The Shooting of Dan McGrew
Encyclopedia
"The Shooting of Dan McGrew" is a narrative poem by Robert W. Service
, first published in The Songs of a Sourdough in 1907 in Canada.
The tale takes place in a Yukon
saloon during the Yukon Gold Rush of the late 1890s. It tells of three characters: Dan McGrew, a rough-neck prospector; McGrew's sweetheart "Lou", a formidable pioneer woman; and a mysterious, weather-worn stranger who wanders into the saloon where the former are among a crowd of drinkers. The stranger buys drinks for the crowd
, and then proceeds to the piano
, where he plays a song that is alternately robust and then plaintively sad. He appears to have had a past with both McGrew and Lou, and has come to settle a grudge. Gunshots break out, McGrew and the stranger kill each other, and the Lady that's known as Lou ends up with the stranger's poke of gold.
The poet was a Scots-Englishman who came to Canada as a young adult, and was fascinated with the lives and landscapes of the Canadian Northwest where he went to work. Along with "The Cremation of Sam McGee
", this poem was arguably his best known. It was the basis of a 1998 novel, The Man From the Creeks, by Robert Kroetsch
, a longtime admirer of Service's works. It was also the inspiration for the 1949 song "Dangerous Dan McGrew" by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
. Also it's been recalled in the fourth strophe of the song "Put the Blame on Mame
", sung by Rita Hayworth in 1945 movie "Gilda
"; the text claims that rather than being shot killed, Dan McGrew was slew by Mame's "hoochy-coo" dance.
The poem's unique history -- as a spoken word piece -- was highlighted when US President Ronald Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney did their own alternating recital of the poem -- in private meetings and in public.
in the movie Murder Most Foul
while auditioning for Driffold Cosgood's theatre group. In the 1970s, the British comedian Tommy Cooper
famously developed a "hat-routine" that accompanied his adapted recitation of the poem.
Robert W. Service
Robert William Service was a poet and writer who has often been called "the Bard of the Yukon".Service is best known for his poems "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee", from his first book, Songs of a Sourdough...
, first published in The Songs of a Sourdough in 1907 in Canada.
The tale takes place in a Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
saloon during the Yukon Gold Rush of the late 1890s. It tells of three characters: Dan McGrew, a rough-neck prospector; McGrew's sweetheart "Lou", a formidable pioneer woman; and a mysterious, weather-worn stranger who wanders into the saloon where the former are among a crowd of drinkers. The stranger buys drinks for the crowd
Crowd
A crowd is a large and definable group of people, while "the crowd" is referred to as the so-called lower orders of people in general...
, and then proceeds to the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, where he plays a song that is alternately robust and then plaintively sad. He appears to have had a past with both McGrew and Lou, and has come to settle a grudge. Gunshots break out, McGrew and the stranger kill each other, and the Lady that's known as Lou ends up with the stranger's poke of gold.
The poet was a Scots-Englishman who came to Canada as a young adult, and was fascinated with the lives and landscapes of the Canadian Northwest where he went to work. Along with "The Cremation of Sam McGee
The Cremation of Sam McGee
"The Cremation of Sam McGee" is among the most famous of Robert W. Service's poems. It was published in 1907 in The Songs of a Sourdough...
", this poem was arguably his best known. It was the basis of a 1998 novel, The Man From the Creeks, by Robert Kroetsch
Robert Kroetsch
Robert Kroetsch, OC was a Canadian novelist, poet and non-fiction writer. In his fiction and critical essays, as well as in the journal he co-founded, Boundary 2, he was the single most influential figure in Canada in introducing ideas about postmodernism.He was born in Heisler, Alberta...
, a longtime admirer of Service's works. It was also the inspiration for the 1949 song "Dangerous Dan McGrew" by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
. Also it's been recalled in the fourth strophe of the song "Put the Blame on Mame
Put the Blame on Mame
"Put the Blame on Mame" is a song by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher, originally made for the film Gilda in 1946 - where it was sung by the title character, played by Rita Hayworth and with the singing voice actually that of Anita Kert Ellis....
", sung by Rita Hayworth in 1945 movie "Gilda
Gilda
Gilda is a 1946 American black-and-white film noir directed by Charles Vidor. It stars Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth in her signature role as the ultimate femme fatale. The film was noted for cinematographer Rudolph Mate's lush photography, costume designer Jean Louis' wardrobe for Hayworth , and...
"; the text claims that rather than being shot killed, Dan McGrew was slew by Mame's "hoochy-coo" dance.
The poem's unique history -- as a spoken word piece -- was highlighted when US President Ronald Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney did their own alternating recital of the poem -- in private meetings and in public.
Mentioning of the poem
The poem is performed in parts by the role of Miss MarpleMiss Marple
Jane Marple, usually referred to as Miss Marple, is a fictional character appearing in twelve of Agatha Christie's crime novels and in twenty short stories. Miss Marple is an elderly spinster who lives in the village of St. Mary Mead and acts as an amateur detective. She is one of the most famous...
in the movie Murder Most Foul
Murder Most Foul
Murder Most Foul is the third of four films made by MGM loosely based on novels by Agatha Christie and starring Margaret Rutherford as Miss Jane Marple, Bud Tingwell as Inspector Craddock, and Stringer Davis as Mr Stringer. The story is ostensibly based on the novel Mrs McGinty's Dead, but notably...
while auditioning for Driffold Cosgood's theatre group. In the 1970s, the British comedian Tommy Cooper
Tommy Cooper
Thomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper was a very popular British prop comedian and magician from Caerphilly, Wales.Cooper was a member of The Magic Circle, and respected by traditional magicians...
famously developed a "hat-routine" that accompanied his adapted recitation of the poem.
See also
- The Shooting of Dan McGrew (1915 film)The Shooting of Dan McGrew (1915 film)The Shooting of Dan McGrew is a 1915 silent American drama film directed by Herbert Blaché, based on the poem of the same name.- Cast :* Edmund Breese as Jim Maxwell* William A. Morse as Dan McGrew* Kathryn Adams as Lou Maxwell...
- The Shooting of Dan McGrew (1924 film)The Shooting of Dan McGrew (1924 film)The Shooting of Dan McGrew is a 1924 silent drama film directed by Clarence G. Badger. Distributed by Metro Pictures, the film is based on the 1907 poem of the same name written by Robert W. Service. This is a lost film.-Plot:...