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You are here: Home / Culture / Bus Stop 1950s Western comedy: Lisa’s Home Bijou

Bus Stop 1950s Western comedy: Lisa’s Home Bijou

August 2, 2019 by Lisa Grable 3 Comments

Film Festival: William Inge stories

Bus Stop (1956) opens with Virgil (Arthur O’Connell) and Bo (Don Murray) practicing steer wrestling for the rodeo in beautiful Montana. Bo is the very young owner of the ranch and Virgil is his top hand. They get on a bus to ride from Montana to Phoenix for the big rodeo.Bus Stop (1956) is a Broadway play by William Inge brought to the screen. With Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray. Fun at the Phoenix rodeo! Lisa's Home Bijou

Oh for the old days! As the bus travels through the night, everybody sings folk songs together with Virgil on guitar.bus-stop-singing

“Bo, when you was five I just throwed you on a horse, smack, and there you was riding. Remember? –Yep. –When you was eight I throwed you in the creek, splash, and there you was swimming. Ain’t that right? –Sure, Virg. Splash! –Bo, you’re 21 years old and we’re on our way to a big city, Phoenix Arizona. It’s time you met up with a gal!” –Virgil and Bo

Bo shows his over-the-top personality on the bus ride to Phoenix. He’s loud and country.bus-stop-bo

“I wouldn’t set my sights too high if I were you, Bo. You just figure on picking out some plain looking little old gal with a cooperating nature and a good personality. I mean, we gotta be realistic.” –Virgil

bus-stop-sign
bus-stop-graces-diner
bus-stop-grace

In Phoenix, the Blue Dragon is across the street from the hotel. Virgil spots Chérie (Marilyn Monroe) in the window and decides to go to the café. Chérie is a chanteuse from the Ozarks. She is trying to work her way to California. Her job is to hustle drinks from the clients. The management lets her sing with the band occasionally.bus-stop-cherie

Chérie’s performance of Old Black Magic is full of pantomime and doesn’t keep the crowd from talking. When Bo arrives he forces everyone to listen to her.

bus-stop-vera
bus-stop-black-magic

“But meanwhile, for a wedding present, I’m gonna get you a deepfreeze, or an electric washer, or any other major appliance you want!” –Bo

You might ask why Chérie’s skin is so white. Monroe wanted her character to look like she never spent any time in the sun. Another question is, why is her costume so tattered? Monroe wanted the outfit to look like it was the only one Chérie had and it had been mended many times.bus-stop-map

The next morning Bo kidnaps Chérie from her boarding house and takes her to the parade. All she can think of is running away from him. The parade has all kinds of floats and units with marching girls with 6 shooters, Hopi dancers, and Daniel Boone outfits.bus-stop-float

At the rodeo, Bo excels at saddle bronc riding, calf roping, wild brahma bull riding, and bull dogging.

“Is that a diamond? –Well it ain’t exactly a diamond. But it ain’t exactly not a diamond neither.  He paid $43 for it. –No kidding! –Plus tax! He made me take it, but it ain’t on my finger!” –Chérie and Vera

Chérie doesn’t realize how serious Bo is about marrying her until she sees a preacher in the stands. Vera (Eileen Heckart) and Chérie run away and Bo searches Phoenix for her. Virgil finds her at the Blue Dragon café and tells her he’s not in favor of the marriage. Virgil, Vera, and Chérie come up with a plan for her to escape. Bo comes in and he’s all happy because he’s won the rodeo and a lot of money. Poor Chérie ends up on the bus to Helena.

bus-stop-blue-dragon
bus-stop-lasso

A terrible snow storm stops the bus at Grace’s Diner, an official bus stop, and can’t go on. The people inside are trapped and Bo might as well be a wild toddler for all the self control he has about Chérie. bus-stop-blizzard

Bus Stop showcases a luminous performance by Marilyn Monroe and a wonderful cast. Try this sweet comedy romance of unsophisticated souls finding each other in the West of the 1950s. 

Bus Stop (1956) is a Broadway play by William Inge brought to the screen. With Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray. Fun at the Phoenix rodeo! Lisa's Home Bijou

Resource links

  • https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049038/
    • Bus Stop (1956) from IMDb
  • https://www.cowpalace.com/p/grandnational/rodeo/rodeo-events
    • Rodeo events from the Daly City Cow Palace
  • https://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/06/28/william-inge-barbara-baxley
    • William Inge and Barbara Baxley from the New York Public Library
  • https://marilynmonroe.com/
    • Marilyn Monroe official website
  • https://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/joshua-logan/
    • Joshua Logan from PBS Broadway The American Musical
  • http://www.midcenturyproductions.com/donmurray.html
    • Don Murray from Midcentury Productions

plumeria barAffiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

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Filed Under: Culture, Movies Tagged With: 1956, Broadway play, Bus Stop, classic films, Don Murray, Joshua Logan, Lisa's Home Bijou, Marilyn Monroe, Phoenix rodeo, William Inge

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Comments

  1. marilyn1998

    May 3, 2020 at 7:27 pm

    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn

    Reply
  2. marilyn1998

    August 12, 2019 at 11:30 am

    Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too!

    Reply
  3. marilyn1998

    August 10, 2019 at 8:26 pm

    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared.

    Reply

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Lisa Grable, Casa BouquetI’m an educator, grandmother, classic movie fan, sewer and crafter, and I love Hawaii. Read more about me …

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