Please Don't Eat The Daisies(1960).

Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960). Comedy. Cast: Doris Day and David Niven. Director: Charles Walters. Produced by Joe Pasternak, with Martin Melcher (Day's husband) as associate producer. The screenplay, partly inspired by the book of the same name by Jean Kerr, a collection of humorous essays, was by Isobel Lennart. The film also features Janis Paige, Spring Byington, Richard Haydn, Patsy Kelly, and Jack Weston. A television series starring Patricia Crowley and Mark Miller premiered five years later and ran for 58 episodes.

Drama professor, Lawrence Mackay, first job, as as a New York newspaper theater critic, is to review his old friend, producer Alfred North's, new Broadway musical.

On opening night, Larry's wife Kate, is visited by wannabe, playwright and cab driver, Joe Positano, who wants Larry to read his play. After Kate tries settling down her four boys, with no luck.. agrees to tell Larry about the play.

Kate meets up with Larry, while is giving his last lecture as a professor, knowing he has become a critic, his students believe he will put down every performance he reviews, just to help his own career.

Alfred's new show is terrible, Larry feels guilty, that he has to tell the truth about his friend's play.

The next morning, Alfred runs over to the apartment upset about the review, Larry tries to calm his friend.

Later, while Larry and Kate have breakfast at a restaurant, Deborah Vaughn, the star of Alfred's show, walks in and slaps Larry in front of a cameraman who captures the moment on film.

Soon the picture makes front-page headlines and Larry, decides to publish a column with the photo claiming the shows popularity failed, not because of Deborah's bad performance but on her derriere.

Days later at a cocktail party, Larry is the center of attention while Kate is ignored. When Deborah arrives at the cocktail party, she heads straight over to Larry to apologize hoping that he will reconsider his opinion of her derriere. As Kate prepares to leave the party, Alfred warns Kate that Larry is on his way to the "downelator" becoming a critic who thinks his own jokes are better than any play. As they leave, Larry makes fun of the play opening that evening.

At home after seeing the play, angry/worried Kate asks Larry if he disliked the play before seeing it. Larry promises to her he had given the play an honest review.

Days later, as Larry reads Joe's biblical play and criticizes him for writing about a subject he does not know anything about. Offended, Joe tells Larry that he is not the same man he used to be and storms out.

Soon after, Larry and Kate learn that the lease on their apartment is about up and talk about their plans to move to a large house outside the city. Now, that Larry is a success, he wants to live in the city. Using her feminine wiles, Kate agrees that his work comes first and calls the entire family a "parasite". Larry charmed by her agrees to the move.

 

With not many choices in their price range, the family moves into a huge fixer upper of a house in Hooten, 70 miles outside New York. When Community leaders ask Larry and Kate to help them find a play for the local theater group, Larry says that he has no time.

Later in the city, Deborah finds Larry and makes a pass at him, but Larry refuses and then returns home.

On the children's first day of school, Larry refuses to volunteer, claiming the school is performing "moral blackmail."

The next day, when community leaders once again ask for a suggestion on a play, Kate calls Alfred for help. Alfred sees an opportunity to get even with Larry. Will he be successful getting even with Larry?

This is one of my favorite Doris Day movies. I feel it captures her best performances as a mother. Doris interaction with the children is hilarious, she's so natural with them.

 And of course, the musical numbers are fluffy, but that was what we loved about her. Niven makes a wonderful husband for Doris. I also loved Janis Page performance in this film as she was the top billed female in Doris first film, Romance on the High Seas. Spring Byington is fantastic as the grandmother. I think Anyone who loves Doris Day will also say this one of their favorite movies.

Fun Facts: The musical number Kate rehearses for the amateur show ("Any Way The Wind Blows," music by Marilyn Hooven and Joseph Hooven, lyrics by 'By Dunham') had been written for Doris Day movie, Pillow Talk (1959).

After Doris Day and Janis Paige first had worked together in Romance on the High Seas (1948), Miss Paige performed on Broadway as, Babe Williams, in the Tony Award-winning musical of 1954, "The Pajama Game."

When Warner Bros., the former home lot of Janis and Doris, recast Babe Williams for the delightful 1957 film version, Babe then turned into - Doris Day!

Beginning her film career portraying Katharine Hepburn's mother in Little Women (1933), Spring Byington closed her movie years playing Doris Day's mother in this film.

Please Don't Eat the Daisies is a collection of funny essays by playwright Jean Kerr about suburban living and raising four boys. The essays do not have a plot or through-storyline, but the book sold so well it was later adapted into a film starring Doris Day and David Niven. The film was later adapted into a television series starring Patricia Crowley and Mark Miller.

Young Man with a Horn (1950).

Young Man with a Horn (1950). Drama. Based on a biographical novel of the same name about the life of Bix Beiderbecke. Cast: Doris Day, Kirk Douglas, and Lauren Bacall.

