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Folks are dumb where I come from, —Annie Oakley, in Doin What Comes Naturally.
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There's no business like show business |
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A 1946 musical developed by Irving Berlin and siblings Herbert and Dorothy Fields. Ethel Merman originated the title role, and sang many a classic standard, including "There's no business like show business." A film version was released in 1950. The musical has been revived several times since on Broadway, most recently starring Susan Lucci.
It follows the tale of one Annie Oakley: sharpshooter, and the man she'll one day marry, Frank Butler: sharpshooter. They meet when he's the star of Buffalo Bill's Circus, but it's rivalry, not love, at first sight. It's going to be hard, but eventually, they do finally get together in the end.
- Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better: Annie and Frank, leading to the song of the same name.
- Beta Couple: Tommy Keeler and Winnie Tate, who are written out of most productions these days.
- Counterpoint Duet: "Old Fashioned Wedding."
- The Eleven O'Clock Number: "Anything You Can Do."
- "I Am" Song: "Doin' What Comes Naturally."
- Men Act, Women Are: Inverted for most of the musical. But the reason she gets the guy is because she holds back on her competition (courtesy of a rigged gun).
- No Guy Wants an Amazon: Why Annie sings "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun."
- The Other Marty: The film version has two cases. Frank Morgan and Judy Garland were initially cast as Buffalo Bill and Annie, respectively; but when he died, and she had to bow out, Louis Calhern and Betty Hutton took over.
- Right in Front of Me: When Annie meets Frank, she not only doesn't know who he is, but she calls him a "big swollen-headed stiff."
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Annie, and how.
- Slap Slap Kiss
- Sweater Girl: At least a reference to it.
- Very Loosely Based on a True Story
- You No Take Candle: The Sioux Indians.