The Cowboy and the Blonde

Delicious, spunky little romantic comedy abounding with wry swipes at the idiocy of Hollywood moviemaking. A spoiled, demanding, utterly gorgeous blonde sex symbol (the underrated and wickedly delightful Mary Beth Hughes, in her best film role) meets her match when a hunky rodeo cowboy (George Montgomery, most often wasted in 'B' westerns but proving himself a deftly humorous romantic lead) is cast as her leading man in her latest sarong saga. Frequently hilarious and quite sexy comedy--a "Taming of the Shrew" deliciously set against the lunacies of Hollywood movie-making. Had MGM gotten its gilded paws on this premise, it would have starred Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, cost a bundle, and not have been nearly as much fun as this Fox quickie. The ravishing Ms. Hughes proves herself an expert comedienne, and Montgomery is hilarious as her reluctant, rebellious romeo. The chemistry between these two underrated talents is combustible--and "The Cowboy and the Blonde" is one of the most sparkling, overlooked screwball farces of the 1940s. Check out the similarities between this deft frolic and "Bus Stop." Ms. Hughes and Montgomery could easily have subbed for Monroe & Don Murray--the chronological timing simply wasn't right, and more's the pity.