The story begins, Musician Smoke Willoughby thinks back to when he first meet his friend legendary trumpet player Rick Martin. After his mother dies, Rick moves in with his sister in California. Rick sees a trumpet in a pawn shop window and gets a job in a bowling alley to pay for it. Next to the bowling alley is a Jazz club, where Rick hears jazz for the first time.

He quickly makes friends with the trumpet player Art Hazzard, who teaches his young friend how to play the trumpet. As Rick gets older, he finds odd jobs playing for carnivals and dance marathons. Rick decides to follow Art to New York and gets a job playing trumpet for big band leader Jack Chandler where he meets Smoke and singer Jo.

Chandler insists that Rick play the music exactly as written. Chandler fires Rick after he plays a jazzy number. Despite Jo's efforts, Rick refuses to go back when Chandler offers to rehire him. Rick learns that his friend Art has been sick and he returns to New York. Jo gets him a job with another orchestra.

Some evenings Rick goes over to help out Art at Louis Galba's nightclub. Jo brings her friend Amy to hear Rick play. Amy, who is studying to be a psychiatrist, blames her father for her mother's death and believes that she is not capable of love. They fall in love and are married, soon after Rick and Amy start to have problems because of his dedication to music. Will Rick be torn away from playing the trumpet to save his marriage?

For anyone who loves jazz, this is a wonderful movie. The soundtrack to this movie is awesome.(trumpet played by Harry James). Kirk Douglas is perfect for Rick's character. Lauren Bacall performance as a manipulative heiress was perfect.

Fun Facts:

Kirk Douglas's trumpet licks were performed by Harry James.

 The Columbia 10-inch studio LP featuring Doris Day and Harry James hit the top spot on "Billboard"'s popular albums chart.

Doris Day wrote that she was unhappy making this film, which brought back stressful memories of her early career as a band singer, and also because Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall (having dated at one time in real life) seemed to intentionally shut her out, making her feel unwelcome.

At least three times, you will see trumpeters in the movie using mutes different from those on the sound track. For example, in the Christmas Eve scene, Rick is shown using a Harmon mute and Harry James' dub of the tune is with a cup mute.

Features one of the earliest references to homosexuality. The character of Amy played by Lauren Bacall is suppose to be a lesbian, which is why Rick, played by Kirk Douglas, walks out on her telling her that she is "a very sick girl".

Mary Beth Hughes (November 13, 1919 – August 27, 1995)  While acting in a school play in the early 1930s, her performance caught the attention of Clifford Brown, a repertory theater company owner, who offered her a part in a touring production of Alice in Wonderland.

 While touring with another production in Brown's company, she was offered a contract from a talent scout with Gaumont-British Studios but declined the offer to finish high school. After graduating from high school in 1937, she returned to Brown's theater company, where she continued to appear in various stage productions until the summer of 1938, when she relocated to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue a film career.

 After six months of failing to land movie roles, Hughes and her mother made plans to return to Washington, D.C., until Hughes met an agent, Wally Ross. Ross introduced Hughes to powerful William Morris agent Johnny Hyde. Hyde landed Hughes a contract with MGM, and she soon landed a small, uncredited role in the 1939 film Broadway Serenade.

 After Broadway Serenade, Hughes appeared in other bit parts in films including The Women with Norma Shearer, Dancing Co-Ed with Lana Turner, and the Busby Berkeley film Fast and Furious. In 1940 Hughes was offered a contract with 20th Century-Fox.

Later that year she landed a role opposite John Barrymore in The Great Profile, a part she later noted as one of her favorites. Fox did not renew her contract when it expired in 1943, and the following year she began appearing in a nightclub act and soon signed a three-picture deal with Universal Pictures.

Throughout the mid-40s and early '50s, Hughes appeared in film and television roles, including the cult classic I Accuse My Parents (which was later parodied on Mystery Science Theater 3000), Waterfront at Midnight, Wanted: Dead or Alive (episode "Secret Ballot"),The Devil's Henchman, The Abbott and Costello Show, Dragnet and Studio One.

 In 1961, Hughes decided to retire from acting and began working as a receptionist in a plastic surgeon's office, although she continued her appearances in nightclubs. The following year she directed and starred in a Los Angeles production of Pajama Top.

For the rest of the '60s she would go on to appear in television shows like Rawhide and Dennis the Menace. In 1970 she landed a regular role on The Red Skelton Show, appearing in 11 episodes before the show ended later that year.

 In 1976 she again retired from show business, explaining that she was "tired of auditioning for sexy grandma roles."Hughes' last onscreen appearance was in the 1976 film Tanya. In the late 1970s Hughes opened a beauty parlor in Canoga Park, California. She closed the shop in the late 1980s and began working as a telemarketer until 1991, when she was laid off.

