A big ego is insufferable at the best of times, but a person can tolerate it if there are Results.
For example, if someone is all High And Mighty about their math powers, but displays superior multiplication skills, then one must accept the inevitable conceit.
However. If a person has a big ego without skill or talent, then it’s a Different Story, and, if the situation isn’t too annoying, it can be amusing.
Vincent Price plays such an egomaniac in the offbeat western comedy, Last Call at Cactus Creek (1950). Price has a supporting role as a hammy, self-deluded actor in a travelling theatre troupe.
This is troupe is entirely without prestige. Instead of touring by rail to prestigious venues in major cities, these performers shlep around by stagecoach to backwater towns no one’s ever Heard Of.
Price’s character, an actor who claims to have a background in the Thea-tah, tells everyone he’s sacrificing his career to bring Dramatic Works to western rubes.
In the meantime, a gang of opportunistic outlaws decide to use the troupe as a cover for their criminal activities.
Price is not the star of this film; that would be Donald O’Connor, who plays the troupe’s energetic advance man + stage manager. This is O’Connor’s film, and he’s marvellous as a young man slowly losing his admiration of Price, but doesn’t yet realize he has more talent than the rest of the troupe put together.
Some of the best scenes in the film are O’Connor mentoring his replacement and mimicking the disdainful Price.
Happily, Price gets his comeuppance regularly, thanks to fellow performer Eve Arden. Price calls her a second-rate music hall performer, but this doesn’t upset her. “With what I had a few years ago,” she quips, “I didn’t need any talent.”
Price is the worst kind of over-actor – the kind who thinks he’s brilliant – and he has a habit of quoting Shakespeare, chapter and verse. For example, he claims millionaire John Jacob Astor personally asked him for a private performance, and his response is magnificent: “’No, Mr. Astor. My art is for the world to see, not for the few. I am not in the role of the common man.’ Henry IV, Act III, Scene 1.”
His perceived talent is one of his gaping blind spots, and Price gives us an amusing smugness, as in: He’s the man we Love To Hate.
The other blind spot is not so amusing, and that is his character’s meanness towards those he feels are beneath him, e.g. O’Connor.
Price keeps O’Connor in a subordinate role by telling him he doesn’t have any abilities – and expects O’Connor to be grateful for this assessment. “You should get down on your hands and knees and thank me,” Price says without a hint of irony.
It is this treatment of his fellow troupe members that makes him as much a villain as the bank robbers.
Price is no match for Eve Arden. Image: IMDb
Frankly, we could listen to Vincent Price read a coding manual and we’d be enthralled. We always felt he had an exceptionally clear voice with a soupçon of smarmy condescension. In Last Call at Cactus Creek, it’s clear he’s having a lot of fun.
He was more than just a pretty Hollywood face. He studied English and Art History at Yale University, and he gifted works of art from his own collection – along with plenty o’ cash – to establish the Vincent Price Art Museum in California.
He was also a gourmet cook, and he and his second wife, Mary, wrote several cookbooks, the most popular of which is still available online.
He also left us a varied collection of films to enjoy, including Curtain Call at Cactus Creek. We hope you’ll find the time to enjoy this quirky yarn.
♣
This post is part of THE VINCENT PRICE Blogathon, hosted by Realweegiemidget Reviews and Cinematic Catharsis.
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek: starring Donald O’Connor, Gale Storm, Walter Brennan. Directed by Charles Lamont. Written by Howard Dimsdale. Universal International Pictures, 1950, Technicolour, 86 mins.
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This sounds like a fun one–and also a warning to beware big egos!
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This is such a fun movie. I had zero expectations going into it, but now it’s become a new fave.
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I’ll keep an eye open for this movie. You set it up nicely.
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Thanks! I hope you get the chance to see it. It’s not as predictable as it first appears.
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Thanks for adding this film to our blogathon – was great to see that Price made it big in other genres. Thanks for this great review and joining the blogathon.
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Thanks, Gill – and thanks for co-hosting. Looking forward to the other entries this weekend.
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Me too. Woke up to around 4 new entries so tune in later…
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With a title like Curtain Call at Cactus Creek, I wonder that I haven’t seen this movie. It sounds like a bit of fun to brighten a gloomy day and I thank you for the fun review and the introduction.
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I thought for sure you would have seen it. As I was writing it, I wondered what your opinion of this film would be.
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With Vincent and Eve, I don’t know why I haven’t seen this. Thanks for the great review.
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Oh yes, you’ve got to treat yourself. 🙂
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I’ve never heard of this film before. Very eager to watch it – looks like it may be available to stream via Amazon prime.
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If it turns out you can’t stream it on Amazon, you can rent a good-quality version on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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I don’t even know this movie. I’ll track it down. Vincent Price was simply a treasure. A much better actor than people gave him credit for. He had a great range. He could do campy horror, or be creepy and cruel (Dragonwyck) or in my favorite role play a complete ham (His Kind of Woman). I never knew Price had such a knack for comedy.
