Doris Day Forum Banners 2018

[webmaster]

I'm carrying over the pics of Doris for continuity.



This image is classic 1950s Doris, circa The Tunnel of Love, where, when she was dancing with Richard Widmark (Runaway, Skidadle, Skidoo) you could see a glimpse of how she would look in Pillow Talk.

[Johnny]

The new Doris banner is charming and radiant.
I love Doris in white and it contrasts beautifully against the red background.

It is a real tribute to Doris.

Thank you Bryan.

Have a great weekend!

[webmaster]

Thanks, Johnny, have a good weekend yourself. And everyone else too.

[Ania]

A wonderful banner as always♥

Ania

[webmaster]

Thanks Ania!

Could people please leave messages for Puck here:

Messages for Puck:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4893#p64437

I've emailed Puck and asked her to reply there.

Thank you.

Bryan

[webmaster]

Mentioning Doris in the fifties made me think of Calamity Jane (1953) - the opposite end of a film spectrum that included another of her great musicals, Love Me or Leave Me (1959).

Doing a little research on Calamity Jane, I discovered a newly restored digital version has been created and a sing-along version was shown earlier this year at the British Film Institue's LGBT Flare festival. I must admit I don't particularly see it as a closet gay film but I can understand why Secret Love has become a gay anthem and that some people think Doris was playing a lesbian who was really in love with Katie! I think Doris would be surprised by that interpretation but I doubt if it would bother her.

More info: https://tinyurl.com/doris-day-calamity-jane



See also: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/a ... ver-review

[Jas1]

Beautiful banner - Purdy Calam - more beautiful than a butterfly on a basin of buttermilk...

[Peter Flapper]

Hi Bryan,

Great Calamity Jane - Secret Love banner!
Thanks for sharing.

P

[Ania]

A delightful banner, Doris in this movie it's just beautiful like I love this movie and music from itDoris looks like the most beautiful angel here♥♥♫♥


Ania

[Johnny]

Thank you Bryan for this wonderful Calamity Jane Doris banner. It is one of my favouite photos of Doris. Seeing this photo immediately brings to mind Doris singing Secret Love. The look of love radiates from Doris' face.

The fresh green hues with hints of warm yellows in the banner and Doris glowing in white makes it so warm and welcoming.

This is one of my all time favourite banners because of all- the good feelings it generates.

[jmichael]

Calamity Jane was a step up from the frothy period musicals Doris was doing at the time. It gave her a more complex character to play while capitalizing on her spunky, tomboyish screen persona. She made the character believable by gradually revealing the sensitive woman underneath the brassy exterior. I consider this one of her best performances. No one could express the romantic yearning of Secret Love better than Doris Day.

Michael

[Jas1]

Doris Day IS Calamity Jane - for the ages!

[webmaster]

True, Jas! I think we all have a soft spot for Calamity Jane - a virtuoso performance from Doris that brought her (more) fame and fans all around the world.



Staying in the 1950s, above, a somber-looking Doris with Phil Silvers in Lucky Me (1954). It's well known she was unhappy about making this film. It looks like a candid shot on the set and not one I remember from the film, particularly as there seems to be set-building materials behind them.

"In her autobiography, Doris Day reported that she was suffering from nervous exhaustion following the strenuous production schedule for Calamity Jane (1953) and did not feel sturdy enough to begin work on Lucky Me (1954). When her husband-manager Martin Melcher and Warner Bros. strong-armed her into moving forward, Day suffered what she termed a 'nervous breakdown' during filming." - IMDB



"Doris Day had begun to suffer from panic attacks before filming Lucky Me and kept putting the start of the project off, despite Warner Bros.' pushing her to begin. She was also unhappy with the script, writing in her 1976 autobiography, Her Own Story, "Robert Cummings, Phil Silvers, Nancy Walker, and Eddie Foy, Jr., were all talented, funny people, but I knew by now that no amount of talent can overcome an inferior script, especially if it is a comedy." She considered allowing the studio to suspend her rather than doing the film but ended up fulfilling her contractual obligation. Nevertheless, the film was physically difficult for her due to the attacks." - Wikipedia

[Jas1]

I love this Lucky Me pic- unusual but very beautiful pic of Doris.

I grew up on Bilko- [repeats not originals]!!

[Johnny]

Seeing Doris with a serious and deep in thought expression on her face in this Lucky Me banner is refreshing and interesting. She looks exceptionally beautiful in this photo.

Thanks Bryan!

[Musiclover]

Maybe this was a rehearsal photo. Note that the hairstyle is different from the one she actually wore in the film itself. She's certainly deep in thought here.

[webmaster]

Yes, could be, Judy - but they don't seem to be doing anything! I can't figure why Phil Silvers would be counting his cash in a candid shot (and ignoring Doris). Did he have a gambling problem (like Bilko)?

A quick search reveals an article by his daughter:
"But there was a darker side. Phil Silvers had a reputation as an inveterate gambler, once losing his week's earnings in Las Vegas on the first night of his run. "It greatly affected him and his relationship with his wife and children," his daughter concedes."
https://www.thejc.com/culture/tv/my-lif ... es-1.58530

So maybe that's why? But agree with Johnny & Jas, she looks very beautiful there, but also very sad - unusual to see her that way without the big smile, below. But, she was a good actress!



More theories welcome!

[Johnny]

Thank you Bryan for the background information on Phil Silvers and his daughter Cathy. It was a fascinating read.

[webmaster]

Glad you enjoyed reading it, Johnny.

This is more typical of a Lucky Me poster - all smiles and colour - from Puck:

[Peter Flapper]

Hello Puck & Bryan,

What a great colourful "Lucky Me" banner. What a joy to open this forum today.
Again a great job well done!
Thanks for sharing.

P

[webmaster]

Thanks, Peter, It's still one of my favourite Doris films no matter what people say!



They're running a car advert on TV in the UK, above, it sounds a lot like the film version!

[Johnny]

Thank you Bryan and Puck for the dazzling Lucky Me Doris banner. It is so bright and cheerful.

Lucky Me has a certain charm and optimism that I like regardless of the criticism. Think of the children that went to see the film in 1954. I bet they had a good time.

[howard]

Johnny, I was one of those children back in '54, and I loved it at the time. I loved all DD films at the time. But, as I grew up, I began to see just how lame the screenplay is. It's really quite silly, and makes little sense. However, I do enjoy the musical numbers - most all of them. And I love DD's look in the film - she sports a very becoming hair style - don't think I ever saw her with the same style again.

[jmichael]

Absolutely love the colorful new banner from Puck. Lucky us!

Michael

[Jas1]

Great banner.

Howard - good observation re- hairdo in Lucky Me- worn too briefly [before the fab D/A cut] - 3 more dos that Doris should have worn for longer as they suited her so much were: -

1. - the longer look a la calamity jane- pulled back in ponytail.
2. - the longer flicked look of Midnight Lace- fabulous.
3.- the pushed behind the ear longer look of Touch of Mink and particularly - Thrill of it all.