Calamity Jane 1953 Musical by Sammy Fain/Frances Paul Webster. Loosely based on the alleged romance of frontierswoman Martha Jane Cannary (Calamity Jane) and folk hero Wild Bill Hickok. Directed by David Butler. Calamity Jane (Doris Day) is treated by the Deadwood, Dakota Territory community with affection and tolerance of tall tales. Only Bill Hickok (Howard Keel) occasionally calls her out in ongoing competition. No one treats her like a woman. Secretly, she has her sights set on Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin (Philip Carey).
When an attractive, back-east entertainer decides not to play the saloon, her maid, Katie Brown (Allyn McLerie), takes her place in hopes of jump-starting her own career. She’s found out, but supported as an underdog and taken in by Jane. Both Danny and Bill moon over Katie who makes Jane over to attend a dance. Men who make a fuss over her don’t include Danny. Katie realizes what’s going on and removes herself. Needless to say, things sort themselves out. Pretty songs.
Historians have found no proof that Jane and Hickok were more than acquaintances despite Jane claiming it had been so after his death. Film critic Jamie Stuart called out lesbian overtones in Jane being played as a strong, independent woman who shares a house with another woman, the two of them painting “Calam and Katie” in a heart on its door. (Not the only critic to interpret the women’s friendship this way.) Rent on Amazon Prime.
Young at Heart 1954 Directed by Gordon Douglas. A good film, more solid than it looks. The musical Tuttle family of Stamford, Connecticut, consists of widower Gregory Tuttle (Robert Keith), his wry sister, Aunt Jessie (Ethel Barrymore), and daughters Laurie (Doris Day), Fran (Dorothy Malone), and Amy (Elisabeth Fraser). Two men enter their lives at the same time, successful songwriter Alex Burke (Gig Young) and self-destructive, yeoman pianist Barney Sloan (Frank Sinatra). Laurie tries everything to help Barney, growing attached without realizing it. Alex is in love with her. Both Amy and Fran (who’s otherwise engaged) are in love with Alex.
Sorting this one out is bumpy. Emotional casualties are more or less realistic. Acting is solid. A remake of 1938’s Four Daughters. The character of Barney Sloan was originally written to die at the end of the film as happened with the character in the original film. Sinatra had it rewritten. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Love Me or Leave Me 1955 Directed by Charles Vidor. Biographical, musical drama of the life of Ruth Etting who rose from dime-a-dance girl to movie star with the strong-armed help of gangster Martin, Moe “the Gimp” Snyder. The film paints her as innocent, then conflicted about methods behind her rise. Considering Marty alienated everyone in her professional life while acting as Ruth’s “manager,” success is somewhat surprising.
Etting (Doris Day) eventually married the thug out of obligation and fear, breaking away only years later when reconnected with pianist/friend Johnny Alderman (Cameron Mitchell) whom her husband then shot. Here, the heroine pays her debt before marrying Johnny as Marty goes on trial. Helluva story. Quite true. Filled with musical numbers reminding us what a fine vocalist Day was. Cagney gets a hoodlum role with more color/nuance than usual. It was he who suggested Doris Day for the role of Ruth Etting, a part pursued by both Jane Russell and Ava Gardner. Rent on Amazon Prime.
The Man Who Knew Too Much 1956 Produced and Directed by Alfred Hitchcock who used his title for an earlier film, though not the plot. A suspense thriller centering on an American family vacationing in French Morocco who get caught in a web of political intrigue.
Dr. Benjamin McKenna (James Stewart), his wife, singer Josephine Conway McKenna (Doris Day), and their son, Hank, meet gregarious Frenchman Louis Bernard (Daniel Gelin) en route. He invites them to dinner at the hotel, then curiously ignores the couple from elsewhere in the restaurant. The first of a series of sinister men make an appearance. Bernard, who turns out to be a French Intelligence agent, imparts important information to Ben as he dies at the hands of an assassin.
English couple Lucy and Edward Drayton (Brenda de Banzie and Bernard Miles) seem sympathetic and helpful – but are not. Hank gets kidnapped. Ben follows dangerous leads. At the last, it’s Josephine who rescues her son. Very effective. The song “Que Sera, Sera – Whatever Will Be, Will Be” (Jay Livingston/ Raymond Bernard Evans) won the Academy Award. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Teacher’s Pet 1958 Directed by George Seaton. A formulaic romantic comedy with two appealing leads. Journalism instructor Erica Stone (Doris Day) invites hard boiled reporter James Gannon (Clark Gable) to speak to her night school class. Gannon wants no part of it. He sends off an insulting letter, but is instructed by his editor to accept.
Gannon arrives just as Stone is sarcastically reading the missive aloud to her class. He gives a false name and joins the group intending to show up the attractive know-it-all. You know the rest. Stone’s boyfriend Dr. Pine (Gig Young) and Gannon’s girlfriend, nightclub vamp Peggy DeFore (Mamie Van Doren) are briefly in the way as the couple fall in Hollywood love. Rent on Amazon Prime.
It Happened to Jane 1959 Directed by Richard Quine. Widow Jane Osgood (Doris Day) and her two young children live in the picturesque/storybook town of Cape Anne, Maine, founded by her ancestors. She raises and sells lobsters. One day 300 crustaceans are returned dead. Due to personnel cuts on Eastern & Portland Railroad (E&P), the station let them sit over a weekend instead of delivering as promised. Not only is her first large order lost, but Jane’s reputation is damaged. Her timid, obtuse lawyer boyfriend George Denham (Jack Lemmon) writes to the company assuring her of remuneration.
The E&P is newly under tightwad Harry Foster Malone (Ernie Kovacs -great) who, upon advice, sends two underlings to pay Jane. Despite George’s advice, she refuses the little bit of money they offer. The case goes to local court, where she wins. Of course, the railroad will appeal but meantime, a writ of execution (idea-Jane, filing-George) attaches Old 99 at the Cape Anne station. The New York Daily Mirror sends reporter Larry Hall (Steve Forrrest) who makes the widow a national cause célèbre on television. (He also falls in love with her.)
Malone’s moves against her, Jane’s counters (involving the community and a newly energized George), and extended sympathy make up the tale. It’s clever and fun. Old 97 is based on the J-Class 2-8-2 steam locomotives that used to run on the New Haven Railroad. Only the title song and one with the scouts. Otherwise a straight romantic comedy. Rent on Amazon Prime.
The Pajama Game is, alas, not rentable
Of a type: Pillow Talk 1959, Please Don’t Eat the Daisies 1960 Lover Come Back 1961, That Touch of Mink 1962, Move Over Darling 1963, Send Me No Flowers 1964 are all available on Amazon Prime.
Top photo: Bigstock
