MovieChat Forums > Calamity Jane (1953) Discussion > Doris the stunt lady

Doris the stunt lady

posted 13 years ago by flan99
5 replies | jump to latest

Doris clearly does all her own stunts.

She is more agile and talented than in any other film.

Sexy too. People forget there's a 36-24-36 body under that deer skin!

[–] fiona97 13 years ago

Every time I watch it I am astonished at her capabilities! Is there any actress today who could do all that?

[–] flan99 13 years ago

Fiona,

I am puzzled as to why directors/producers didn't take more advantage of Doris' many talents.

I can see why this is the personal favorite of her own films.

[–] tazjjh 11 years ago

I hate to break up this thought process but Doris Day didn't do all of her own stunts in this film, they just film it in a way to make it look that way. Her stunt double in this was Donna Hall.

It is sort of the way you see Annie Oakley truthfully, in reality Gail Davis was absolutely terrible on horses and could barley ride at all but they have stunt women who could pass off as the people whether they wear a wig or something.

http://westernclippings.com/stuntmen/donnahall_stuntmen.shtml

Gail Davis actually had to have two stuntwomen.

http://westernclippings.com/stuntmen/alicevan_stuntmen.shtml

[–] cobnut 11 years ago

It's really obvious that it's a stunt double in some shots. Like the long shot where Calamity runs out of the saloon and jumps onto her horse to go and rescue Danny from the 'Injuns'. We only see her back but it's very obviously a short, stocky person wearing a cheap wig, definitely not Doris.

The mirror... it's broken.
Yes, I know. I like it that way. Makes me look the way I feel.

[–] melnar1 10 years ago

There is no reason to suggest that Doris did all her stunt work.

It is usual for movie stars to have a clause in their contracts that any potentially dangerous stunts be done by professional stunt personnel; this was insisted upon by the insurance companies and also by the studios themselves.

The only exceptions would have been for actors like, for example, Burt Lancaster, who were expert at stunts anyway; which Doris was not.