Doll Face

Last updated

Doll Face
Poster - Doll Face (1945).jpg
Film poster
Directed by Lewis Seiler
Screenplay byLeonard Praskins
Harold Buchman (adaptation)
Based on The Naked Genius by Gypsy Rose Lee
Produced by Bryan Foy
Starring Vivian Blaine
Dennis O'Keefe
Perry Como
Carmen Miranda
Martha Stewart
Stephen Dunne
Reed Hadley
Cinematography Joseph LaShelle
Edited byNorman Colbert
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 31, 1945 (1945-12-31) [1]
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million [2]
Box office$2.5 million [3]

Doll Face is a 1945 American film released by 20th Century Fox and directed by Lewis Seiler starring Vivian Blaine as "Doll Face" Carroll. It also stars actor Dennis O'Keefe and singers Carmen Miranda and Perry Como. The film is based on the 1943 play The Naked Genius written by Gypsy Rose Lee. In the opening credits, she is billed under her birth name, Louise Hovick. The film is also known as Come Back to Me in the United Kingdom.

Contents

Plot

"Doll Face" Carroll is an entertainer looking to expand her repertoire. After a failed audition, where she is recognized as a burlesque performer from the Gaiety Theatre, her manager and fiancé Mike Hannegan suggests she write an autobiography to project a more literate image and he hires Frederick Manly Gerard as a ghostwriter. Doll Face agrees on the condition she is allowed to dedicate the book to Mike with "For the love of Mike".

Another performer in the burlesque show, Chita Chula, remarks that if the book is a success and Doll Face leaves the show it will probably have to close. Mike then decides to produce a Broadway show of his own with the financial aid of the performers themselves. Frederick offers to put up any money missing. Chita Chula is skeptical she can pull it off, but Mike assures her she'll "probably wind up being another Carmen Miranda!", something Chita Chula perceives as an insult.

Mike leaks word on the book to the press, and riding the publicity, argues the show got all the press it needs and that the book, although all but finished, need not be published. Doll Face, however, decides to go through with it and goes to Jamaica in Queens, NY with Frederick for some final touch-ups. Boat engine trouble on Long Island Sound leaves them marooned on an island and, when Mike finds them, he misreads the situation and breaks up with her. Without "Doll Face" as headliner, the Gaiety Theatre struggles and Mike is forced to finally shut it down.

Doll Face releases her book The Genius DeMilo and when Mike sees she dedicated the book to Frederick instead of him, he regrets leaving her. After Doll Face refuses to talk to Mike, he sends a lawyer to stop her show in the middle of opening night, since she is under contract not to appear in any show not produced by him. She agrees to see him and he asks her forgiveness. After they reunite, she tricks the producer of her show to give Mike a 25% share and co-producer credit so the show can continue.

Cast

Carmen Miranda and Dennis O'Keefe in a scene Carmen Miranda & Dennis O'Keefe in Doll Face 1946.JPG
Carmen Miranda and Dennis O'Keefe in a scene

Soundtrack

Carmen Miranda in the musical number to "Chico Chico" Carmen Miranda in Doll Face 1946.jpg
Carmen Miranda in the musical number to "Chico Chico"

Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson also submitted the song "True to the Navy", but it did not make it into the film because Paramount refused to license the song. [4]

The song "Dig You Later (A-Hubba Hubba Hubba)" was a celebration of the Bombing of Tokyo (10 March 1945).[ citation needed ]

Production and filming

Title card of Doll Face. The film is also known as Come Back to Me in the United Kingdom. Other titles considered during production were The Naked Genius (from Gypsy Rose Lee's play) and Here's a Kiss. Doll Face - Title card.png
Title card of Doll Face. The film is also known as Come Back to Me in the United Kingdom. Other titles considered during production were The Naked Genius (from Gypsy Rose Lee's play) and Here's a Kiss.

The working titles of this film were The Naked Genius and Here's a Kiss. However, the Motion Picture Production Code prohibited the studio from using The Naked Genius as the film's title or as the title of "Doll Face's" fictional autobiography.

