Well, Im not a star even though they thought I looked like one. Nov 7, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Sylvia Potter. Radiant Doris Day sings beloved Rodgers and Hart tunes and does her own horseback tricks in a razzle-dazzle musical based on Bill Rose's stage spectacular and featuring circus sequences directed by Busby Berkley. Portrait of Doris Day circa 1965 | Photo: Getty Images. "My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in The World" are both gorgeous. Meanwhile Lola, a tumbler, wants to get in on the act. Barbara Stanwyck, whose talent, blue eyes and pulsating voice made her a dominant presence during 60 years of stage, screen and television appearances, died Saturday of heart failure. Stephen Boyd was born William (Billy) Millar 4 July 1931 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Stephen Boyd is magnificent! They lived in the Anacostia area with their father, who was a machinist, and their mother, an elevator operator. Since this was Boyd's next film after BEN HUR do you realize that an advertisement could actually say "Stephen Boyd star of BEN HUR now in his biggest film: JUMBO" and it would actually make sense that JUMBO was indeed bigger than BEN HUR.!! There is some very unkind animal scenes (especially the muzzled bear dressed in a bonnet which looks like Hannibal Lecter in a fur coat and Grandma Duck hat) which only emphasizes how public acceptance of entertainment has changed. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Indeed the song, "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" is sublime, but would you get the feeling it would befit a better movie. The story revolves around a circus owner (Jimmy Durante star of the 1935 Broadway original) with only two real attractions: his daughter (day) and popular pachyderm Jumbo. In 1962, Doris Day was the top box office star (male or female) in the world. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. When Ive had the choice Ive always opted for the character role. She was 74. The star married one more time, in 1976, to maitre d Barry Comden. Doris has a great scene in a pool hall during a crap game when she tries to win back the circus payroll her father has gambled away. by John M 12 May 2008, 17:21, Unread post Henceforth all of Doris's films would be screen comedies in which she may have sung a ditty or two in the film or over the title credits. Doris Day's final musical role was in Jumbo which finally came to the screen almost 30 years after it played at the legendary Hippodrome Theater for 233 performances in 1935. She did all her own stunts, too, which was quite a feat in what is an enormously athletic role. The wonderful songs of Richard Rodgers and Hart ! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Martha Raye, and Great Songs. One of America's most loved actresses was born Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Alma Sophia (Welz), a housewife, and William Joseph Kappelhoff, a music teacher and choir master. I saw Bob protecting Doris first hand . This article is about the film. 'She was the world's sweetheart': Doris Day mourned by celebrities following her death Her long-lasting friendship with a closeted Rock Hudson, particularly in the '80s while he grappled. Jumbo is self-explanatory. Doris Day, US actress and singer, smiling and wearing a yellow high-neck jacket, with a brooch on the right shoulder, in a studio portrait, circa 1965. I didn't think I'd like it.. but much to my surprise.. While her relationship with Baylor and Stone might be under probability, sources prove that she was indeed smitten with Willsthese two had a connection deeper than being a fan of each other's crafts. Three ring pandemonium breaks out when a handsome rival (Stephen Boyd) infiltrates the circus, and father, daughter and wise cracking fiancee (Martha Raye) are suddenly at risk of losing the entire circus. Im a character actor. For all its merits, "Jumbo" was not a perfect entity as it was released upon the last rung of film musicals, and by the 60's only adaptations of Broadway shows like "West Side Story" and "The Sound Of Music" were being released. In one sequence . She is terrific as always, he's a damn good singer, and of course with Jimmy Durante, Martha Raye and an elephant how could it fail? In the 1950s and 60s,Doris Daywas Americas box-office sweetheart. I saw this as a teenager, and fell in love. I loved all the songs they were great and the only one i really wasnt crazy about was My Romance but it was staged beautifully. Her first time in love was at age 16. An adaptation of the stage musical Jumbo produced by Billy Rose, the film was directed by Charles Walters, written by Sidney Sheldon, and featured Busby Berkeley 's choreography. by webmaster 13 May 2008, 08:25, Unread post She said in her biography that. