Annie Oakley 1935

     Many of the main elements of the story in this film are true.  The setting is approximately 1875 and the depiction of the Wild West Show is abbreviated but accurate.  In a sharpshooting match at the age of 15, Annie Oakley is paired with Toby Walker.  Annie knows she can win but she begins to think that it will hurt Toby’s feelings as a champion shooter if he loses to a girl?  Annie misses her last shot but she did on purpose!!  It does turn out well because Annie is hired for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and she’s tutored by Toby.  When Annie gets top billing, it interferes with their professional lives and their personal lives as well. 

     It seems difficult to believe that this film is true??  Annie Oakley’s real name was Phoebe Ann Mosey and she was born August 13, 1860 and she died November 3, 1926 at the age of 66.  She learned how to shoot by hunting quail to supply the local hotel in Greenville, Ohio.  Her family was poor after the death of her father and there were seven children in the family.  It is interesting to see the town, the people, how they lived, the Indians and the Wild West Show.   3 ½* (I liked this movie)  

   

90 min, Bio directed by George Stevens with Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, Melvyn Douglas, Moroni Olsen, Pert Kelton, Andy Clyde, Chief Thunderbird, Margaret Armstrong, Delmar Watson, Adeline Craig.

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 52% audience, Letterboxd average 3.1* out of 5*, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 59 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Prudential Studios, England, UK and Iverson Ranch 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California.  This is the first western for Barbara Stanwyck and also for Director George Stevens.   Stanwyck had become increasingly frustrated with the type of roles her studio Warner Brothers had been offering her?  She started freelancing and this was her first film for RKO.  Released less than 10 years after the death of the real Annie Oakley.  The working title was Shooting Star.