The Production Code Administration also strongly objected to the portrayal of the lead character as a stripper, and several screenplays submitted by the studio were rejected. In late July 1945, Joseph Breen, the head of the Production Code Administration, cautioned studio public relations head Jason S. Joy:

"Please have in mind that any time you undertake to identify a character as a 'strip tease' artist, you run the risk of giving enormous offense everywhere. People, pretty generally, look up [sic] the business of the burlesque shows--and, more importantly, the strip tease--as, possibly, the very lowest form of public entertainment, and this same viewpoint is reflected in the reaction of the Censor Boards."

—  Joseph I. Breen, [4]

Playwright and famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee was credited onscreen under her real name, Louise Hovick. The Hollywood Reporter (April 6, 1944) reported that producer George Jessel had offered Lee a role in the film, but she did not appear. According to the Hollywood Reporter (June 1944), Carole Landis was set to star in the film and Jackie Gleason was to play the "comedy lead." Another report from July 1945 mentioned that William Eythe was scheduled to play the "romantic lead," and Hazel Dawn was also listed as part of the cast. However, Dawn's appearance in the final film has not been confirmed. Dennis O'Keefe was borrowed for the film from Edward Small's company. Doll Face marked the screen debuts of Martha Stewart and Lex Barker. [4]

Producer Bryan Foy filled in for director Lewis Seiler for three days while Seiler was ill. [4]

Songwriters Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson submitted the song "True to the Navy" for inclusion in the film, and a production number featuring it was filmed at a cost of $60,000 to $75,000. However, McHugh and Adamson had previously submitted the song to Paramount, which had used it in their 1945 film Bring on the Girls . Paramount refused to license the song for use in Doll Face, so the musical number had to be cut. In a December 1945 letter to Twentieth Century-Fox studio president Spyros Skouras, studio attorney George Wasson speculated that Paramount’s refusal was due to Twentieth Century-Fox having secured the distribution rights to Tales of Manhattan and clearance for the use of the title Sentimental Journey , both of which Paramount also wanted. [4]

Chorus performs "Dig You Later (A-Hubba Hubba Hubba)" in the Show-within-a-show. A suit was filed against the studio for plagiarizing another composition. Chorus - Dig You Later in Doll Face.png
Chorus performs "Dig You Later (A-Hubba Hubba Hubba)" in the Show-within-a-show. A suit was filed against the studio for plagiarizing another composition.

According to legal records, Irving Weissman sued the studio, claiming that the song "Dig You Later (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba)" had been plagiarized from one of his compositions. The case was dismissed in September 1948 by a federal court judge, but Weissman later filed another lawsuit in state court. The outcome of the second lawsuit has not been determined. [4]

Reviews

Bosley Crowther’s review in The New York Times of Doll Face describes the film as a disappointing production, failing to justify the hefty price paid by Twentieth Century-Fox for the rights to Louise Hovick's (Gypsy Rose Lee) literary effort. The review points out that the screenplay is monotonous and riddled with grammatical errors, and that it brings no innovation or significant personality to the characters or the music. The performances of the leading actors are also criticized: Vivian Blaine, as the titular "Doll Face," is described as expressionless in her musical numbers, while Perry Como and Carmen Miranda are also called out for their lackluster performances. Como’s number, “Dig You Later,” is particularly singled out, described as an exaggerated, unappealing song. Dennis O'Keefe and Stephen Dunne are mentioned as the men in "Doll Face's" life, but their performances go unremarked upon. Overall, Crowther’s review suggests that, despite being based on Hovick’s work, her talents were not well-utilized, and Doll Face is portrayed as a lifeless, colorless production lacking the boldness that defined burlesque at its peak. [5]

The review from the New York Herald Tribune remarks on Carmen Miranda’s performance, noting that she does what she always does, but “not as well” this time around.

Columnist Louella Parsons, in her analysis, expresses surprise at the casting of Carmen Miranda in the film, highlighting how she is “so different from Joan Blondell,” who played the same role in the stage version of the play Naked Genius, upon which the film is based. The comparison between the two actresses suggests that, for Parsons, Miranda’s casting in the role felt unnatural or unconvincing, especially since the two have very different styles, and Miranda failed to recreate the charm or energy that Blondell brought to the stage. [6] The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that "The film has its faults, chiefly technical... Dennis O'Keefe makes a handsome, hard-hitting manager and performs with great sincerity. Perry Como sings in an even more attractive manner than before, and Vivian Blaine is more than adequately attractive, if a bit too polished, as the 'burlesque' blonde. Carmen Miranda appears in a straight role with only one musical number. The innovation is not a success, but the fault lies with the director, not Carmen's". [7]