 As a starlet under contract with MGM, Hughes went on studio-appointed dates with several actors, including Lew Ayres, Franchot Tone, Mickey Rooney, and James Stewart. While under contract to Fox, she also went on prearranged dates with Milton Berle and George Montgomery.

 In 1940, against Fox's wishes, Hughes began a relationship with actor Robert Stack. The romance lasted a year. After her romance with Stack ended, Hughes married actor Ted North in 1943. The couple had one son, Donald, before divorcing in 1947. In 1948, she married singer/actor David Street. The marriage ended in 1956. In 1973 Hughes married her manager, Nicky Stewart, but that marriage also ended in divorce four years later.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Doris Day

Another week and another pawsome pet picture. This one of Doris Day, one of me and Dawn's favorite stars.
Happy Wednesday everyone...especially to Dawn!

Happy Birthday: Doris Day!!

Doris Day's childhood idol was Ginger Rogers, with whom she starred in Storm Warning (1951). Wednesday, April 4 @ 10:00 PM On TCM. ET. Which maybe the only Doris Day classic movies have not yet seen.

The story is about Marsha Mitchell, a traveling dress model, stops in a southern town to see her sister who has married a Ku Klux Klansman. Marsha sees the KKK commit a murder and helps District Attorney Burt Rainey in bringing the criminals to justice.

Fun Facts:
Joan Crawford was asked by studio boss Jack L. Warner to play Doris Day's sister in the film, Joan declined saying "Come on, Jack. No one would ever believe that I would have Doris Day for a sister!"

Doris Day's first non-singing role.

Star of the Month: Doris Day.

Doris Day (born April 3, 1923) is a very talented actress, singer, and animal rights activist. Doris Day's amazing career has spanned over 50 years. Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but hit the "Big Time" after her first hit recording, "Sentimental Journey".



After leaving Les Brown's Band, she started her partnership with Columbia Records. The contract lasted from 1947 to 1967, and produced more than 650 recordings. In 1948, she auditioned for Michael Curtiz, which led to the lead role in one of my favorite Doris Day films, Romance on the High Seas, her first film with close friend, Jack Carson.

A musical romantic comedy film nominated for two Academy Awards, for Original Song: "It's Magic".

The story is about wealthy Elvira Kent (Janis Paige) and her husband Michael (Don DeFore), who do not trust each other. Elvira makes plans for a cruise to Rio de Janeiro, to celebrate their wedding anniversary. She is very disappointed when her husband cancells because of business. She then sees an opportunity to catch him red handed. Elvira pretends to take the trip alone, but sends singer Georgia Garrett (Doris Day), a woman she'd met at the travel agency, in her place using her name. Michael, is also suspicious of Elvira's going on the trip alone and hires private detective Peter Virgil (Jack Carson) to see if she is sneaking around behind his back.

Peter joins the cruise and as part of his job, becomes friends with Georgia. Georgia, following the instructions of the real Elvira, pretends to be Elvira. Georgia and Peter are attracted to each other and gradually fall in love, which begins their troubles.

During one of the cruise stops, Georgia's friend, Oscar Farrar (Oscar Levant), comes on board. Oscar is in love with Georgia and when Peter spots them together, he thinks he has discovered the identity of Elvira's lover.

With a legendary Hollywood "girl next door" image, and capable of delivering comedy and romance, as well as heavy drama, she performed in 39 films, released 29 albums. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in, Pillow Talk.

Day's strong commitment to animal rights began in 1971, when she co-founded "Actors and Others for Animals". She started her own non-profit organization in the late 1970s, the Doris Day Animal Foundation and, later, the Doris Day Animal League. Establishing the annual observance Spay Day USA in 1994, The Doris Day Animal League now partners with the Humane Society of the United States and continues to be a leading advocacy organization. In 2004 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in recognition of her distinguished service to the country. President Bush recognized Miss Day's work on behalf of animals by saying, "It was a good day for our fellow creatures when she gave her good heart to the cause of animal welfare."

Video: Sentimental Journey (1 of 7) Doris Day documentary.

Great On Screen Couples: Doris Day and Rock Hudson

Believe it or not, we missed one of the biggest on screen couples of all time for our first year of posting about great screen couples last year. Don't know how we missed Doris Day and Rock Hudson but we did. Well better later than never as this year I will talk about a really terrific couple who made three wonderful films together. Pillow Talk (1959), Lover Come Back (1961) and Send me No Flowers (1964). I have seen all three films multiple times and they are all entertaining.

