Listen to the opening music to "The Tunnel of Love":
Doris Day's third film for MGM and a chance
to
work with Gene Kelly, who directed
Shot in a matter of weeks, it clearly
betrays its theatrical roots, being based on a popular Broadway hit
which later became a staple for summer stock productions for many years.
Despite it's tight budget and shooting schedule, it surprisingly lost
money. Miss Day was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actress and
received the coveted Laurel Award from Motion Picture Exhibitor Magazine
for being the most popular female star in films, the first of eight
consecutive awards as most Popular Actress by this publication. None
of this, however, saved "Tunnel
of Love", which does provide some amusing moments despite a slightly
overlong running time which allows interest to sometimes wane.
Gene Kelly directed the talented cast in his final film
at MGM after more than 15 years under contract. Had original plans worked
out a decade later, he'd have again directed Miss Day in "Hello Dolly" which
Richard Zanuck initially wanted as a vehicle for the gifted blonde. Doris
Day and Richard Widmark play a Connecticut couple who want to have a
baby. The film's plot evolves around those efforts as well as a lot of
misunderstandings which are better seen than described.
As always, Miss Day is a delight. Her comedic talent is second to none
and she makes the most of the sometimes tepid situations, giving it the
benefit of her personality and skill at making you believe everything she
says. Fabled Hollywood Hairstylist Sydney Guilaroff who worked on this
film as well as several others with Miss Day told me personally that "...Doris
was the most professional actress I have ever encountered. She always knew
her lines, never kept people waiting and treated the crew with the same
dignity and kindness that she treated her co-stars...." A highlight is
Miss Day's exuberant rendition of "Runaway Skiddadle Skidoo", a peppy little
song that even allows co-star Richard Widmark to sing a bit of."
Widmark surprises with a very charming and easygoing
comic performance. He and Miss Day work well together and it's too
bad they didn't have better material to serve them. Gig Young is
in his usual fine form in this the third of four on-screen performances
opposite Miss Day. Elisabeth Fraser in the second of four roles opposite
Miss Day displays her usual polish. Gia Scala adds window dressing
and the viewer will come away not feeling they'd wasted their time
but with the talent involved probably wishing for a sweeter aftertaste.
Perhaps color would have brightened the proceedings in more ways than
one. Paul Brogan, May 2003
Listen to Doris sing "The Tunnel of Love" (sax
version!):
Doris Day said:"In
1958 and 1959 I made a couple of pictures that did not do well at
the box office. "Tunnel of Love" with Richard Widmark and "It
Happened to Jane" with Jack Lemmon. The former had a poor script
that I didn't want to do but Marty had already signed me for it.." -
Doris Day, Her Own Story
Other Reviews:
"Doris Day, the epitome of the wholesome American
girl, again displays a likeable warmth and Richard Widmark plays
the slightly neurotic would-be father with style and feeling."
Films and Filming
"..Gene Kelly has done wonders. Every
situation is carefully contrived, every laugh milked bone dry,
most expertly by Young and Miss Fraser, champion milkers from
way back. Widmark joyously throws himself into this bit of switch-casting.
Doris Day skilfully rounds out the quartet of fun-makers."
Photoplay
Additional material: Derald Hendry
"This film marked the first time Gene Kelly had directed
a picture which he was not in, and though he makes an efficient
job of transcribing the Broadway comedy by Joseph Fields, Peter
De Vries and the blacklisted Jerome Chodorov, it comes out as one
of those plays that convulsed theatre audiences in New York and
London but seems only mildly amusing on screen. Doris Day and Richard Widmark (the latter in a rare comedy
role) play a married couple forced to battle through all sorts
of bureaucratic formalities in order to adopt a child. Shot in
only three weeks on virtually one set, the film still lost money
- Doris Day later blamed its failure on a poor script." BBC Radio Times
Webmaster comment: I watched this on TV recently with a
friend who isn't particularly a Doris Day fan and he laughed his
head off! It's not a big production number, as indicated, but it's
a good farce and better than much of what you see today that passes
for "TV comedy".