Alex Viany’s review in O Cruzeiro of Doll Face is extremely negative. He begins by noting that, even with the use of Technicolor, the 20th Century Fox musical would be irredeemably dull, suggesting that no amount of vibrant color could save the film from its failure. Viany criticizes the romance between Vivian Blaine and Dennis O'Keefe, calling it "so ridiculous that it’s almost pitiful," indicating that the romantic plot was poorly executed and unconvincing. Regarding Carmen Miranda’s performance, Viany is harsh, stating that she "does nothing" in the film and that her makeup was "horribly done," reflecting dissatisfaction with both her appearance and her acting in the production. The review from O Cruzeiro aligns with that of A Cena Muda, which also considers Doll Face to be “the worst film of Carmen Miranda,” further reinforcing the idea that the film was a major disappointment in her career. [8]

Home media

The film was released on DVD in June 2008 as part of Fox's "The Carmen Miranda Collection." [9]

Parody

In 1985, comedy troop LA Connection used Doll Face as episode 9 of its syndicated show Mad Movies, in which films were re-edited with a dubbed soundtrack. The plot centers around the sleazy "Miss Doll Face Pageant".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmen Miranda</span> Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer and actress (1909–1955)

Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha, known professionally as Carmen Miranda, was a Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer, and actress. Nicknamed "The Brazilian Bombshell", she was known for her signature fruit hat outfit that she wore in her American films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy Rose Lee</span> American burlesque performer, actress and writer (1911–1970)

Gypsy Rose Lee was an American burlesque entertainer, stripper, actress, author, playwright and vedette, famous for her striptease act. Her 1957 memoir, Gypsy: A Memoir, was adapted into the 1959 stage musical Gypsy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy McHugh</span> Musical artist

James Francis McHugh was an American composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, June Christy, Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich, Deanna Durbin, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Adelaide Hall, Billie Holiday, Beverly Kenney, Bill Kenny, The Everly Brothers, Peggy Lee, Carmen Miranda, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Adamson</span> American lyricist

Harold Campbell Adamson was an American lyricist during the 1930s and 1940s.

<i>Seven Hills of Rome</i> (film) 1958 film by Roy Rowland

Seven Hills of Rome is an Italian-American film international co-production released in January 1958 and shot on location in Rome and at the Titanus studios. It was filmed in Technicolor and Technirama, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was tenor Mario Lanza's penultimate film, and Marisa Allasio’s last film.

"A Bushel and a Peck" is a popular song written by Frank Loesser and published in 1950. The song was introduced in the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls, which opened at the 46th Street Theater on November 24, 1950. It was performed on stage by Vivian Blaine and a women's chorus as a nightclub act at the Hot Box. It is the first of two nightclub performances in the musical. Although Blaine later reprised her role as Miss Adelaide in the 1955 film version of the play, "A Bushel and a Peck" was omitted from the film and replaced by a new song, "Pet Me, Poppa."

<i>The Gangs All Here</i> (1943 film) 1943 film by Busby Berkeley

The Gang's All Here is a 1943 American Twentieth Century Fox Technicolor musical film starring Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda and James Ellison. The film, directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley, is known for its use of musical numbers with fruit hats. Included among the 10 highest-grossing films of that year, it was at that time Fox's most expensive production.

<i>Zorba</i> (musical) Musical

Zorba is a musical with a book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. Adapted from the 1946 novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis and the subsequent 1964 film of the same name, it focuses on the friendship that evolves between Zorba and Nikos, a young American who has inherited an abandoned mine on Crete, and their romantic relationships with a local widow and a French woman, respectively.

<i>Down Argentine Way</i> 1940 film by Irving Cummings

Down Argentine Way is a 1940 American musical film made in Technicolor by Twentieth Century Fox. It made a star of Betty Grable in her first leading role for the studio although she had already appeared in 31 films, and it introduced American audiences to Carmen Miranda. It also starred Don Ameche, The Nicholas Brothers, Charlotte Greenwood, and J. Carrol Naish.