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I know what you mean. I love Vincent in comedy (well, in everything, actually), and he seems to be having tons o’ fun here. He’s terrific with Eve Arden.
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Hello Ruth. I’ve just learned a lot more about Price than I ever knew. A multi-talented guy.
I watched The Wizard Of Oz a few nights ago. Hadn’t seen it in years. You know who really impressed me!? Bert Lahr. He’s hilarious in the film.
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You know, it’s been at least 5-6 years since I’ve seen The Wizard of Oz. I might watch it this weekend. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Wow, this is definitely a film I need to see!!!
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Jo, I think you’ll like this one. It’s amusing and not entirely predictable.
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I’ll definitely have to track this one down. Thanks for a great review (and thanks for that wonderful picture of Price as the mustachioed villain)!
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Haha! Isn’t that a great photo? Vincent Price makes a dashing villain.
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Nice review! As a self-avowed Price-ophile (hey, now it’s a word), I need to see this movie. It sounds like he had a great deal of fun playing such a conceited character.
Many thanks for joining our blogathon, and for bringing this movie to my attention.! 🙂
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I love your word “Price-ophile”! It’s perfect. And I hope you get the chance to see this film. It ought to be more well known.
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Might have to track this one down seems harmless enough.
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It’s a good little film, with some unexpected outcomes.
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This sounds like a blast! I can imagine Vincent had a grand old time doing this send-up of an old theater ham. Plus I imagine the back and forth between Price and Eve Arden is worth a look right there. Will keep an eye out for it!
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Oh yeah, Price and Arden are terrific as each other’s nemesis. It’s a shame they didn’t appear in another film together – as far as I can tell.
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I would joyfully watch ANYTHING Vincent Price was in–I jut love the sounds of his voice!
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He had a terrific voice, didn’t he? I’m with you – I could watch him in anything.
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I have not seen last call at cattle Creek, but it sounds hilarious!
I will definitely be searching for this one! Thanks for the great review in introducing it to me!
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I hope you enjoy it. I went into it with zero expectations except for the cast. I was not disappointed. In fact, I might watch it again this weekend
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Looking at the entries for this blogathon I’m quite surprised at the diversity of Vincent Price’s career. Like a lot of people I mainly associate him with horror. Although I haven’t seen Curtain Call at Cactus Creek, I enjoyed your post as always, your prose never fails to delight, “a soupçon of smarmy condescension” was priceless.
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I was surprised, too, at the diversity of Vincent P.’s career. He’s terrific in horror, but I really like him as a villain/adversary in comedies. Have you seen him in Champagne for Caesar, by any chance? He’s ultra fab as a TV exec with visions of grandeur.
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No, I haven’t seen Champagne for Caesar. I’m going to have a look at your review though.
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Interesting choice. Since I didn’t know anything about this movie, I appreciate your review. I have to add it to my ever-growing list of films I need to watch.
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There are some unexpectedly wonderful things in this film even though there are some predictable scenes too. I hope you get the chance to see it.
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“and he has a habit of quoting Shakespeare, chapter and verse.” This reminds me of Alan Mowbray’s character in She Couldn’t Take It!
This films sounds like a hidden gem and you really made me want to see it! I can totally picture Vincent Price playing such a role!
PS: It seems that I’m having troubles with wordpress and that I have “unfollowed” some blogs although I never clicked on the unfollow button… So if you see that I have just followed (re-followed) your blog, it’s normal!
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A hidden gem is the perfect way to describe this film. Admittedly, I had low expectations, despite the fab cast, but I fell in love with it 10 minutes in.
Thanks for the re-follow! 🙂
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I remember seeing Donald O’Connor in an episode of Frasier. Even then he had a wonderful sense of timing and warmth. Great review.
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He was on Frasier? Awesome! We’re slowing making our way through that series via online streaming, so I’ll keep an eye out.
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I will have to look this one up on YouTube.
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There’s a restored version available for rent on YouTube, and it’s well worth the price of admission. 🙂
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This sounds like such fun. I’m in! Love Price’s voice – and paired with Eve Arden – just wow! I first saw Price in The 10 Commandments when I was a kid and his lines still run through my head from time to time 🙂
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Vincent Price has that effect, doesn’t he? I hope you get the chance to see this one. Price’s screen time is sadly limited, but he makes it worth the ride!
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Great post! I LOVE Vincent Price, he was just great at overacting, and he had the most wonderful sense of humour…
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I hope you get the chance to see him in this film. He doesn’t have as much screen time as I would like, but he makes every second count.
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I’ll try to find it – thank you so much for that wonderful post!
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I love Vincent Price, especially in horror movies.
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Isn’t he marvellous? Drama, comedy horror – he could do it all.
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