Heller in Pink Tights is a 1960 western film directed by George Cukor. It is based on the 1955 novel Helen with a Gun by Louis L'Amour.
A traveling theater troupe headed by Thomas Healy (Anthony Quinn) puts on a performance at Cheyenne, Wyoming. Healy's leading lady and girlfriend, Angela Rossini (Sophia Loren), tries to make up for her spending habits by betting on a poker game, but loses to gunslinger Clint Mabry (Steve Forrest). As Angela does not have the money to pay him, Mabry refuses to let her go, and the troupe becomes involved in his quarrel with the powerful and wealthy De Leon, who hired Mabry as an assassin but wants him dead to avoid paying him.
Tropes:
- Commitment Issues: Though Angela has been in a relationship with Healy for a long time, she's very reluctant to give up her freedom to marry him. By the end, she has worked out these issues and proposes marriage herself.
- Cross-Cast Role: In-Universe; Healy's troupe puts on a production of Mazeppa
, the story of a soldier who has an affair with a noblewoman and is punished by being tied to a horse. Angela, the troupe's leading lady, plays said soldier. - Dramatic Chase Opening: The movie opens with the Healy Dramatic Company being chased by bill collectors, who have to stop once the troupe crosses the state border. This establishes the troupe's money problems, which are brought on by Angela.
- Lost Him in a Card Game: Angela plays a poker game against Mabry, hoping to win enough money to pay off the creditors on the troupe's tails. She loses and Mabry claims her as his prize since she doesn't have the money to pay him.
- Love Triangle: Angela is in a relationship with troupe leader Healy, but she also returns gunslinger Mabry's interest in her.
- Ms. Red Ink: Angela is notorious for her excessive spending on clothes, a habit which lands the Healy Dramatic Company in financial trouble, since Healy enables her.
- Wacky Marriage Proposal: In the end, Angela proposes marriage to Healy by revealing she signed some papers mortgaging his company (in order to pay off Mabry) as Mrs. Thomas Healy.
