This new set compiles four of Doris Day’s most beloved films in one convenient Blu-ray package. She’s clearly the main attraction in each of these projects, with her male counterparts woefully unequipped to match her megawatt charisma.
Buy Doris Day 4-Film CollectionRomance on the High Seas (1948) sets up a humorous case of mistaken identity as a wealthy couple suspect each other of cheating on them, leading to their attempts to lay elaborate traps to expose each other. Day plays a singer hired by the wife to pose as her on a South American cruise, where she quickly falls in love with the investigator hired by the husband to follow the wife. Busby Berkeley gets a credit for staging the musical numbers, but they’re largely just Day with an accompanist, so no real showstoppers emerge. The film taps into America’s mid-century fascination with Latin American music, courtesy of its south-of-the-border setting.
I reviewed Lullaby of Broadway (1951) a few years ago (here), but was amused to find that it also starts with Day on a ship. Here, her character travels from Europe to see her mom star in a Broadway show. Unfortunately, her mom has been fibbing about her wealth, working as the servant of a large mansion instead of being its owner, making for some shenanigans as the staff and owner attempt to bamboozle Day’s character to save face for the mother. The plot has some suspicious similarities to It Happened on Fifth Avenue, but as a musical it’s jam-packed with songs. The portly old homeowner is a hoot as he squires Day’s character around, but once again she has no decent love match.
Love Me or Leave Me (1955) takes a big jump in technical quality with its formatting in CinemaScope and clearly improved cinematography. Also, Day finally has a seemingly worthy co-star in James Cagney, along with direction by Charles Vidor. The prestige flick is set in Chicago in the 1920s, with Day playing a showgirl who comes into the orbit of Cagney’s wealthy mob boss. He’s so infatuated with her that he steers her career from its humble beginnings to headlining Broadway shows and films. There’s a love triangle with her poor piano player who actually interests her, but Cagney’s petulant, possessive gangster bit gets old fast, dragging down what could have been a much better film.
Billy Rose’s Jumbo (1962) is also technically superior, this time in Panavision but with the most impressive color presentation of the four films. Here, Day is a member of a travelling circus along with Jimmy Durante and Martha Raye. She finally gets a handsome and age-appropriate romantic lead when Stephen Boyd joins the circus, but he’s too sullen and expressionless to match her sunny energy, dooming him to an also-ran suitor status. Jumbo the elephant is also great fun to watch in his amazing circus performances.
All of the films look fantastic on Blu-ray, with the colors in Jumbo making it the most visually appealing. Sound is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio. The lackluster male co-stars will make you long for her later pairings with dynamic performers Rock Hudson and James Garner, but Day is the star here and the films are filled with her delightful performances of standards sure to satisfy her fans.
