Don't expect 100% comedy in this western about the trials of an acting troop making their way through the old west. It's not all feather boas and sequins in this sometimes light- hearted but often dangerous lifestyle where troop leader Anthony Quinn, leading lady Sophia Loren and the remainder of their ensemble face bill collectors, irate or amorous hotel proprietors and Indians as they go from gig to gig. Often, there's a lit more lustful eyes made at the voluptuous Loren with Quinn struggling to keep it altogether. Among the supporting cast are Margaret O'Brien as a supposed 16 year old girl with a mother (Eileen Heckart) who seems to want to sell her off to matrimony, Edmund Lowe as the company villain and Steve Forrest who makes a gamble for Loren's heart. Moderately entertaining, it often switches gears as it goes through various mood swings. I wanted to like it more than I did, although this is a subject matter that doesn't crop up as part of major western plots. The look on the audience's eyes as they watch the goings on stage is thrilling however while the confrontation with the natives is rather frightening.O'Brien seems to be trying to remind everybody that she was "Meet Me in St. Louis's" Tootie, obviously not 16 as Heckart insists and certainly not 20 as she claims to be. Heckart gets some good lines, but I wouldn't call this one of her better parts. Loren, as a platinum blonde, is still enticing, while Quinn just seems to get sexier as he ages. It's colorful but unremarkable, high one moment then disappointing the next.

Director George Cukor's only western, this is about a traveling stage show that keeps getting into trouble because of the escapades of their leading star, Angela Rossini, deliciously played by Sophia Loren, quite fetching as a blonde. She is top billed along with Anthony Quinn. It also stars an adolescent Margaret O'Brien (a child in "Meet Me in St. Louis"), whose mother does not want her to grow up.  I thought O'Brien was as charming in this as she was in "St. Louis."  I had never seen "Heller" in its complete form, never in any quality print, and this DVD looks great.  I'd only seen edited for TV versions, and that made it hard to follow.  Seeing this DVD release surprised me.  The film is top notch Cukor, ranking as one of the most entertaining westerns of the 1960s. The director also got a full- blooded and emotional performance from Loren, perhaps one of her most natural, and the director even held the reins on Quinn, who could overdo his roles on occasion. Actor Steve Forrest also has a well-integrated part, and his character appears at just the right moments to thrust the story forward or change its direction.  Ramon Novarro (Judah in the silent "Ben-Hur," opposite Garbo in "Mata Hari") appears on screen for the last time, effectively playing a conniving banker.  If you go into this film with an open mind, I think you'll find that it is funny, exciting, romantic and often surprising. I never knew where it was going, and that made it refreshing. You'll probably also enjoy the wonderfully visualized period atmosphere in stunning Technicolor. There's also a fine score by Daniele Amphitheatrof, a far too unappreciated composer.Give this film a try. You'll probably have a good time.

For the only western in the film credits of George Cukor he sure couldn't be faulted for the source of his material. This film is taken from one of the books by the great western novelist Louis L'Amour. It concerns the escapades of a traveling theatrical troupe in the west headed by Anthony Quinn with the leading lady being Sophia Loren. This was her only trip to the American west on film also.Theatrical people did not exactly have the same kind of prestige back in those days as they do now. We first meet our players fleeing across the state/territorial boundaries of Nebraska and Wyoming evading a sheriff with a writ. They arrive in Cheyenne and get themselves involved with the villainous doings of Ramon Novarro and his hired gunman Steve Forrest. After Forrest does a couple of jobs for him, Novarro tries a doublecross maneuver similar to the one Laird Cregar tried on Alan Ladd in This Gun For Hire with the same sorry results. Forrest of necessity joins the theatrical troupe and both get an opportunity to use their respective skills to help each other out of some tight spots.This film had potential to be better. Maybe in the hands of someone like George Marshall or John Ford it might even have become a classic. George Cukor was not the director for it. The film marked the last feature film appearance of both Ramon Novarro and Edmund Lowe. Novarro did do some television work until his tragic murder in 1968. Here he's a smooth and polished villain. Edmund Lowe does quite well as an old ham actor which at that point in his life was I'm sure one easy role for him.Heller in Pink Tights is enjoyable enough, but no classic.

This film is really very badly directed - which is amazing given Cukor's excellent filmography. He rarely focuses the attention of the viewer where it should be - and seems obsessed with close-ups on Sophia's eyes. I wonder if Carlo Ponti interfered a lot here - as Sophia is rarely out of shot, to the detriment of the other characters and the film. This is one of Sophia's worst performances - she seems to be struggling with her lines - although she looks good blonde. The excellent supporting cast is wasted - even Anthony Quinn is allowed little screen time. Eileen Heckhart is allowed even less time, but it's interesting to see child actress Margaret O'Brien in a rare adult role. Her little girl voice is jarring however. The only reason to see this film is to witness the final performance of the legendary Ramon Novarro. He is splendid and stylish as the villain - a great lesson in screen acting, although again we don't see enough of him. Is there a story about the making of this film? I wonder if Cukor had to battle the Ponti-Loren partnership and was forced to give too much screen time to Sophia. What a mistake!