Guest Author Tom Santopietro has written an admiring book about screen legend Doris Day as an actress and a singer. He's a great fan of the all-time female box-office champ. Here he picks his top ten Doris Day films, and tells us why he loves them. To see more about his book, read Classic Film Guide Laurie Boeder's Q&A with the author.
1. 'Love Me or Leave Me' - MGM 1955
MGM
The story of Ziegfeld Follies star Ruth Etting (Doris Day) and her gangster husband Marty "The Gimp" Snyder (James Cagney). A searing adult musical drama, featuring a performance by Day that is the best performance by an actress in the history of Hollywood musicals. Ever.
2. 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' - Paramount 1956
Paramount Pictures
Jo and Ben McKenna (Day and James Stewart), on vacation in Morocco, become embroiled in an assassination attempt after their young son is kidnapped. Extraordinary performance by Day, especially in the climactic dialogue free final twelve minutes.
3. 'The Thrill of It All' - Universal 1963
Universal
Hilarious comedy which finds housewife Day turning into a superstar television pitchwoman. Great script by Carl Reiner and Larry Gelbart; Day's disastrous live television commercial is the comic peak of her career.
4. 'I'll See You in My Dreams' - Warner Brothers - 1952
Warner Brothers
The undiscovered gem of Day's Warner Brothers output. Terrific songs, captivating story of lyricist Gus Kahn (Danny Thomas) and wife Grace (Day), beautifully directed by Michael Curtiz.
5. 'The Pajama Game' - Warner Brothers 1957
Warner Brothers
Doris as Broadway Baby in this exuberant fun filled musical film based upon the Broadway smash. Directed by Stanley Donen and George Abbott, choreographed by Bob Fosse- check out Doris' terrific rendition of "I'm Not At All In Love."
6. 'Pillow Talk' - Universal 1959
Universal
The first of the Day/Rock Hudson films, with an Academy Award winning screenplay featuring Day and Hudson as warring neighbors. Note: far from being the perennial virgin, Day is here essaying one of her quintessential Manhattan career women
7. 'Teacher's Pet' - Paramount 1958
Paramount Pictures
Crackling screenplay by Fay and Michael Kanin highlights battle between college journalism professor Erica Stone (Day) and hard boiled city editor James Gannon (Clark Gable). Holds up beautifully, terrific pairing of Gable and Day and worth a rental for their first kiss alone.
8. 'Please Don't Eat the Daisies' - MGM 1960
MGM
Day and David Niven as drama critic Larry MacKay and wife Kate, moving to the country along with their four rambunctious sons and one large dog. A terrific comic performance from Doris-watch her as she gets ready for a night at the theatre under the too watchful eyes of her sons- as funny, realistic and enjoyable a depiction of harried motherhood as exists on film.
9. 'Jumbo' - MGM 1962
MGM
Beautiful,elegiac musical featuring Day as Kitty Wonder, daughter of circus owner Pop Wonder (the great Jimmy Durante). Classic Rodgers and Hart tunes, Doris' last film musical and a lovely, understated performance.
10. 'With Six You Get Eggroll' - Warner-Pathe 1968
Warner-Pathe
Doris' last feature film, the genuinely comic tale of two families blending uneasily when Abby McClure (Day) weds Brian Keith (Jake Iverson). Comic highlight: the two families "play" at bumper cars.