Doris had been churning out bright and cheerful musical comedies since the late 40's while Rock burst on the scene in small roles in films in the late 40's and early 50's. He found his footing in some of the most known melodramas of the 50's in All That Heaven Allows, Magnificent Obsession, Written on the Wind, and of course Giant. But he really had never done comedies. So when the idea of Pillow Talk came around, Doris was all for it while Rock turned it down three times. It took meeting Day and a great screenplay to change his mind. He and Doris had instant chemistry and the rest is history. Pillow Talk was one of the biggest hits of 1959, earning around $7.5 million. Doris would wind up being the top film star for five years straight beginning in 1959 (which is still a record). Rock was number two.

So a follow-up film was green lit called Lover Come Back in 1961. And once again, another hit for the pair. I found Lover Come Back to be particulary sharp and biting and showing how wonderfully easy Day and Hudson could perform together.

They went their separate ways for their next films. Doris would team with James Garner for The Thrill of It All and Move Over Darling both in 1963. And while they had good chemistry, it was nothing like her and Rock. Hudson meanwhile paired with Gina Lollobrigida for the engaging Come September.

Day and Hudson would reunite in 1964 for Send Me No Flowers, which is my favorite of their films. It was the first to show them as a married couple. And they still had some zing. Should also be noted that Tony Randall co-starred with the pair in all three films and he was aces.

Doris and Rock with Tony

I have done a marathon of these three films several times and it's a wonderful experience. All are great comedies showing one of Hollywood's best onscreen couples.

Notes:

Both stars went to TV after their film careers cooled off in the 60's.

Rock nicknamed Doris "Eunice Blotter" and Doris called him "Roy Harold"

Doris on first meeting Rock: "I had never met Rock Hudson before, but the very first day on the set I discovered we had a performing rapport that was remarkable. We played our scenes together as if we had once lived them. Every day on the set was a picnic."

Battle of the Blondes: Betty Grable VS. Doris Day.

Betty Grable and Doris Day, were/are both talented singers and dancers. They were/are often called, "Sweethearts of the Silver Screen".

Betty Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973), was famous for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and insured by her studio for $1,000,000 with Lloyds of London.

Grable, performed in many musical films of the 1940s such as: Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943). A musical film, which takes place in the 1880s, when American Madeleine Marlowe, is performing in the London musical comedy group while engaged to Charles, the Duke of Trippingham. Charles promises her, that they will be married in New York, where she is to star in a new show.

After boarding a ship, Madge's traveling companions Arthur Skinner and Edna Van Dyke, show her a copy of the, The Police Gazette, where the article reveals that her real name is, Rosie O'Grady and that she started out singing in, a beer garden named, Flugelman's. The article, also revels that the duke is only interested in Madge's money. Angry, Madge plans to confront, Sam the newspaper reporter who wrote the story.

When Madge's boat docks, she is met by reporters. Sam "rescues" her and tries to get more information about her engagement, but when Madge learns his true identity, she tells everyone that she and Sam are engaged.

Police Gazette's editor, Tom Morgan, fires Sam for making a laughingstock of the paper. Sam, begs Madge for a truce, but she continues playing up their "romance" to reporters.

Not liking being called a fortune hunter, Sam decides to get even with Madge and serenades her with a song he has written called, "Sweet Rosie O'Grady." Sam then insists that she join him at Flugelman's.

Sam and Madge, have called off their feud and have had to much to drink when they return to her hotel. Charles, has come to New York to surprise Madge and is not too happy to see them together. Madge, becomes angry and she breaks off their engagement.

Madge, decides to take advantage of the publicity and produce a new show around Sam's "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" song.

This is a Musical remake, "Love is News (1937)", which starred Loretta Young. Fox tried again with this story in 1948 titled, "That Wonderful Urge", starring Gene Tierney.

Down Argentine Way (1940). Made a star of Betty Grable in her first leading role and introduced the colorful Carmen Miranda. The film also starred Don Ameche, The Nicholas Brothers, Charlotte Greenwood, and J. Carrol Naish.

 Please click here to learn more about the classic film, Down Argentine Way(1940).

Doris Day (born April 3, 1924). Her entertainment career began, while performing as a big band singer in 1939, with her first hit song, "Sentimental Journey", in 1945. After leaving the Les Brown and His Band of Renown to try a solo career, she started her partnership with Columbia Records. In 1948, she auditioned for Michael Curtiz, which led to the lead in, Romance on the High Seas, her first film with her friend, Jack Carson.

With a legendary Hollywood "girl-next-door" image she performed in 39 films. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the film, Pillow Talk.

Another favorite Doris Day film, Tea for Two (1950). A Musical directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Harry Clork and William Jacobs was inspired by the 1925 stage musical No, No Nanette.

Please click here to learn more about the classic film Tea For Two(1950)

Another favorite Doris Day film, That Touch of Mink (1962). A Romantic/comedy starring Cary Grant and Doris Day. The film co-stars Gig Young, John Astin, Audrey Meadows, and Dick Sargent. Baseball players: Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra make cameo appearances.

Please click here to learn more about the classic movie That Touch of Mink(1962)