Posted on 04/04/2014 6:28:49 AM PDT by patriot08
American treasure, Doris Day, turns 90!
Doris Day is a living legend, an American treasure- the likes of which we will never see again.
Over the course of her career, Day appeared in 39 films. She was ranked the biggest box-office star, the only woman on that list, for four years (1960, 1962, 1963 and 1964) ranking in the top 10 for ten years (1951–1952 and 1959–1966). She became the top-ranking female box-office star of all time and is currently ranked sixth among the top 10 box office performers (male and female), as of 2012. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Pillow Talk, won three Henrietta Awards (World Film Favorite), received the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Career Achievement Award and, in 1989, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures. Doris Day made her last film in 1968.
She could do it all; sing, dance, drama, comedy- you name it. If you haven't seen her in a drama, see 'Midnight Lace' [the best crier in the movies] and 'Love Me or Leave me'- both outstanding dramatic performances.
Doris Day has also released 31 albums, and her songs have spent a total of 460 weeks in the Top 40 charts. She has been awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Legend Award from the Society of Singers. In 2011, she released her 29th studio album, My Heart, which debuted at No. 9 on the UK Top 40 charts. As of January 2014, Day is the oldest living artist to score a UK Top 10 with an album featuring new material.
Doris did it up right. She retired from Hollywood relatively young (preferring to be remembered as she was in her heyday) and devoted her life to doing good in the world- using her fame/name/money for a good cause; animal welfare. ( Another former big star, Bridgett Bardot, did the same, and should be admired. She has a world famous animal help organization. She has also fought hard to help keep Muslims from overtaking France. [in vain] She has been fined and jailed for her efforts to prevent Islamization of France. )
Doris didn't try to hang on to her glory days and become a pathetic parody of herself as some big name stars of yesteryear do. She's done with Hollywood- and they can't stand it. They want her out so they can ridicule, as they did poor Kim Novak. Doris has been called a 'bag lady', 'senile' and worse because she won't play Hollywood's game. She is none of these things. She is still a bright, attractive and active lady.
Sadly, she has still been underappreciated. She's never been given an Academy Award. Too normal- too much of a lady?
Trivia:
She is a staunch supporter of the Republican Party, and told the press she voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election.
Was a close friend and vocal supporter of President Ronald Reagan.
Briefly dated Ronald Reagan shortly after his divorce from Jane Wyman when she and Reagan were contract players at Warner Brothers. Day told him that he was so good at talking that he should be touring the country making speeches. At the time, the future Republican President was a Democrat.
Telephoned the White House to personally explain to President George W. Bush her reasons for not attending her award presentation in June 2004, and said she was praying hard that he would be elected to a second term of office in November.
Has a fear of flying that stemmed from tours with Bob Hope in the 1940s that resulted in some close calls in impenetrable winter weather. She almost turned down her role in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) because it was to be filmed in London and Marrakesh. Her husband and manager, Martin Melcher talked her into accepting it.
Oscar Levant quipped, "I've been around so long, I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin". She laughs about the 'eternal virgin' bit, too. She says it just the way she was always cast.
It was during the location filming of The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), when she saw how camels, goats and other "animal extras" in a marketplace scene were being treated, that Day began her lifelong commitment to preventing animal abuse.
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush [June 2004]. She did not attend the White House award ceremony because of her intense fear of flying.
Reportedly did not like "swear words." As a recording artist, she would require anyone who said a swear word to put a quarter in a "swear jar." In addition, she does not allow her songs to be used in movies that contain swear words.
The age mix up comes from the fact that at age 15 (but saying she was 18) began touring with the Les Brown Band.
Happy birthday, Doris- and thank you for all the wonderful entertainment you left us.
KEEP REPEATING:
IT'S ONLY A MOVIE
ONLY A MOVIE
ONLY A MOVIE
What if she had married Ronald Reagan??! Wow..what a first lady she would have made!
Who knew back then that Rock Hudskn was thinking about the set crew while kissing her on the set.
Good ad especially since I am of the Massey Ferguson persuasion.
Glad Doris is still around and for the good things she has done.
That would have been something really good.
