WhileClint Eastwoodwould go on to become a true legend of the Wild West cinema, his first Western movie was a forgotten flop that he appeared in alongsideGunsmoke’sJames Arness. Before gaining widespread recognition asThe Man with No Name in Sergio Leone’sDollars Trilogy, Eastwood was an unknown up-and-coming actor doing everything he could to get his big break in Hollywood. With bit parts in several forgotten films throughout the 1950s, nothing in his very first Western hinted atEastwood’s gunslinging futurein movies likeThe Outlaw Josey Wales,Pale Rider, andUnforgiven.
Eastwood’s cool and charismatic onscreen persona turned him into aSpaghetti Westernicon during the 1960s, but in the previous decade, he floundered in several underwhelming releases likeThe First Traveling Saleslady. As just one of several collaborations between Eastwood and the director Arthur Lubin, even if these films left a lot to be desired, they helped open the door for his future success. Whileaudiences have forgotten aboutThe First Traveling Saleslady, it stands as a fascinating time capsule into Eastwood’s early career.
Clint Eastwood’s First Western Was A Quickly-Forgotten Flop The First Traveling Saleslady
This Ginger Rogers Western Comedy Was Not A Hit At The Time
Even thoughThe First Traveling Salesladydoes not live up to Eastwood’s best work, it’s still enjoyable to see the fresh-faced actor before he became a household name. As a supporting love interest, Eastwood played the soldier Lt. Jack Rice, who falls for the bright-eyed singer Molly Wade (Carol Channing), who’s helping her friend Rose Gillray (Rogers) design a new corset to sell as a traveling saleswoman. With themes of female empowerment and women in the workplace, it’s fascinating to see howThe First Traveling Salesladyexplored feminist themes in the year 1897
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Eastwood’s performance here did not feature any of the witty one-liners or gritty stoicism that made him such a Western icon in the years that followed.
WhileEastwood only had a handful of lines inThe First Traveling Saleslady, his future status as a Hollywood leading man was immediately clear as he radiated movie-star charisma. As a well-mannered soldier who was immediately smitten by the feisty charm of Molly, Eastwood’s performance here did not feature any of the witty one-liners or gritty stoicism that made him such a Western icon in the years that followed. Although the role of Lt. Rice was small, Eastwood played it well and acted as an example of progressive masculinity that contrasted with the regressive beliefs of other male characters.
AlthoughThe First Traveling Salesladyprimarily explored Rose Gillray’s attempts to stand up against male ranchers after they tried to stop her from selling barbed wire to farmers, Eastwood’s role as a young cavalry officer was a mostly unrelated romantic subplot for Molly. Through the comedic and at times flirtatious interactions between Lt. Rice and Molly,The First Traveling Salesladywas able to offer some lighthearted fun to balance the more serious themes of Rose’s battle against the powers that be.
The First Traveling Saleslady Also Marked An Early Role For Gunsmoke’s James Arness
Arness Played The Cattle Rancher Joel Kingdom
For a forgotten box office flop, it’s impressive just how much star powerThe First Traveling Salesladyboasted, as it also counted theGunsmokestar James Arness among its cast.Arness had a far bigger role than Eastwoodas he played the cattle rancher Joel Kingdom, who found himself at odds with Rose’s plans to sell barbed wire. Rose’s business venture interfered with Joel’s aims, and he did everything in his power to convince farmers, rangers, and even the sheriff’s department that barbed wire was injuring cattle and its sale should be banned.
Arness was a compelling villain who brought the same great characterization as he did playingGunsmoke’sMarshal Matt Dillon to his role inThe First Traveling Saleslady. However, despite a wealth of talent behind the film,The First Traveling Salesladydid not connect with viewers and stands as one of RKO Radio Pictures' most forgettable films.
For those interested in the rising careers ofClint Eastwoodand James Arness, or even the career slump that Ginger Rogers was beginning to experience,The First Traveling Salesladyoffers great value as a historical artifact. However, it’s best appreciated as a snapshot into several Hollywood stars at a fascinating time in their careers rather than as a genuinely compelling Western movie.
