Sonhos de Estrela

If I remembered the quotes exactly, I'd add them to the quotes section... the Gayety owner advices one of his male friends who is having trouble with his girlfriend, that women, like carpets, need to be beaten regularly! The man later says to his girlfriend, "yeah, I'll give you your rights, and a couple lefts too!" Predictably, she loves this and he is grateful for the advice he was given. Yikes!

But anyway, it was an OK movie overall. A "burley-Q" performer tries getting a straight job with the support of her manager/boyfriend, but she's not "cultured" enough. After getting a free book with his purchase of chocolates, he hits on the idea of hiring a ghostwriter to do her "autobiography," which will make her seem cultured. He then hits on the idea of using the pre-publicity to stage his own musical starring her at his own theater, rather than give the pleasure to the man that rejected her. The ghostwriter grows sweet on her, and there's a bit of an idiot plot involving a misunderstanding when they get stranded in a boat en route to the publisher.

Carmen Miranda is underutilized, apparently she had a number cut. Hopefully it can be restored someday.

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.

Some good talent here, but all have done better and some are not used particularly well. 'Doll Face' is watchable, mostly for curiosity or for any musical fan who wants to continue to find more to watch, but while there are good things here one couldn't help feeling that it could have been better than it turned out.

'Doll Face' is nicely photographed, and has very professional-looking set and costume design. Would have preferred for it to be in colour, and numbers like "Chico Chico" cried out for it, but depending on budget and such not every musical or film can have the benefit of being in colour. It would have been more preferable but it made do, the film still looks nice enough (if not giving the wow factor) without it.

The songs are lovely and pass the memorability test, the highlights being "Walking in My Dreams", "Dig You Later" and "Here Comes Heaven Again" and all three are sung beautifully and performed with spirit. In terms of choreography, most not much to write home about but Miranda's big production number captivates in its energy. The cast are a very mixed bag, but faring best are a hilariously sparkling Carmen Miranda and vivacious Martha Stewart. Dennis O'Keefe also tries hard and does have moments of amusement.

On the other hand, Vivian Blaine is a polished but passionless lead, and while Perry Como looks handsomely and sings exquisitely (then again when did he ever not?) he's pretty bland and doesn't look very at ease. That is true with much of the male cast actually, the roles are underwritten and people may also object to the way they're written too, sexism has been brought up in a couple of comments and understandably (the male characters' attitudes towards women doesn't really hold up now and be a sour note for a fair few).

"Chico Chico" aside, the choreography is very routine aside, most of the numbers being so indifferently choreographed and directed, as well as confined, that the one with the most energy and the most cinematic-feeling feels over-produced in comparison. The story makes thin ice seem thick and feels plodding and dreary in the non-musical scenes, and was expecting more energy and wit from the script here which felt bland.

Overall, worthwhile enough curiosity but unremarkable and had a lot of room to be much better. 5/10 Bethany Cox

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.

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.