Annie Get Your Gun (film) - Production History

Production History

Betty Hutton played Annie with Howard Keel (making his film debut) as Frank Butler and Benay Venuta as Dolly Tate. Frank Morgan was originally cast as Buffalo Bill Cody but after shooting the film's opening production number, "Colonel Buffalo Bill", he died suddenly of a heart attack. Morgan was replaced by Louis Calhern. Originally, Judy Garland had been cast in the title role, and recorded all of her songs and worked for two months under Busby Berkeley's direction, who was in charge of all the musical numbers. In the late '30's, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney's "Andy Hardy" musical numbers had been staged and directed by Busby Berkeley. Berkeley was severe with Garland insisting she perform at her best effort. Garland had resented the hard driving Busby from her past experience working on the "Andy Hardy" features. Berkeley felt Garland's attitude lacked any effort and enthusiasm. Garland continually complained about Busby to Louis B. Mayer, trying to have him fired from the feature. Judy Garland's revenge was to be late, or not showing up for each day's filming schedule. MGM suspended Judy Garland for her delinquency for not appearing daily for her scheduled call times. Of course Garland claimed she was forced to leave the production (according to press releases) because of poor health and other personal problems; that would soon end her career with MGM. Garland's dismissal from this film (from which some footage and recordings have survived) figures in the show-biz legend of Judy Garland's fall from grace, her alleged unreliability, and the view of her as a victim of the studio. Betty Garrett was considered but the role of Annie eventually went to Betty Hutton. Shooting resumed after five months, with George Sidney replacing Charles Walters (who in turn replaced Berkeley) as director.

According to Betty Hutton, she was treated coldly by most of the cast and crew because she replaced Garland. During an interview with Robert Osborne (first telecast on Turner Classic Movies "Private Screenings" on July 18, 2000), she recalled the other cast members as hostile and the MGM management as so unappreciative it didn't even invite her to the New York premiere. Louis Calhern was reportedly the only major cast member who treated Betty with any kindness and respect. Betty also stated one day Judy Garland was visiting the set and Betty greeted her with a bouncy "Hiya', Judy!" only to be answered by a string of profanities. Only two production numbers were completed with Garland: "Doin' What Comes Naturally" and "I'm an Indian Too" and these were released to the public for the first time in the 1990s in That's Entertainment III. Additional studio recordings of Garland also exist and have been released by Rhino Records.