SINGIN' IN THE CORN (1946)

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *poor*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *comedy*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTIONS: *sociological*


Before seeing this film posted to Youtube, I'd heard it said that novelty-comedienne Judy Canova only had one metaphenomenal film, and that one's eligibility, CAROLINA CANNONBALL, might be something of a judgment call. However, there's no question that the goofy-titled SINGIN' IN THE CORN falls into the marvelous domain.

Judy McCoy (Canova) starts out as a carnival fortune-teller whose career is managed by her shifty-looking mentor Glen (Allen Jenkins). Despite some legal hassles, Judy proves that she's the real thing, able to receive oracles from a whisky-jug owned by her grandpa. No sooner is she cleared of charges than she learns that Grandpa has passed away and she's inherited property out west. Judy (decked out in ridiculous cowgirl-gear) and Glen race out to claim this benefit, but it's a desolate ghost town. Grandpa's will stipulates that he wants the property turned over to a local Indian tribe who originally owned the land, and Judy seems quite pleased to surrender her bequest. However, the Indians don't want the land, because for some time some owlhoots, who do want the bequest, have been scaring them off with phony ghost-acts.

Judy tries, without much success, to talk the superstitious Native Americans into taking over the town. She only lucks out when the ghost of her grandpa descends from a fleecy Heaven to help her out a little.

There are a handful of decent sight-gags, but not enough, even for a movie running barely over an hour. Canova, not one of the world's great beauties, sometimes got handsome leading-men, but this time her only swain is a big lummox working for the bad guys. The Indians are largely stereotypes, though there is one "Minnie-hotcha" who speaks regular English. Perhaps the film's most winsome charm is the presence of familiar Hollywood faces, particularly Jenkins, who has decent chemistry with Canova.