sleep well

Together again with Rock Hudson

Together again with David Niven

Together again with Jack Lemmon

Together again with James Garner 

 

Together again with Cary Grant

Together again with Debbie Reynolds

Together Again with Jack Carson

Together again with Jerry Lewis

Together again with Frank Sinatra and Lauren Bacall

Together again with Richard Widmark

Together again with Judy Garland

Together again with Rod Taylor

Together again with Gig Young and Clark Gable

Together again with Gene Nelson and director David Butler

Together again with Brian Keith

Together again with Gordon MacRae

Together again with John Raitt

Together again with Terry Melcher

And together again with all the precious animals who were lucky to share her life

Doris Day 1922/2019

Notes in Passing: A note from Michael Schlesinger. "If I may be permitted, given the passing of Miss Day, I hope you'll allow me to post this link to an observation of when (her path) crossed most agreeably with director Frank Tashlin on ”The Glass Bottom Boat.”

Given that I employed photographs, rather than words, to honor Doris Day, I thought that I'd offer some insight into the countless appreciations that have been written since Day has passed. They've run the gamut, from applause-worthy to jaw-droppingly bad.

The worst – and one to be avoided – was co-written by Duane Byrge and Mike Barnes for The Hollywood Reporter, no less. The first three words in their piece refer to Day as “the virginal actress.” Huh? That doesn’t even make any sense. I’ve no idea of Mike Barnes’ credentials but Duane Byrge has been around forever and should know better. The Hollywood Reporter piece also claims that Michael Gordon directed both of the films that Day made in 1963 with James Garner - "The Thrill of It All" and "Movie, Over Darling." that would surprise Norman Jewison.

Almost as bad and worth avoiding is Adam Bernstein’s clueless piece for The Washington Post.

The polar opposite of these “appreciations” is the magnificent one penned by Carrie Rickey for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Absolutely a must-read. No surprise, given that it was written by Rickey, who also provides (at least in the print edition of the Inky) a complete list of all of Day's films, replete with her leading me. (BTW, although he not officially considered one of her leading men, Gig Young made the most films with her - four: "Young at Heart" "Teacher's Pet," "Tunnel of Love" and "That Touch of Mink.")

Closely following Carrie's essay is Mick LaSalle’s typically astute observations for The San Francisco Chronicle.

Carrie and Mick say all there is on Doris Day, a subject that left me wordless. Her work - in this case her work in film - speaks for itself. Hence, all those pix.

The New York Times has weighed in with two articles on Day – one by the always reliable Aljean Harmetz and another by one of the paper’s chief movie critics, A.O. Scott.

Among the others that I’ve perused are those by Carmel Dagan for Variety, Tim Teeman for The Daily Beast and Nardine Saad for The Los Angeles Times, all worth reading.

Finally, another reader, Walt, reminded me of the recent Doris Day Film Festival currently screening at the legendary Stanford Theater in Palo Alto, Here's the program:

  Click on image to enlarge

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