<i>A Date with Judy</i> (film) 1948 film by Richard Thorpe

A Date with Judy is a 1948 American Technicolor musical romantic comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Wallace Beery, Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor. The film is based on the radio series of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Stewart (actress)</span> American actress (1922–2021)

Martha Ruth Stewart Shelley, better known as Martha Stewart, was an American actress. She was noted for playing Mildred Atkinson in In a Lonely Place (1950) alongside Humphrey Bogart.

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection is a 1985 syndicated television show produced by the comedy troupe the L.A. Connection. Every episode is a spoof of a classic movie where the video is the original but all the dialogue is overdubbed with humorous dialogue written and voiced by the L.A. Connection, in a manner similar to Woody Allen's feature-length film What's Up, Tiger Lily?. During one season, 26 half-hour episodes were produced. Before producing the series, the L.A. Connection did live comedy dubbing of films at the Ken Theater in San Diego and the Nuart Theater in Los Angeles.

<i>Greenwich Village</i> (film) 1944 film by Walter Lang

Greenwich Village is a 1944 American comedy-drama musical film from Twentieth Century Fox directed by Walter Lang. It stars Carmen Miranda and Don Ameche.

<i>Meet Danny Wilson</i> (film) 1952 film by Joseph Pevney

Meet Danny Wilson is a 1952 American drama musical film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Frank Sinatra, Shelley Winters and Alex Nicol.

<i>Something for the Boys</i> (film) 1944 film by Lewis Seiler

Something for the Boys is a 1944 musical comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler. It stars Carmen Miranda, Michael O'Shea, Vivian Blaine, Phil Silvers, Sheila Ryan and Perry Como.

The Naked Genius is a 1943 American play written by Gypsy Rose Lee. The work premiered on Broadway on October 21, 1943, at the Plymouth Theatre where it ran until November 20, 1943, for a total of 36 performances. The work was produced by Mike Todd, used sets designed by Frederick Fox, and costumes designed by Billy Livingston. The play was staged by George S. Kaufman, and starred Joan Blondell as Honey Bee Carroll, Pauline Myers as Angela, Millard Mitchell as Stuart Tracy, Rex O'Malley as Fred-Eric, Byron Russell as Williams, Bertha Belmore as Lollie Adams, Doro Merande as Myrtle McGuire, Donald Randolph as Charles Goodwin, Lewis Charles as Sam Hinkle, Rosemary Rice as Emily, Georgia Sothern as Alibassi, Phyllis Povah as Pansy, John Souther as Judge Taylor, Bernice Maison as Sally Martin, and Gil Maison as Teddy Martin.

<i>If Im Lucky</i> (film) 1946 American comedy directed by Lewis Seiler

If I'm Lucky is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Vivian Blaine, Perry Como, Phil Silvers and Carmen Miranda in the leading roles. The film also featured bandleader Harry James.

<i>If You Knew Susie</i> (film) 1948 film by Gordon Douglas

If You Knew Susie is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas and written by Warren Wilson, Oscar Brodney, Bud Pearson and Lester A. White. The film was produced by, and starred, Eddie Cantor in his final starring role in a feature film. The film also stars Joan Davis, Allyn Joslyn, Charles Dingle and Bobby Driscoll. The film was released on February 7, 1948, by RKO Pictures.

<i>The Carmen Miranda Collection</i> 2008 American film

The Carmen Miranda Collection is a box set featuring five top movie titles starring Carmen Miranda. It was released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008.

"Dig You Later " is a song from the 1945 American film Doll Face. It was written by Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh, and made popular by Perry Como and the Satisfiers featuring Russ Case and His Orchestra.

References

  1. ↑ Release dates for Doll Face, IMDb. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ Carmen Miranda 'Doll House' Star
  3. ↑ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century-Fox: A Corporate and Financial History Rowman & Littlefield, 2002 p 221
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Doll Face", AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. ↑ Bosley Crowther. "Doll Face (1946) Review Summary", The New York Times . Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  6. ↑ Louella Parsons. "Miranda 'Doll House' star", The Deseret News , July 13, 1945. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ NEW FILMS REVIEWED "Doll Face" The Sydney Morning Herald - July 8, 1946
  8. ↑ Garcia, T. da C. (2015, March 26). O "it verde e amarelo" de Carmen Miranda (1930-1946). Retrieved January 14, 2025
  9. ↑ Dave Kehr. "New DVDs: Carmen Miranda", The New York Times , 17 June 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.