Tammy Tell Me True

Sandra Dee assumes the role of Tammy Tyree, uneducated backwoods girl living on a shanty boat on the Mississippi River, formerly played by Debbie Reynolds in 1957's "Tammy and the Bachelor". There's not much connection between the two films aside from our heroine: Tammy's beau has disappeared to agricultural college and her grandpa has been jailed for making corn liquor without a license. Producer Ross Hunter, he of the well-upholstered "women's films" popular in the 1950s, would seem an odd choice for a romantic comedy about a Bible-quotin' young gal without any schoolin'--or an impressive wardrobe--hankerin' to go to college, but at least the production is bright and cheery, like Tammy herself. Dee does well in the lead, while Hunter has her comfortably paired with John Gavin, her crush from "Imitation of Life" (he was too old for her there--and he's probably too old for her here--but they have an easy rapport). Tammy's plain-spoken, unpretentious nature garners her a friend in Beulah Bondi's wealthy dowager, Mrs. Call, which offers some pleasant asides and a satisfying wrap-up in court. Glossy, perky, but also exceptionally thin and sugary...likely to cause bad reactions in viewers not in the mood for a heavy helping of syrup. Dee played Tammy again in 1963's somewhat improved "Tammy and the Doctor." ** from ****

"Tammy Tell Me True" is the sequel to and second film of a series of four that began with "Tammy and the Bachelor" in 1957. The series is based on a 1948 novel by Cid Ricketts Sumner, "Tammy Out of Time." It is set in the bayou country of southern Louisiana and Mississippi around New Orleans.

Debbie Reynolds was the original Tammy Tyree, but four years later she could hardly pass as a teenager as she had been a 17-year-old in 1957, at the age of 25. So, her role was taken over by the now closer to age, Sandra Dee, at 19. And, she does a fairly good job in the role.

The story picks up right where the other one left off, except that Peter Brent has gone off to college. There's a little incongruity here because he wasn't a high school or college kid in the first one, but a young man in his mid-to-late 20s. At least that's how his character was portrayed, along with his fiancé. But, skipping over that, Tammy has been staying with the Brent's at their estate which is in a hilly part of Mississippi, when she decides she needs some formal schooling. Even without having attended school, she is knowledgeable enough in reading and writing to be accepted in a special student assistance program at Seminola College.

Another anomaly appears here, when Tammy gets her houseboat towed downriver to tie up across the swamps near the college campus. As nearly as one can tell, the college must be in or very close to New Orleans, so, it's a real stretch to imagine that there was a bayou place along the river above there from which Tammy moved downstream.

All of that aside, Sandra Dee does a fairly good job, continuing the bayou drawl and lingo. She falls for a speech teacher, Tom Freeman (played by John Gavin) and concludes that her love for Pete was probably just infatuation with the first real man of her age in her life. This story has a good new sub-plot with some good new characters, as Tammy becomes a companion of an elderly lady and winds up helping another couple get their marriage back on track.

The supporting cast has more well-known actors of the day in Beulah Bondi, Charles Drake, Cecil Kellaway, Virginian Grey and others. The is a good continuation of the story, with good performances, but not quite up to the fresh first story with its stars and great performances.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Annie Rook Call, paying the boat captain who takes her out to Tammy's houseboat, "Here you are. Remember, not one word to anyone." Captain Armand, "Compared to me, madame, a corpse talks too much."

Tammy, "I'd like the fastest stamp you got, please." Post office clerk (Alan DeWitt, uncredited), "Air mail - we haven't switched to rockets yet."

In this Tammy movie Sandra Dee takes over in the main role. This time we find Pete off to cow college and Tammy wants to get herself some learnin' as Grandpa is still in jail over the corn liquor. Tammy gets the Ellen B. houseboat towed downstream to be close to the Seminola College and then the calamities begin! This time Tammy falls for a speech professor and befriends an older woman with an overbearing niece. Some of the situations and phrases would never be uttered in today's age. But this is a snapshot in time. Definitely will make you laugh, just don't think too much about it. Worth a rental.

Back in 1957, Debbie Reynolds starred as the title character in "Tammy and the Bachelor", a sweet story about a backwoods girl who is a bit like a fish out of water when she comes in contact with citified folks.

This story picks up after the first. Tammy's boyfriend is off at college but inexplicably hasn't contacted her in some time. This is pretty inconsistent with the last film, as he appeared ready to marry her when it ended. Regardless, instead of just sitting back and waiting, Tammy decides she needs some education about the English language, as her backwoods talk sets her apart from everyone. Oddly, instead of going to grade school or high school, she decides on college and is accepted there as a special student.

One of the first persons she meets there is a young instructor. Tom Freeman (John Gavin) is quite taken by her and this handsome guy becomes more and more smitten by Tammy through the course of the film. It's obvious why, as although unschooled and unsophisticated, she is incredibly sweet and abounds with wisdom and charm. And, it's not only Tom who falls for her, but a very cranky old lady (Beulah Bondi) soon succumbs to her charms as well and they become friends AND roommates on Tammy's riverboat. What's next? See the film for yourself!

This is a film that is utterly charming and simply fun to watch. Is it deep entertainment? Nope...but it is quite enjoyable and is a nice sequel even if Debbie Reynolds didn't star in this one (probably because she was a bit old for this role). And, if you, too, like the film, there is another Tammy movie starring Sandra Dee, "Tammy and the Doctor".

The Tammy movies are never going to be confused for high art. They were meant to be light hearted fun that you could take your kids to.

The sequel continues the same corny story but the big difference is Sandra Dee replacing Debbie Reynolds. I love Sandra Dee and think she made the perfect Gidget bur she is not Debbie Reynolds. She deserves credit for taking the chance on following Reynolds because she knew there would be comparisons. Of course Sandra was head and shoulders better than Debbie Watson.

The story has Tammy going to college and just as in the original she is responsible for others rediscovering their love or hooking up with their true mate. Beulah Bondi has the role Mildred Natwick had in the original of the wise old woman. Bondi, like Natwick, was one of the great supporting actresses in Hollywood and lends a touch of class to the movie.

As for the rest of the cast, John Gavin is no Leslie Nielsen. Nielsen really was a good straight actor and Gavin is as stiff as a tree in comparison. The rest of the supporting cast is similarly a notch below the original.

If you like Sandra Dee, check out Gidget. It's just as much fun but with a better story and cast.