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Wills was not the only black man speculated to have dated Day. Today. Shortly after, in 2014, Day made her last public appearance at an event for her foundation. Her reputation hasn't survived into our modern era as other film icons of the time, including Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Shirley MacLaine and Elizabeth Taylor. She seemingly found a semi-permanent home at Universal, but returned to MGM again in 1962 to film thebig, splashy circus musical, Billy Roses Jumbo. We both were enthralled by Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Martha Raye, and even Stephen Boyd who didn't actually sing his songs but whoever dubbed his voice during his numbers certainly sounded like he did! While the cast is bright and likable, and the movie boasts some pretty good production values and circus acts, these things don't raise the movie much from the level of being instantly forgettable. She loved playing the tomboy, Calamity Jane. Day never lived a happily-ever-after life with her prince charming not for long. Billy Rose's Jumbo is a 1962 American musical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye. Kitty, I 'think' you refer to the Golden Globe nomination - and it was Roz Russell in 'Gypsy'. Doris Day and Rock Hudson in "Pillow Talk." It's no wonder that the movie was a box office failure, and was one of the final nails in the coffin of the Hollywood musical until "The Sound Of Music" temporarily revived the genre a few years later. by BabeWilliams 15 May 2008, 08:26, Unread post Bashara has said the star specified in her will that she wanted no funeral service or grave marker, and that she wanted her fortune to go to the Doris Day Animal Foundation. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There, she explained that she was exercising every day, adding, I just feel young. (She previously had not made a public appearance since the 1989 Golden Globes). One day we were talking about her husbands, and she said, Boy, I know how to pick em, dont I? Johnson recalled. Days third husband, producer Marty Melcher, infamously squandered her $20 million fortune a betrayal she discovered only when he died in 1969. Heonce said: They tried to make me a star, a leading man. The book revealed . . Ms. Day, already a top box office star due to her romantic comedies with Rock Hudson, is gorgeous in the film and her voice can only be described as velvety. In the 1950s and '60s, Doris Day was America's box-office sweetheart. Jane owns a beautiful ranch in New Mexico, where she horse rides, explores on her quad bike and goes fly fishing. The lovers were also married at the time. I absolutely loved it! The Rodgers & Hart tunes included the now-iconic "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" first sung by the person who dubbed Boyd to Ms. Day before Durante sung his verison to Ms. Raye of which the latter version was the most touching even with the kind of voice Durante had! JUMBO is a very curious musical film to me for several reasons. His great passion for the art of acting often times got him into trouble with the executives in the movie industry. The cast includes Arthur Godfrey, Rod Taylor, Paul Lynde, Dom Deluis, and Dick Martin (and a cameo of Robert Vaughn as Nepoleon Solo). The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: Billy Rose's Jumbo was released to DVD in a Region 1 DVD by Warner Bros. on April 26, 2005, and also as part of Volumes 1 and 2 of The Doris Day Collection on April 10, 2007. Very beautiful. I dont blame her.. Tino joins the circus, and manages to covince Mike to teach him the 'triple'. Hes always been very careful to follow Doris wishes to support the foundation, said Walters. I LOVED it!!! ", was a show-stopper in 1935. As for the songs, while they are not awful, they are not very memorable (though the song "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" has its moments.) Rating:- *** (out of *****). "Doris did not believe that . Doris Day, as Durante's daughter, is a bareback rider in a tutu who is obviously not doing her own stunts. or redistributed. She was 74. Did Doris Day do her own stunts in Calamity Jane? She did all her own stunts, too, which was quite a feat in what is an enormously athletic role. Perhaps we would have to look to Elvis or Robert Goulet for an ideal male singer on a par with Doris at this time. Doris's Jane is played very broad, in a Deadwood plainly located in the gentle, folded hills of California, in a town where Hickok is a bit of a dandy with a singing voice just like that of Howard . Doris Day and Terry Melcher in the 1970s | Photo: Getty Images. I have tried to fight the system and do things my way, but I havent been able to. She admired trombonist Al Jorden who was more than five years her senior. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. William H. Daniels photographs and it's a Panavision/Metrocolor production out of MGM. After a rainstorm in which Kitty, an aerialist, is almost killed, but rescued by Sam, she sings the lovely ballad, My Romance to him. . It's also the ideal word to describe this big-time big-top extravaganza, bursting with laughter and love, song and dance, circus stunts and star power. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Nov 16, 2021 05:20 P.M. Doris Day, who holds the title of the number one female box-office star, was involved in a secret interracial affair with baseball legend Maury Wills when they were both married; before her death, she denied the allegations. The title character, a prancing pachyderm, does not seem interested at all in its performance. Nice syrupy stuff if you're in the mood with some laughs along the way. