Barbara Stanwyck plays Annie Oakley, a tomboyish, backwoods quail shooter who winds up in a shooting match with the legendary Toby Walker (Preston Foster), who thinks he’s supposed to be shooting against another man.
Annie matches him shot for shot, but can’t stand to beat him and throws the match because he’s “so darned pretty.” But her performance wins her a spot in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, in which Walker also performs.
Despite his arrogance, he takes Annie under his wing, teaches her showmanship and falls in love with her. But his shooting career ends when his eyesight is damaged saving Sitting Bull’s life.
He wounds Annie while reluctantly attempting to shoot a coin from between her fingers in the next show, is fired and winds up running a game on the street.
But he’s one marksman who’s left his mark on Annie’s heart. They’re reunited, with the help of Sitting Bull.
Not great, not terrible. In one forgettable scene, Sitting Bull rushes to scalp a cavalryman during the Wild West show.
Directed by:
George Stevens
Cast:
Barbara Stanwyck … Annie Oakley
Preston Foster … Toby Walker
Melvyn Douglas … Jeff Hogarth
Moroni Olsen … Buffalo Bill
Pert Kelton … Vera Delmar
Andy Clyde … James MacIvor
Chief Thunderbirth … Sitting Bull
Margaret Armstrong … Mrs. Oakley
Delmar Watson … Wesley Oakley
Adeline Craig … Susan Oakley
Runtime: 90 min.
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