I'm just curious. Why wasn't the title role played by Ethel Merman? Wouldn't that be the common sense choice since she was beloved in the role when she did it on broadway? Also, considering she did 1,200 to 1,500 sold-out performances of it, wouldn't that mean she would be a terrific draw for audiences? Plus she had done films before.
shareI am a huge Ethel Merman fan, but I don't think she had the star power to attract audiences, and she was too old (43) to be believable as a girl. I also find her personality too big for the movie screen. Unless a director could reign her in, she would come off as cartoonish.
As it is I think Betty Hutton overdid it. I know Garland was trouble, but it would have been a better movie with her opposite Keel.
"I love corn!"
There are so several instances where we were deprived of the best person because the suits wanted an established Hollywood star rather than the original Broadway cast member. Julie Andrews/Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady"; Angela Lansbury/Lucille Ball in "Mame." (But we did get Bea Arthur's Vera Charles immortalized on film, saints be praised!)
I saw Merman in an "Annie" revival on Broadway in the mid-60s with the gorgeous Bruce Yarnell. She was definitely middle-aged but still fabulous. I was in the Army, stationed close by, and the Merm always made sure the USO had tickets for her shows. I saw it three or four times during its short run. What a treat!
Ethel Merman had starred in several movies in the 1930's without making much of an impact so I'm sure that hurt any chances of her getting the movie role. She was also too old for the part even if she had just played it on Broadway, stage audiences are more forgiving of that than moviegoers. Too, she really wasn't cast that well, did any of those theatregoers really believe the boisterous urban Merman as a bashful backwoods gal? I don't think so but they just sat back and enjoyed a great entertainer tear into the music numbers and milk the comedy for all it was worth which would make for a great evening of theatre entertainment but just not work in a movie.
Betty Hutton was perfect for this role. Judy Garland would have been too gentle, too romantic an Annie as her surviving footage confirms. Betty was perfect - she was loud as Ethel but she had a vulnerability and innocence Merman never had at any point in her career.
Bashful??? Annie is anything but bashful. And contrary to what you say about the role, Mary Martin did a much gentler performance as Annie in the original touring company of the show, and got raves for it. Judy Garland would have been just fine if she had been allowed to get well enough before being thrown into this film project.
shareBashful??? Annie is anything but bashfulFour years late but I hadn't seen your reply until now. Annie is most certainly bashful around Howard Keel early on, I couldn't possibly imagine Ethel being so intimidated or overwhelmed by him or any man. share
Betty Hutton appeared with Ethel Merman on Broadway in Panama Hattie. In her last interview Betty related how Ethel had her one number dropped from the show because it got a great ovation and it bothered Ethel. Well ten years later it was pay back time. Guess who got the role in the movie of Annie Get Your Gun? What goes around comes around.
shareEthel had her one number dropped from the showIf you examine the programs for Panama Hattie from out-of-town to opening night, you can see that this story isn't true. Betty was a great performer but she was delusional.
I'm pleased that Ethel Merman got to sing 'There's No Business Like Show Business' four years later in the film of that song title. She belts it out.
shareToo old at the time, and not attractive enough for close-ups.
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