The Films of Doris Day (1949 - 1968)

[Musiclover]

Just came across an old article about Doris's career by the late film critic George Morris, who wrote for Film Comment and for Take One magazines, among others. It is excerpted here:

"That Doris Day is genuinely talented is often obscured by her enormous popularity and the petrification her public image suffered in the late 60s. By the time she made her best musicals (Calamity Jane, 1953; Love Me or Leave Me, 1955; Pajama Game, 1957; and Jumbo, 1962), Day had developed into the best musical actress in films. Jumbo features one of Day’s loveliest, most subdued portrayals. Unfortunately, her growth coincided with the decline of the musical as a popular genre. [Even so, she] triumphantly embodied the most forward-looking heroine in American movies of the 50s and 60s.

"Anyone who thinks of Doris Day only as a smiling, eternal virgin should look again at Love Me or Leave Me, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Pajama Game. In Love Me or Leave Me she is tougher and also extremely sexy. In The Man Who Knew Too Much . . . there are two scenes that stand as Day’s most brilliant; the controlled hysteria she brings to these moments should erase any doubts one might have concerning her acting ability. Her Babe Williams in Pajama Game is one of the great musical comedy performances in movie history. She is gutsy . . . yet vulnerable, and her portrayal has remarkable range and depth."

[Jas1]

Wasn't it George Morris who wrote "the films of Doris Day" - which I have somewhere- and he put her film career into 3 distinct phases

1- The WB years.
2. The solo years (which he, and I, assess as her best) 1954-59; and
3. The romantic comedy years - Pillow Talk onwards.

He assesses her Babe Williams as [perhaps] her finest screen performance.

[Musiclover]

Yes, that George Morris was one and the same as you describe.

[Jas1]

Love the PG poster- in the Untold Story of the Girl Next Door- love the story about the one and only time DD pulled rank on a film and it was this one, and of course, it was a good /great deed - they were working the dancers morning to night and Doris could see how ill Carol Chaney was and stopped production shouted up to the powers that be [from the set] "this lady is not well, either you get her to hospital, or I am leaving this set" - or words to that affect.

The powers that be got Carol to hospital and she was diabetic and observers noted that DD likely saved her life by taking this action.

[Jas1]

The advise to Eve Arden brings to mind that fabulous recording from What every girl should know - "Not only should you love him, you should like him too..."

[Johnny]

Teachers’s Pet is one of Doris Day’s most underrated films. Doris plays her role as a journalism teacher Erica Stone with confidence, insightfulness, and a balanced sense of humour.

The chemistry between Doris and Clark Gable sparkles on screen. The attraction is electric.


Doris’ work as a dramatic actress is exceptional and unforgettable in Love Me or Leave Me and The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Doris excelled as a star of musicals ranked amongst the best. Her films, Calamity Jane, The Pajama Game and Billy Rose’s Jumbo are outstanding classics.

Perhaps Doris Day’s comedies are the most under appreciated films in her body of work. She was a gifted physical comedienne, and she
created lovable , understated and funny characters regardless of the quality of the script.

Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, Move Over Darling and The Thrill of It All are brilliant comedic works. They stand true as comedy classics. Doris Day creates screen magic with both Rock Hudson and James Garner. There is a humanity that sparkles and shines through in their comedies.

Comedy films in Hollywood still do not get the appreciation and respect they honestly deserve. They didn’t in 1960 and this is true in 2020.

It is my sincere hope that Doris Day will eventually be appreciated and recognized in Hollywood history as one of the top versatile actresses. I doubt that it would matter to Doris but it does to her fans.

On a separate note, something Doris would appreciate is recognition of her work with a gift of money from the Hollywood community to the Doris Day Animal Foundation to help the countless animals she loved. There is a lot of money in Hollywood.

[Jas1]

I love the story that DD's performance in Teacher's Pet even gained praise from Katharine Hepburn who would have loved the role- if she had of been just a bit younger.