April in Paris(1952).

April in Paris(1952). Musical starring Doris Day and Ray Bolger. Directed by David Butler.



The story begins in Washington, D.C., when "Sam" Putnam, the Assistant Secretary to the secretary of State, is embarrassed to learn that a letter inviting Ethel Barrymore, to represent the American theater at the International Festival of the Arts in Paris, was accidentally sent to a Broadway chorus girl, "Dynamite" Jackson.



Hoping to make thing right, Sam flies to New York to explain the mix-up to Ethel. Later, when he is criticized for what he has done, he re-invites her, telling her how romantic Paris is in the springtime. On the French luxury liner to Paris, Ethel, meets several male festival representatives, who are all worried that Ethel, will disgrace them.

Also on the ship, is Philippe Fouquet, a French nightclub owner, famous for his womanizing, is work as a waiter for his return ticket to France, as his money has been indefinitely frozen for back taxes in the U.S.

On the last night of the cruise, Philippe takes her to the shipboard ball where she hopes that Sam, will join them. Unfortunately, Philippe has to change his plans, when he is called back to the kitchen, Philippe, invites Ethel to go with him. So.. they have their party in the kitchen, but when the delegation learns that Ethel is dancing in the kitchen, Sam is sent to tell her that she will be returned to the U.S. Before he knows it, he is caught up in the party and by the time he meets up with Ethel, he has joined the dancing. At the end of the evening, Ethel and Sam know they are in love. Even though Sam is engaged to his boss's daughter, Marcia Sherman. They are secretly married by the ships captain.

Philippe, soon learns that the "captain" was really François, a busboy. How will Philippe tell Ethel and Sam, that their marriage is phony before it is too late?

Video: Doris Day and Claude Dauphin perform in the 1952 movie "April in Paris".

Another wonderful Doris Day movie, I loved the dance routines: "I'm Gonna Ring the Bell Tonight" and the political-themed dance with former Presidents' paintings, coming to life to dance.

Doris Day, plays a chorus girl, who by mistake is chosen, instead of Ethel Barrymore, to represent America at a Paris Festival. Her song, "April in Paris" is the highlight of the film.

On Moonlight Bay(1951).

On Moonlight Bay(1951). Directed by Roy Del Ruth which tells the story of the Winfield family at the turn of the century. The movie is based loosely on the Penrod stories by Booth Tarkington. There was a 1953 sequel, By the Light of the Silvery Moon.

Banker George Winfield and his family, move into a beautiful new house. The family, hates the move, but George, wants his children to have a better life.

His son Wesley, makes friends with Jim Sherman, who shows off his father's gun, which, he says, was previously owned by Jesse James. Margie, sees Wesley and Jim, take the gun into a barn. She tries to stop them, but accidentally fires the gun herself, causing the barn door to fall on Jim's older brother, William.

After Bill, mistakes Margie for a boy, he soon discovers she is a girl and is attracted to her. Margie, gets a much needed make over, before their first date..



On their date, he tries to win her a doll at a game booth. When he misses, he accuses the barker of running a dishonest game, the man offers Margie three free throws. Margie, of course hits them and wins the doll, herself.

It is not long, before George asks Bill, what his intentions are toward Margie and after Bill makes some rude comments about bankers, George forbids him to date her. Music teacher Hubert Wakley, is more to her father's liking.



One day, Wesley, fails to do his homework and decides to use the love letter Margie is writing to Bill, who is away at school. He reads it aloud to the class and the romantic letter makes him a laughingstock. Now angry with Margie, Wesley decides to punish her by ruining her date with Hubert. His plan backfires and Margie, is so happy with Wesley, that she gives him a big hug.

Margie, has been taking dancing lessons and on the way home, she gets into a snowball fight with some boys, where she falls and breaks her ankle.

Later, Wesley watches a movie about the terrible effect that drinking has on one family, and when he is caught sleeping in class, makes up a story for the teacher, about his father's drinking problem.

On Christmas Eve, Bill arrives home and hears Wesley's story, second hand. Wanting to know the truth, Bill marches over to the Winfields' house. Seeing George asleep on the couch, Bill believes he is in a drunk and throws water on him. Now, everyone knows about Wesley's lie and he runs off to join a group of carolers.



At the end of the school year, Bill makes a speech announcing that his entire class has enlisted in the Army.



A brokenhearted Margie, runs to meet Bill on the troop train, where Bill proposes. Her father still disapproves but, later, on Wesley's twelfth birthday, George's aunt Martha, brings Wesley a slingshot, that she took away from George, when he was a boy. During the birthday party, Bill arrives and formally asks George, for Margie's hand in marriage. George again refuses, until Wesley breaks a window with George's old slingshot and reminds him of the mistakes he made in his youth.

This charmer and its sequel By the Light of the Silvery Moon, showcase the multi-talented Doris Day. Billy Gray, as Day's younger brother, had perfect comic timing. Along with Mary Wickes, the no-nonsense maid, is another scene-stealer.

Video: ALL songs from the film,On Moonlight Bay(1951).

Doris Day Lovely Fall Photo

Doris in this beautiful fall like pic...

Video: Romance On the High Seas(1948). Movie Trailer.

Romance on the High Seas (1948). Musical romantic comedy film. Cast: Jack Carson, Janis Paige, Don DeFore, and Doris Day in her film debut.

It was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Original Song for "It's Magic" (music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn), and Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture (Ray Heindorf).

My Heart, Day's first new album in nearly two decades.

Doris Day News

My Heart, Day's first new album in nearly two decades is set to be released in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2011.  The album is a compilation of previously unreleased recordings produced by Day's son, Terry Melcher, prior to his death in 2004. Tracks include the 1970s Joe Cocker hit "You Are So Beautiful", the Beach Boys' "Disney Girls" and jazz standards such as "My Buddy", which Day originally sang in her 1951 film I'll See You in My Dreams, Day dedicates this song to her son.

Storm Warning (1951).

Storm Warning(1951). Thriller, directed by Stuart Heisler. Cast: Ginger Rogers, Doris Day, and Ronald Reagan.

Marsha Mitchell, a traveling dress model, stops in a southern town to see her sister who has married a Ku Klux Klansman. Marsha sees the KKK commit a murder and helps District Attorney Burt Rainey in bringing the criminals to justice.

Fun Facts:
Joan Crawford was asked by studio boss Jack L. Warner to play Doris Day's sister in the film, Joan declined saying "Come on, Jack. No one would ever believe that I would have Doris Day for a sister!"


Doris Day's first non-singing role.

Happy Birthday: Doris Day!

Doris Day April 3, 1922), While singing with the Les Brown band and briefly with Bob Hope, Day's popularity as a radio performer and vocalist, landed her to a career in films. Her performance of the song "Embraceable You", impressed Styne and his partner, Sammy Cahn and they recommended her for a role in my favorite Doris Day film, Romance on the High Seas. The film provided her with a beautiful song, "It's Magic."



She continued to make musicals such as: Starlift, The West Point Story, On Moonlight Bay, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, and Tea For Two. In 1953 Day performed as Calamity Jane, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Secret Love".



After filming, Young at Heart (1954) with Frank Sinatra, went on to perform in more dramatic roles, including her performance of singer Ruth Etting in the film, Love Me or Leave Me (1954), which she thought was her best film.

In Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Day sang "Que Sera, Sera" which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and became her signature song. The song was used again in another one of my favorite films,Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), and was also used in a brief duet with Arthur Godfrey in another favorite film, The Glass Bottom Boat (1966). "Que Sera, Sera", also became the theme song for her CBS television show (1968–73).