That was her last movie from 1968. She still did her television show after that though until 1973. Since then retired from the mass media.
Here ya go..with some great pics.. It's Magic!
Aside from the great screwball comedies..one of my faves is "Teacher's Pet"..with Clark Gable..
Ah yes. Doris Day. I owe her a debt of gratitude for my abject dislike of “celebri-tees”. So thank you Ms. Day. Back in the early 50’s, she was shooting a movie in Carmel California where I lived at the time. I approached her for an autograph and she blew me off like a bothersome gnat. Must have made a hell of an impression on a 3rd grader cause ever since that day, the “stars” have been nothing but folks unworthy of my respect. So, again, thanks ms. day. You really did me a favor that I wouldn’t recognize until later in life. Of course now I know that some of these folks are good people and do good things, but that crushing blow kept me from ever being “star struck”.
that was a cute movie... i think Barbara Hershey was the older daughter in that movie... and George Carlin was also in the movie..
my favorite movie of hers was Midnight Lace with Rex Harrison... it was creepy... scary... not your typical sunshiny Doris Day movie... i also liked Young at Heart with Frank Sinatra...
Once upon a time, Doris Day was the American ideal - now it’s some tattooed freak with a nose ring and green hair.
We’ve come a long way - in the wrong direction!
I’m sorry you had a disappointing experience with her.
Maybe she was in a hurry, overworked, having a very bad day?
She is known for her love of, ability/willingness to work with children (unlike most stars who fear they will steal their thunder).
LOL! Entirely possible but at least she set me up to not be star struck ever again. Maybe it was already in me. I may respect some of “stars” work/musical talent etc, but you sure won’t see me out there screaming and clamoring for autographs and maybe a chance to “touch” one of them. :>}
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WIKI EXCERPT---Terrence P. "Terry" Melcher (February 8, 1942 – November 19, 2004) was an American musician and record producer, who was instrumental in shaping the sound of American West Coast rock music. His greatest contribution to the culture of the time was producing The Byrds' innovative cover hits "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!", and his work with The Beach Boys.
He was the only child of actress/singer Doris Day.
Melcher was born Terrence P. Jorden in New York City to trombonist Al Jorden and his wife, singer-actress Doris Day. Known as "Terry",[1] the boy was named by his mother after the hero of her favorite childhood comic strip, Terry and the Pirates.[2]
Before the birth, Day was planning to leave the abusive, violent Jorden. Outraged when he found out about her pregnancy, Jorden had demanded that Day get an abortion. Shortly after giving birth, Day filed for divorce, left the boy with her mother in Ohio, and went back to touring with big band leader Les Brown. After the divorce, Jorden visited his son infrequently and had little presence in his life.
After divorcing her second husband, saxophonist George Weidler, Day married Martin Melcher, who would become her manager and produce many of her films.
Melcher adopted Terry, giving the child his surname. (NOTE: while showing concern for Terry in front of Doris---Terry later said Melcher abused him when Doris was not around.)
After Martin Melcher's death in 1968, Day discovered that he had mismanaged or embezzled $20 million of her money.
On November 19, 2004, Terry Melcher died at his home of melanoma, after a long illness. He was 62 and was survived by his wife, Terese, his son, Ryan Melcher, and his mother, Doris Day.[11]
"This film was chosen by Ross Hunter, the producer of her hit comedy, “Pillow Talk.” Playing the role in the film had a great effect on her physically. As the expert she is, she tried to develop a mental image of the woman she was playing and the part became very real to her. She said, “I became that woman to the best of my ability. To create the fear which the character I played had to project, I re-created the fear in myself which I had once felt in my own life. I relived it. It was painful and upsetting.” In one particular point in the emotional climax of the film, Doris has a very dramatic scene on a descending staircase. She says, “I wasn’t acting hysterical, I was hysterical, so at the end of the scene I collapsed in a real faint.” Production of the film had to be suspended for a few days. http://www.dorisday.net/midnight_lace.html
Doris, I have read, was thinking about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her first husband and father of her only child- who beat her in the stomach and threw her across the room, almost causing her to have a miscarriage. .
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