The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special

If you are not already in an assisted living facility you will be by the time this show is over. To begin with you've got music that is strictly of the doctor's waiting room variety. Then there is the sanitized 60s flower motif that screams "cheery hospital corridor". And finally you've got Mr. Retirement Home himself (i.e. Perry Como) as Doris' guest. So park the walker, balance the dinner tray, adjust the ol hearing device, take a celebratory swig of Manichevitz or apricot cordial and enjoy.

I recalled seeing Doris' first special back in 1971, and really enjoying it, but I was totally amazed to see it again now on a beautifully produced DVD (great sound, great early 70s visuals faithfully reproduced).

The ever-relaxed Perry Como was an appropriate guest star, and Rock Hudson provides a very funny cameo. But it is Doris's show, and this program uses all her talents brilliantly. Most people don't remember that she was not only the biggest female star in Hollywood throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, but one of the most popular recording stars of her generation.

We get to hear many of her signature tunes ("It's Magic," "Sentimental Journey," "Everybody Loves a Lover" et al) sung as only Doris could (and her voice was still in its prime), share in her incredible love for animals (a great sequence with her many beloved dogs), see her dance and prance and model the many mod fashions of the day, and watch a number of her many crying scenes from the movies.

The outtakes are terrific too; a major highlight is a lovely waltz by Doris and the male dancers (if you know her history, you know she was a professional dancer who was in a terrible car accident as a teenager, when the car was hit by a train, which ended her dance career, and she became a singer, and here she is still dancing gracefully at 47!)But what is most surprising is her storytelling capabilities; her sense of humor is natural and engaging, and her patter (the outtake about how she got to Hollywood is hysterical) is terrific.

Do I love Doris? You bet, and so will you, whether it's for the first time or as an amazing rediscovery.

She only ever made two variety 'specials', this was the first and probably the best, some of the great old Doris Day standards as well as a few newer ones, Perry Como is as laid back as ever, a surprise guest and some very energetic dancing by Doris at 47, gotta say the 'Them Was the Good Old Days' number is my favourite albeit too short! Did anyone notice that the opening credits has her name spelt as Kapplehoff, every where else I've seen it including here, it's spelt Kappelhoff, I'm guessing the former is correct, You'd assume Doris would have known how to spell her own real name?

I am a Doris Day fan and have been for fifty some years but this special which was like many made at the time to counteract the revolutionary music and feelings of the sixties is much too syrupy. If you want to see her sing her songs rent her movies and you'll get much better production values. I am also a Perry Como fan and they sing well together but look closely when they sing together. Doris is always trying to look Perry in the eye and kiss him and he is always avoiding her gaze and her kisses. He has never been demonstrative that way and is clearly uncomfortable with her advances whether they were for fun or more serious. In other words you are uncomfortable for him. I wonder if they even had a live audience. It is well known that Doris did not like to perform before a live audience and much of the laughter and applause does sound canned. Watch the set pieces and you can see that they are suddenly transported from sitting on the grass to Perry sitting on a pillow or something. So it was not shot live even and was stitched together later by a poor editor. If you want to learn more about Doris from this DVD you won't. Better to read the new book about her, that I am reading and watch her movies.

This special was a TV triumph for Doris Day. It was called a polished musical hour. Doris interacted with the TV audience and was pleasant and herself. Her two production numbers during a stills in motion fashion show were delightful. Her and Perry Como singing together was seductive and almost a dreamy feel to it. Her talking about her movie crying scenes were funny and Rock Hudson turned up with a surprise visit. Her singing Both Sides Now and Sentimental Journey made you drift into the emotion of the singer. Her biking in the opening were uplifting and enjoyable with some new songs throw in. This special was top notch material that Doris wasn't offered much on television sadly. Her Sunshine Meledy and The Way We Were form her second special is notable. Along with her music videos with her Son from her cable series. This TV outing puts Doris where she belongs as a great entertainer in all aspects. The show was taped in 1970 but did not air until 1971. Why that was is anybody's guess because this special did well for CBS and the ratings. It was written is was a nightmare to tape because Doris wanted the set to be a duplicate of her backyard in Beverly Hills. She is a perfectionist and the nightmare turned into Magic! Doris also sings her other hit song It's Magic and it is:)