TCM Spotlight: Doris Day Collection - DVD Review

By June L. Apr 28, 2009, 15:38 GMT

The "TCM Spotlight: Doris Day Collection" includes "It\'s A Great Feeling", "Tea For Two", "April In Paris", "The Tunnel Of Love" and "Starlift". "It\'s A Great Feeling" - Doris plays a waitress trying to break into pictures in a merry moviemaking spoof with swell songs, Hollywood and Warner Bros. backlot locales and some surprising star cameos (Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Edward G. Robinson and more). "Tea For Two" - Day and ...more

TCM Spotlight: Doris Day Collection is a group of films from the pre Rock Hudson, Tony Randall, Cary Grant romantic romps.  This collection showcases the many talents of Doris Day, as actress, singer, comedienne, dancer, a versatility that her later films didn’t always display.  People are fond of the romantic romps, but now with this collection, fans are able to see the many facets of Doris Day.

The first film in the collection is It’s A Great Feeling.  Doris Day plays a young waitress from Gherkies Corner Wisconsin who has come to Los Angeles to break into show business.  She is befriended by Jack Carson and Dennis Morgan who are trying to get backing for a new film, and she joins in the capers they pull to succeed in the project. 

Part of the fun of this crazy story is the unexpected guest appearances by the famous faces of Warner Brothers Studio.  Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Ronald Regan and many others are seen in restaurants, on the backlot of the studio, or equally mundane places doing ordinary things. 

It’s A Great Feeling is teamed with some nice bonus features including a sports review short, Spills and Chills, a studio blooper reel Breakdowns of 1949, a classic cartoon Bear Feat, and the original film trailer.  The film is presented in color with a running time of 85 minutes and is in theatrical standard version format. 

In the second film, Tea for Two, Doris plays an heiress whose fortune is at great risk due to the investment decisions of her uncle and the crash of the stock market.  The film is set in the year 1929 and the story inspired by the play No No Nannette.  Gordon MacRae stars along with Ms. Day, so there are wonderful musical numbers, Tea for Two, I only Have Eyes for You and I Want to Be Happy.

Bonus features included with Tea For Two are a Joe McDoakes comedy short, “So You Want to Hold Your Husband,” a classic cartoon Tee for Two, 2 No, No, Nanette-related audio features a radio show with Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, and the lost 1930 movie’s overture from Vitaphone discs.  The film is presented in standard theater format in color with a playing time of 98 minutes, and also has a French audio track.

Starlift is the third film in this collection, and is quite a catalogue of performers.  Doris Day stars with Gordon MacRae, James Cagney, Gary Cooper, Virginia Mayo, Jane Wyman, Randolph Scott, Phil Harris and many other stars of the day in a story about entertaining the Air Force guys in uniform.  It is hard to tell who is having the most fun, the performers or the “starstruck flyboys.”

Starlift is teamed with bonus features including a Sports Parade short Desert Killer, a Joe McDoakes comedy short “So You Want to Be A Bachelor” a classic cartoon Sleepy Time Possum and the original theatrical trailer.  The feature is in black and white with a running time of 103 minutes (to get in all those great performances!) and is shown in standard theatrical version format.

April in Paris is a Cinderella story, when Ethel Barrymore’s invitation to represent the USA in theater arts at the Paris Festival is mistakenly sent to another Ethel (Doris Day) who has been in the chorus line all her career.  Ray Bolger co-stars as the government official whose mistake might just be the best thing that ever happened.

April in Paris is presented in standard theatrical format in color with a playing time of 101 minutes.  Bonus Features include a Joe McDoakes comedy short “So You Want to Wear the Pants”, a classic cartoon Terrier Stricken, and the original theatrical trailer.

Tunnel of Love is more like the Doris Day movies that are familiar.  Doris and hubby Richard Widmark are trying to adopt a baby.  Neighbors Gig Young and wife have no problem in that area, with several children already and another one on the way. 

Directed by Gene Kelly, this comedy has the wit and charm of actors who deliver sparkling performance based on clever and subtly sexy dialogue.  Based on a novel by Peter De Vries, later turned into a stage play, Tunnel of Love is great fun to watch.

Special features included with Tunnel of Love are a classic cartoon Tot Watchers, and the original theatrical trailer.  Presented in widescreen format, and in black and white the film has a running time of 98 minutes.

This is an excellent collection of films, with specials that make a “movie night” possible with each feature.  Pop some popcorn, open some sodas and enjoy these treasures from a well respected and beloved actress.

TCM Spotlight: Doris Day Collection is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.