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Doris Day said that this was one of her favorite musicals. Populated with many real circus headliners, its musical portions are quite stylish and joyful- especially "Circus On Parade," the equestrian-flavored "This Can't Be Love," and the gorgeous opening number "Over and Over Again-" which shows off 2nd unit man Busby Berkely's visual flourish. Warner Brothers was not far behind, but clearly MGM was the studio that was known for having the highest production values and the greatest musical stars, from Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney and Gene Kelly to Fred Astaire, Howard Keel, Ann Miller and Jane Powell. Did Doris Day do her own stunts in Jumbo? It seemed I was not the only one who had been cut out.. by BabeWilliams 12 May 2008, 21:07, Unread post Other comments will rave about Doris Day and moan about Stephen Boyd and they are all very right. American actress Doris Day in a fur-trimmed coat, circa 1963. Days longtime pal Carol Johnson recounted a conversation with the actress about her failed romances. As she and Sam turn and start to walk, she continues to sing as she rests her head on his shoulder. Stephen Boyds singing voice was dubbed by Los Angeles studio singer, Jimmy Joyce. His daughter, Kitty Wonder, hires a newcomer, Sam Rawlins, as both a performer and tent hand. This is such a joyous, rambunctious movie that you cannot help but love everything about it. They receive an unexpected visit from Sam who miraculously produces Jumbo and together, the four performers, with renewed confidence and ambition, roll up their sleeves and embark on a new journey. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The owner, Anthony 'Pop' Wonder (Jimmy Durante), works as a clown but is a gambler addicted in dice games and usually loses the box office gambling. I finally bought a DVD of Jumbo the other day so I can now erase my old tapes at long last. Doris Day did not have much luck with men. . For two horses, this amount would be doubled; 214 small squarebales or 12 roundbales. He's also engaged to the sad -eyed spinster and fortune teller, Lulu (Martha Raye). Did Doris Day actually ride horses in Calamity Jane? stand-in: Stephen Boyd (uncredited) Jean Harris. Director Norman Jewison, who worked with Day on 1963's The Thrill of It All and Send Me No Flowers, also talked about Doris' surprising view on her obvious good looks. He has been deceiving the clairvoyant Lulu (Martha Raye) for many years promising to marry her. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The title character, a prancing pachyderm, does not seem interested at all in its performance. Owner, John Noble, plants his son, Sam, among the Wonder clan to obtain inside information in order to hasten the proposed coup. This film was a bit of a disaster at the box officeand rightfully so. In 1885, Jumbo the elephant billed as the biggest elephant in the world was hit by a freight train and died on the tracks in St. Thomas, Ontario. Doris Day may have been nearing 40, but could have passed for 25 and was perfect for the lead role. She barely used the rest of the house. She had a lot of tragedy.. Most of the other songs aren't as memorable, but they are still above average. Did Doris Day do her own stunts in Jumbo? Her portrayal just didn't ring true. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. One of my favorites - completely wonderful! What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? She spent money acquiring all sorts of gifts for the man. Her fourth husband was Barry Comden. | Photo: Getty Images. However, their relationship was plagued with physical violence, and Jorden was a philanderer. The film ends with a spectacular production number, Sawdust, Spangles and Dreams in which the foursome don clown outfits and perform some traditional slap-happy routines. The finale, with the cast dressed for a double wedding and dancing to "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" is truly lovely. Sam splits from his father and rejoins the Wonders, bringing with him an old friend of theirs, Jumbo. But I dont want her to be remembered for these tragedies.. Years later, after playing Ruth Etting in MGMs spectacular Love Me or Leave Me in 1955, Doris returned to the lot to make Julie in 1956, The Tunnel of Love in 1958 and Please Dont Eat the Daisies in 1960. She [originally] thought being married was the way to live, but said it was so confined.. Doris Day was one of the most popular and yet one of the most underrated movie stars of her generation. P.T. Thankfully, with the help of her son, and her unwavering spirit, she was able to bounce back. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. by jmichael 12 May 2008, 18:46, Unread post Legal Statement. The piqued direction is by Charles Walters, who has his work bolstered a bit by Busby Berkeley, overseeing the circus sequences. But apart from her career, she had an intriguing reality plagued by heartbreaks and making headlines in a few controversial news stories, like being involved with another famous figure during her third marriage. 12 May 2008, 08:25, Unread post she said in her biography that and start to walk she... Clairvoyant Lulu ( Martha Raye ) for many years promising to marry.! Maitre d Barry Comden in its performance daughter, kitty Wonder, hires a newcomer Sam. Tapes at long last, 18:46, Unread post she said, Boy I... 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