So as part of research for the 70th anniversary stuff I came across Wandering Star - the No 1 song that spawned from this film. It honestly seems quite odd to understand how this film spawned a No 1 hit.

 

Wanderin' Star is one hell of a song - despite Marvin's singing (although he sings it in a way to deliberately suit him and the charachter of Rumson - Marvin's insistence of drini) but the film itself is a bit of an overlong mess - carried primarily by the music (alongside Wandering Star the title I'm On My Way (Paint Your Wagon) and Gold Fever also stand up as memorable songs) but the central plot of the two partners sharing the woman bought at an auction while Marvin's character was drunk out his skull, and the difficulties coming from that (which is introduced after an age of world building going pretty much nowhere) really doesn't feel like enough to fill 2 hrs 35 minutes.

 

The plot of the No Name City being taken over by the gold rush is obviously the other primary plot, but so much focus is given on Rumson and Partner and Elisabeth the plot around the city being taken over is somewhat lost.

It's a brilliant soundtrack, and the music sold the film rather than the other way round - Lee Marvin was basically repeating his Oscar-winning role in comedy western Cat Ballou, that was a huge attraction of the musical, and ray walston was a fave of South Pacific and My favorite Martian. Clint eastwood was transforming from TV western star to movie star, so that was eye-catching (but he can't sing that well), but as you say, it was overlong and plodding at times.

 

Other best musical moments? Showstopping song They call The Wind Mariah (Mariah Carey was named after it) and Ballad Of No Name City (genuinely catchy and amusing).