Tammy Tell Me True

The first time I saw this movie, I was a very young girl. I loved it then and I own it now. I fell in love with the other two movies as well (Tammy and the Bachelor and Tammy and the Doctor). Sandra Dee slips easily into Debbie Reynolds shoes in the second installment, Tammy Tell me True, and adapts most convincingly into her bayou lass role. A truly entertaining classic that transports one into a more innocent and simpler time and reeks of nostalgia for anyone in the 50+ age group. Sandra Dee is disarming in her mix of innocence and simple wisdom, putting to shame the very people who initially mock her. Sandra shows a true range of acting skills that she proves in another vehicle of the time period: A Summer Place. For pure, fun, entertaining fare, this is it.

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".

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 ****

It's been four years since the first Tammy film and Sandra Dee has taken over the title role from Debbie Reynolds. Dee is charming and disarming with her country ways and wisdom. Even among the college educated at the college she's decided to take some courses at.

Actually Tammy has the first lesson down very well, the realization that there is a lot out there that one does not know. She heads off to college and first meets speech instructor John Gavin. She gets a job as a companion to the elderly Beulah Bondi whose life has been taken over by her niece Julia Meade who is eyeing that big inheritance.

The plot here is taken quite a bit from Pollyanna, both the silent version with Mary Pickford and the famous Disney one with Hayley Mills. Dee just spreads a lot of sunshine into everyone's life and makes believers of all except possibly Meade who loses a bundle.

Best scenes in the film are with Dee and Bondi whom she invites to go live on her river flatboat for a bit. Bondi did that in her youth and actually enjoys the time away from that mansion that feels like a prison to her. She even gets a little senior citizen romance going with Cecil Kellaway.

If you were a fan of the first Tammy film you will not be disappointed with what Sandra Dee did with this film.

I just watched this movie for the first time and I was completely hooked! The main actress has so much spunk and sincerity. I discovered that her real name is Sandra Dee. I had heard of Sandra Dee, but I had never seen her before. I think she was a fabulous actress! Also, this movie has a timeless story which could apply in any era. I loved the movie and Sandra Dee was amazing. I think Sandra Dee could have acted in any era. I was born in 1975 and it is difficult for me to relate to the acting style of older movies before my time. This one was certainly an exception. I was sad to find out that she died this year at 60 years old. I intend to see more of her films.