Bus Stop (1956) - film review

Bo Decker, a young cowboy who owns a thriving ranch in Montana, takes the bus to Phoenix with his friend Virgil to participate in a rodeo event.  Whilst in town, he is determined to find himself a wife, although he has yet to realise that women expect to be treated differently to cattle.  Bo’s fancy is taken by an attractive young bar singer, Cherie, but she is strangely reluctant to get on the bus and head back to Montana to be his bride...

This is the film that convinced the doubters that Marilyn Monroe really could act.  Immediately prior to this film, the actress had taken a year out to study her craft under the great theatre actor Lee Strasberg and, judging by her performance in this film, the time and the money were well spent.  Bus Stop, an enjoyable adaptation of William Inge’s popular stage play, reveals Monroe at her most potent – sensually sizzling in her musical numbers, hilarious in the comedy digressions, and devastatingly poignant in her portrayal of a jaded young woman who experiences true love for the first time.  This was the career high point for Hollywood’s most iconic actress.

Here, the gorgeous Marilyn is effectively partnered with Don Murray, who, whilst instantly likeable, manages to give a good impression of the gayest cowboy ever.  Hard to believe but this was Murray’s film debut; the actor is perhaps best remembered today for his two-year stint in the American sitcom Knots Landing (in which he was shockingly killed off).   The scene in which Murray lassoes a fleeing Monroe as though she were a wayward steer is the stuff of comedy legend, and one in the eye for the feminists.

© filmsdefrance.com 2009

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