Annie Get Your Gun (film)

Annie Get Your Gun is a 1950 American musical Technicolor comedy film loosely based on the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley. The Metro Goldwyn Mayer release, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a screenplay by Sidney Sheldon based on the 1946 stage musical of the same name, was directed by George Sidney. Despite some production and casting problems Judy Garland was fired from the lead role after a month of filming in which she clashed with the director and repeatedly showed up late or not at all, the film won the Academy Award for best score and received three other nominations. Star Betty Hutton was recognized with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

Betty Hutton played Annie with Howard Keel making his American film debut as Frank Butler and Benay Venuta as Dolly Tate. Frank Morgan, cast as Buffalo Bill Cody, died suddenly of a heart attack shortly after shooting the films opening production number, Colonel Buffalo Bill. Morgan was replaced by Louis Calhern. Judy Garland, originally cast in the title role, recorded songs for the soundtrack and worked for two months under the direction of Busby Berkeley, who was in charge of all the musical numbers. In the late 1930s, the teaming of Garland and fellow juvenile star Mickey Rooney in the Andy Hardy film series featured musical productions staged and directed by Berkeley. He was severe with Garland insisting she perform at her best effort. She resented the hard driving Berkeley primarily from her past experience working on these films with him. Berkeley felt the twentyeight year olds attitude on the Annie set lacked any effort or enthusiasm. She continually complained about Busby to studio head Louis B. Mayer, attempting to have him fired from the feature. Garlands revenge was to arrive late or simply not show up at all for each days filming schedule. MGM suspended Garland for delinquency and for not appearing daily at scheduled call times. Garland claimed she was forced to leave the production according to press releases because of poor health and other personal problems This would eventually bring an end to her career at MGM. Garlands dismissal from this film from which some footage and recordings have survived figures stoic in the showbiz legend of the Garland fall from grace, her alleged unreliability, and the view of her as a victim of the studio system. Betty Garrett was considered as a replacement but the role of Annie eventually went to Hutton. Shooting resumed after five months, with George Sidney replacing Charles Walters who in turn replaced Berkeley as director.According to Betty Hutton, she was treated coldly by most of the cast and crew because of

Source: Wikipedia