begins to fill in love with Deborah. Unfortunately the real actor Smokey Callaway (Howard Keel), who is actually a sleazy drunk, soon shows up to make money off the television series, and starts causing trouble.
Production: In late 1950, filmmaking duo Norman Panama and Melvin Frank began working on a comedy film that would satirize the popularity of the Hopalong Cassidy (1949) television series. Panama and Frank began working together as co-writers on the Bob Hope comedy film My Favorite Blonde (1942), and co-wrote several other films. They later signed a contract with MGM which allowed them to write, direct, and produce several films; the first of which was The Reformer and the Redhead (1950). Actor William Boyd originally played the character Hopalong Cassidy in 66 low-budget western films from 1935 to 1948, in 1949 Boyd made a deal with NBC to broadcast the films on television as a series, the series was an unexpected massive hit with children, and NBC hired Boyd to film new episodes of the television series. Panama and Frank thought that the scenario was interesting and would make a good comedy, so they decided lightly satirize it in their new film, titled Callaway Went Thataway. Panama and Frank wrote, directed and produced the film for MGM.
Fred MacMurray was cast as television producer Mike Frye. MacMurray appeared in a wide variety of films at the time, and had recently starred in the comedy films Never a Dull Moment (1950), Father Was a Fullback (1949) and Family Honeymoon (1949). Dorothy McGuire was cast as TV producer Deborah Patterson. She had recently been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the drama film Gentleman’s Agreement (1947). Howard Keel was cast in the dual roles of actor “Smokey” Callaway and cowboy “Stretch” Barnes. Keel was best known for his roles in musical films, and had recently appeared in Annie Get Your Gun (1951) and Show Boat (1951).
Panama and Frank began shooting Callaway Went Thataway in April of 1951, and wrapped up in June. Portions of Callaway Went Thataway were shot on location in San Francisco. Interior and exterior filming was done at the Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, both locations represent themselves in the film. The scene at Stretch’s farm in Colorado and portions of the Smokey Callaway western shown on television were shot at the Iverson Ranch. Additional interior filming was done at MGM Studios in Culver City.
Fun Facts and Trivia: MGM stars Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, and Esther Williams make cameo appearances as themselves in Callaway Went Thataway. The attorney Mr. Adkins was played by actor Hugh Beaumont. Interestingly, Beaumont and MacMurray both later played fathers on iconic family television sitcoms: Beaumont in Leave It to Beaver (1957-1963) and MacMurray in My Three Sons (1960-1972). Several songs from recent MGM musicals were used (without lyrics) as background music for Callaway Went Thataway. The songs “Friendly Star” from Summer Stock (1950) and “Too Late Now” from Royal Wedding (1951) are used during the scene at the Mocambo nightclub. The song “You Wonderful You” from Summer Stock is used during the Somerset Club scene.
Reception: Callaway Went Thataway was released in the United States on November 15, 1951. The film wasn’t very successful at the box office and ended up losing money for MGM. Other 1951 comedy films, including MGM’s own Angels in the Outfield, Father’s Little Dividend, and Royal Wedding, served as competition for Callaway Went Thataway. Additionally, the film performed very poorly overseas (where there wasn’t much interest in Western television), which also contributed to its failure. Shortly before the film’s premiere, Ben Stabler, the manager of William Boyd, demanded to see a preview screening of Callaway Went Thataway to ensure that the film didn’t slander his client. Stabler was impressed with the film and called it a “good, well-done picture.” While it has largely been forgotten in recent times, Callaway Went Thataway has received positive reviews from some modern critics. Matt Hinrichs of DVDtalk.com praised the performances of the main cast members, especially Howard Keel. John Varley also gave the film a positive review, he noted that while it was predictable, Callaway Went Thataway was still very funny.
Why You Should See It: Callaway Went Thataway is funny and charming comedy film. Fred MacMurray is given plenty of witty dialogue and he has good comedic timing. The various Hollywood references in Callaway Went Thataway are fun too. I really liked Howard Keel’s portrayal of Stretch Barnes. In my opinion Keel’s performance perfectly epitomizes the 1950s “good guy” television cowboy heroes that the character is based on. The character is memorable and serves as a moral compass for the film. The film also contains a few nice moral moments about the importance of personal charity.