Doll Face

I started to read a fellow critique of this and stopped, but I too am writing this to let you Miranda fans that this isn't the movie for you, if you want Carmen, Carmen, and more Carmen! She sings one song I think in this movie based on a book written by Louise Hovick AKA Gypsy Rose Lee. You see, there's this stripper, played by Vivian Blaine, who can't get a job out of the business to go legitimate, because, in auditions when they find out who she is, they don't want an ex-stripper in their stage play/musical. So, she and her boyfriend/manager Dennis O'Keefe decide she needs to write a book to get respect and hire a ghost writer to help her.

Perry Como is on hand with his smooth voice, but while the movie has its moments, there aren't enough good songs or Miranda to get really excited about or to really recommend it.

To call "Doll Face" dated would be an understatement. First of all, it deals with burlesque. Secondly, Dennis O'Keefe recommends hitting women to keep them in line. And third, and most egregious, lyrics of one song celebrate the bombing the Japanese.

Vivian Blaine, called Doll Face, real name Mary Elizabeth, plays a queen of burlesque who auditions for a Broadway musical, only to be recognized by one of her patrons.

Though she's a lovely singer, she's rejected for the show because the producers don't feel she has enough class for their production. Nowadays they would put a chimpanzee in a Broadway musical if they thought he could make money, so there's another indication that this is an old movie.

Her boyfriend (O'Keefe) decides she should ghost-write her autobiography and, after using a lot of high-faluting language, she'll be classy enough for Broadway. The man he hires, however (Michael Dunne), becomes interested in Doll Face, and not just as a client. Problems ensue.

For me, this film was interesting because of the presence of a very young, extremely adorable Perry Como. I grew up with him, every Saturday night, and it was a delight to see him and hear him sing. He had a beautiful voice, singing "Red, Hot, and Beautiful," "Here Comes Heaven Again," and "Dig You Later."

Martha Stewart, a vivacious performer, did an energetic job as someone wanting to take Doll Face's place. And Carmen Miranda was...Carmen Miranda, singing "Chico Chico."

There were lots of numbers in this film and not much story. The music was by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson and was pleasant.

It was just hard to get past extolling domestic abuse and bombing innocent people. Don't get me wrong. The Japanese government was very aggressive against the U. S., and what they did in China was atrocious.

However, that was their government, and not its citizens, who were told Japan was winning. The bombing remains controversial. And it doesn't belong in a song.

A beautiful songstress is rejected out of an audition because she is not considered to be 'cultured' enough to make it on the Broadway stage. Doll Face Carroll is the woman rejected and Mike Hannegan, the man that is in love with her, wants to show the theater world she is worth the attention. For that, Mike contacts a ghost writer that will prepare the right resume for the gorgeous woman he loves. Nothing prepared Hannegan for the results. A grateful Doll Face will make everything possible to give him the recognition he deserves.

This 20th Century Fox feature of 1946 gives us a dose of nostalgia. Based on a Gypsy Rose Lee play, and directed by Lewis Seiler, the film is mildly amusing. The musical numbers are well executed, especially the hit song, "Somebody's Walking in my Dream". All the songs were composed by the team of Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh.

Vivian Blaine appears in the title role. Dennis O'Keefe is Mike Hannegan. In addition we see the irrepressible Carmen Miranda doing "Chico Chico" with a big production number. Perry Como and Martha Stewart are in hand to do some songs. Stephen Dunne has a good opportunity.

"Doll Face" although not a great film, has some enjoyable songs and is entertaining.

An unusual cast perks up this '40s Fox musical, replete with the cliches of its period but providing quite pleasant old-fashioned entertainment, with Dennis O'Keefe's patented brash and domineering star turn (forgive the script's overt sexism). I especially enjoyed seeing the young Perry Como singing and romancing Martha Stewart (no, not that Martha Stewart), having watched his tv series for so many years in my youth.

The cleansed version of burley-que portrayed is quaint and actually not so far removed from the softcore peep show loops and burlesque movies shown as so-called Adult entertainment in the '50s -it was fun to watch. And especially to see how times have changed now that this is shown On Demand for free courtesy of the new owners of the Fox library -Disney!

Gypsy Rose Lee's literary career certainly got a lot of good imitations going. Though not as good as Pal Joey, Doll Face is a pleasant and snappy musical about a stripper who gets involved with her manager and a ghost writer. And who wrote the play on which this is based on, none other than Gypsy Rose Lee. She certainly exploited her literary talent and persona to the max.

Vivian Blaine plays our Queen of Burlesque who wants very much to break into Broadway and the legitimate theater. Her manager Dennis O'Keefe encourages her, but it's no go, legitimate producer are afraid of her notorious burlesque reputation. So O'Keefe gets the brilliant idea to have her write a book on her life, but we'll alter it a bit and he gets an author who has a good literary reputation but who hasn't cracked the popular market yet. That would be Stephen Dunne. I think you see the basis for the romantic triangle.

Though the three leads do fine the plot is an excuse to display some musical numbers that songwriters Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson wrote for this film. Carmen Miranda is here and just those two words tell you exactly what to expect. And Perry Como is our lead singer and he's got a secondary romance going with Martha Stewart.

Which brings me to the big hit of the show A Hubba Hubba Hubba (Dig You Later). It was Como's first million selling record and even given World War II mores I'm a bit shocked. Part of the lyrics involve the celebration of bombing of the Japanese and mind you this film came out on 12/31/45 three months after V-J day. That would be four months after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Though those atomic bombings are not mentioned we have such lyrics about a B-29 pilot dropping another load for luck and then turning away saying Yuk Yuk. There's still controversy about whether the atomic bomb use was right or not, but there sure ain't reason for any Yuk Yuks.

I'd probably rate Doll Face higher because over all it's a pretty good musical. But that Yuk Yuk has not worn well over time. In fact it's downright ghastly.