My Dream Is Yours

Doris Day in her second film role. and the awesome, versatile Jack Carson...rock hudson must have been busy that week. also Adolphe Menjou, S.Z Sakall, and even Franklin Pangborn; we see him in color, for once! he was the comedic sidekick for SO many black and white films, even with W.C. Fields. and the incredible, edible Eve Arden. check out Carson and Arden in Mildred Pierce, probably their best film ever. When the bigshot star won't renew his contract, they hire Martha, a single mom (Day). and then things get complicated. she's good, talented, and successful, but resents the time away from her kid. keep an eye out for Sandra Gould as the girl in the recording room... she was Gladys Kravitz in Bewitched. some fun scenery of hollywood and LA. its mostly fun, but towards the end, all of a sudden, we're all in a warner brothers cartoon; DD and Carson are dressed up in bunny silly outfits, and do a dance with bugs bunny. its pretty out there. and Gene Kelly would do it again in Anchors A-weigh, two years later. keep the other eye out for chester clute... he starts talking to Martha in the club, right near the end. but she's not listening. similar story to a star is born, where the younger singer's career is rising, while the older man's is waning.

After the success of her first starring role in ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS ('48), Doris is re-united with Jack Carson for another pleasant musical trifle with Doris as the girl singer Carson finds in order to replace conceited band singer (Lee Bowman) who refuses to sign another contract. Along for a few laughs are Eve Arden (more adept than usual with her punch lines) and S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, fracturing English and being generally amusing as a radio producer.

The only thing that lifts this out of the ordinary is the cartoon sequence using "Hungarian Rhapsody" as the music for the "Freddy Get Ready" sequence combining live action with the animated Bugs Bunny.

Other than that, if you like Doris Day, she has another tailor-made role as a band singer who gets to sing pleasant ballads like the title tune and adds some fresh appeal to the role of a girl Carson wants to turn into a new singing sensation.

A better than average little musical thanks to the performances of Day, Carson and Lee Bowman--as well as the always enjoyable Eve Arden.

The movie tells the story of Doug Blake (Jack Carson) as he searches for a new radio singer star in order to replace his conceited former friend Gary Mitchell (Lee Bowman), who has just refused to sign another contract. In New York Doug is spellbound by the singing talents of young war widow Martha Gibson (Doris Day). He brings her and her little son Freddy to Hollywood, where Martha and her manager Doug have to go through all the difficulties that an unknown singer has to face on the way to success. Gradually, Doug also falls in love with Martha, who however is more attracted by Gary Mitchell. We can't wait to see, of course, who will finally get the girl ...

The familiar story line (with a musician rising from being a nobody to being a well-known and recognized star) is often delivered in a boring and either over-sentimental or spiritless way by other movies of this kind. In contrast, "My Dream is Yours" combines an original, heart-felt story with a good script and excellent direction. And there is Doris Day at the age of twenty-five! She may already appear quite charming in some of the better-known comedies that were produced ten or fifteen years later. Here her performance is so delightful to look at and her singing so refreshing to listen to that I was overwhelmed. If you like Doris Day, you simply have to see this movie.

Warner Brothers made two very, very similar films--one after the other and with the same two stars. In fact, they are so similar, I could easily see viewers confusing the two pictures. "My Dream is Yours" and "It's a Great Feeling" BOTH star Doris Day as a young woman hoping to be discovered and a fast-talking guy, Jack Carson, promises to make her a star. However, "It's a Great Feeling" is more of a comedy and "My Dream is Your Dream" is a bit more of a romance. Both are about equally good in my opinion.

Martha Gibson (Day) has a lovely voice--and Doug (Carson) is determined to try to get her on the radio. However, again and again, Doug is either unable to get her an audition or folks insist she must be a 'name' before they'll put her on the air. Eventually, Doug is able to get Martha a break--when Gary (Lee Bowman) shows up drunk for his show--and after that, her career takes off. But, one problem persists--she's a single mom and Doug insists on finding her the perfect man.

Towards the end of the film, there is an odd animated sequence where Bugs Bunny, Tweety and a bunch of birds appear. Even odder are Day's and Carson's outfits and choreography for this sequence. Unfortunately, the sequence falls flat, as there were much better live-action/cartoon hybrids from the period--such as with Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry Mouse or Esther Williams swimming with Tom and Jerry. This one in "My Dream is Yours" just seems pretty pointless and unnecessary. Fortunately, although this slows down the film and isn't needed, the acting and singing are good throughout the film and it is enjoyable and worth seeing. It won't change your life, but it's nice.

If you've ever seen the famous clip of Doris Day, Jack Carson, and Bugs Bunny singing together, you've seen part of My Dream is Yours. It's the cutest scene in the movie, a lyrical version of "Hungarian Rhapsody", that reminds audiences of Gene Kelly's adorable dance with Jerry the Mouse in Anchors Aweigh. If you can't find a copy of My Dream is Yours, you should at least watch that song on YouTube. It's very cute.

Lee Bowman plays a big radio star, but his ego gets in the way of renewing his contract, so Jack Carson makes it his mission to find a new star to replace Lee. He finds the unknown, beautiful Doris Day, but she has a son in tow and the radio station doesn't like the idea of signing her on. As Jack tries to help her, they fall in love.

Jack and Doris are always adorable together, and whenever I watch one of their films together, I pretend that they got married in real life and lived happily ever after, even though that's not what really happened. They just have a magical chemistry together that puts you in a good mood and makes you believe in true love. So, for an adorable couple, some memorable songs, and an all-around cute story, rent My Dream is Yours. It's great to watch when you're feeling blue; it's guaranteed to cheer you up!