Musical {Annie Get Your Gun}

Being from Oklahoma, I am surprised I haven't seen this little Cowboy and Indian spectacular! I am beginning to realize how many great musicals I really haven't seen, like this one. Again, I didn't really know what to expect. I knew I would get to hear "Anything You Can Do", "There's No Business Like Show Business", and "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun." But just for those, I was pumped!

**Little side note ** The DVD I have included a mini introduction, so I was able to get the background for the musical and learn a few interesting facts - like Judy Garland was the original Annie but was unable to complete the role, so they replaced her with Betty Hutton (who I think did a fantastic job)!

Judy Garland as Annie before she got sick

This musical takes us back to the time of Wild West Shows and sharpshooters. When a local hotel owner sees Annie's shooting abilities, he signs her up for a shooting match against Frank Butler, the handsome star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. By happenstance, Annie meets Mr. Butler before the match and falls madly in love with him (not knowing she will be competing against him of course). 

The real story begins when Annie beats Frank at the match and Buffalo Bill invites her to join the show. As love blossoms, so does jealousy. The love story of Annie and Frank is portrayed wonderfully by Betty Hutton. She plays the part of a girl who is completely smitten by the handsome Howard Keel perfectly!

The musical is loosely based on the lives of the real Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. They really did meet at a shooting contest (which she won), and they did fall in love and get married - but all the show tunes and jealously between the two were of course added by Hollywood. Frank actually loved Annie so much that he became her manager and supported her whole heartedly (at least according to my sources)! Even after her death, Frank stopped eating and died 18 days after her. That is how much he loved her - so sweet but so sad at the same time.

Annie Oakley

After doing my back ground work, I love this musical even more. There is so much of it that is true to their "real" story that you can't help but like it. I will warn you though that you have to remember the setting and time period of the musical because to many viewers today they might find it racist and discriminatory towards Indians. So just keep that in mind! Also, the lyrics are by Irving Berlin, so you know they are good! I now feel like I have been rambling on and on, so musical lovers, go rent it and watch it! It is so worth it.