Tea For Two(1950)

Tea for Two (1950). Directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Harry Clork and William Jacobs was inspired by the 1925 stage musical No, No, Nanette. Cast: Doris Day ,Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson , Eve Arden, Billy De Wolfe and S.Z. Sakall.

While Lynne and Richard, are having fun with their friends, dressing up in their parents old clothes from the 1920's.  Their uncle Max, walks in and tells them what it was like for people in 1929, after the stock market crashed:  Max was the guardian of his niece and because of his bad investments, Nanette looses all her money. Nanette, is unaware of her loss, when asked by producer Larry Blair to back a show. To help convince her, Larry brings Jimmy and Tommy to see Nanette, where he lies about Jimmy needing the money to pay for his sister's operation. Tommy and Jimmy play her some songs from the show, Nanette agrees to back the show. Jimmy then suggests that Nanette play the lead, instead of Beatrice Darcy, Larry's girl friend.

Not wanting her to know that she has lost all her money, Max comes up with a plan to give her the money on condition that she say "no" to everything for forty-eight hours.

He learns from his lawyer, that he might be able to save some of the lost fortune if he can sign important papers before ten o'clock. After Nanette is pulled over for reckless driving, her negative answers to the policeman lands them in jail.

Later, Max encourages Jimmy to propose to Nanette,  even though she loves Jimmy, Nanette does not say "yes." Having lost his bet, Max is forced to tell Nanette the truth. Pauline convinces Early to back the production, now called No, No, Nanette. Max finishes his story just as Nanette and Jimmy return home.

Doris Day and Gordon MacRae make a wonderful team with some wonderful song and dance routines. Also a wonderful supporting cast: Eve Arden, tossing her one-liners with her usual skill. Billy De Wolfe, reminding us what a wonderful comedian he truly is. I thought this was above average fluffy musical.

Box Office Attractions - DORIS DAY

My buddy Tom over at Motion Picture Gems, which by the way is an awesome blog, has frequent posts about the box office rankings of classic movie stars. They are very fun and informative to read. I am starting a new series called Box Office Attractions which will focus on different stars and their box office rankings over their careers. And my first star is Doris Day.


Doris was one of the biggest film stars at one time. From the late 40's through the mid 50's she had a top 20 hit film every other year. But she hit her peak from 1959 - 1964. She had at least one top 20 film every year during that period, some years she had two. Here is the list of her hit films from that period:


PILLOW TALK (1959) Film rank that year: (7) Box office earnings: $7.7 million

PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1960) Film rank that year: (10) Box office earnings: $5.4 million

MIDNIGHT LACE (1960) Film rank that year: (19) Box office earning:s $3.5 million

LOVER COME BACK (1961) Film rank that year: (8) Box office earnings: $7.6 million

THAT TOUCH OF MINK (1962) Film rank that year: (5) Box office earnings: $7.9 million

MOVE OVER, DARLING (1963) Film rank that year: (11) Box office earnings: $6.0 million

THE THRILL OF IT ALL (1963) Film rank that year: (13) Box office earnings: $5.3 million

SEND ME NO FLOWERS (1964) Film rank that year: (19) Box office earnings: $4.1 million


Now that is impressive, no matter who it is. Doris Day was one of the top female stars in film of all time. And yes, she had major male co-stars usually paired with her, but she was as much part of these films successes as were Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, James Garner and the others. So I tip my hat to the lovely and extremely talented Ms. Day for being so successful and starring in such well loved films.



Box office numbers found at http://www.boxofficereport.com/

Move Over Esther Williams...Here Comes Doris

Here are some great photos of Doris in some swimsuits. Gonna give Esther a run for her money ain't she Dawn. The pink one is my favorite.