Doris Day

by Eric Braun

In the year of her 80th birthday, Doris Day is still one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. At 16, she was already working as a singer, and by the 1950s, she was America’s sweetheart. Nominated for an Oscar for Pillow Talk in 1959, she starred opposite Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, and James Garner in a now-classic series of bedroom farces. Always portrayed as the wholesome girl-next-door, Doris Day’s squeaky-clean image kept her at the top for 24 years and 39 films. This affectionate biography, which features previously unreleased pictures by legendary Hollywood photographer Leo Fuchs, looks at the actress' childhood, her fame as a singer and actress, the near-fatal car crash that ended her career as a dancer, her four marriages, and the passionate campaigns for animal welfare that are now the focus of her life.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay I honestly admit immediately that any movie with Doris Day on the telly has me dropping anything else and watching the movie. I am not sure what the attraction is with a Doris Day movie, they are perhaps like a Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers movies so much blasted fun to watch.

Anyhow that made me want to read something about this great actress that has given so many hours of viewing pleasure. Well that taught me something about picking a biography of a star to read, as Doris Day has quite a few written about her, it is an art. I did pick the wrong book.

Mr Braun does write about Doris Day and the early days & Hollywood. While the man in her early days could restrain himself further on in the book he really goes overboard in giving so much extra information, not about Doris but he co-stars, directors and what not. Some extra information is welcome but the amount thrown at you becomes annoying and makes the book unreadable at times. Sure the man knows his classic Hollywood. He loses the plot a few times of I lost through the information dumps this author on too may an occasion throws at you.
What I learned mostly from this biography is that I need to find another that does Doris Day and her life a better service.

The best part about the movie is shortness, a mere 200 pages even at many occasions it feels like shedload more. The man knows his Hollywood but the story of Doris is overshadowed by too much information not necessarily about Doris Day. The only reason the man gets two stars is probably because his clear knowledge which makes the book too often a struggle to read, as a biography about Doris Day I advise anybody to steer clear from this book.

Now I have to find a better biography because even this one makes it clear that Doris never had an easy life, even if she choose so much of it with open eyes and trust in her fellow men/women.

[4cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have read better biographies on Doris (in fact her autobiography is excellent). For a woman portrayed by the industry and the press as the 'eternal virgin' and living the Amercan dream, she actually lived a really hard life, her first husband beat her and threatened to kill her, Marty Melcher lost every cent she ever earned and she was in 2 car crashes. And yet the woman continues to smile and ensures that we have alot of 'Doris Days'

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truly the worst biography I have ever read. The author was self-indulgent and took so many tangents that led absolutely nowhere and gave lengthy plot descriptions for each movie without every providing any insight into the actual filming or Day's experience on the film set. He also made lots of factual mistakes including referring to John Astin as "John Astley" which is the ultimate insult to the O.G. Gomez Adaams, and for that I can never forgive him. I have read generic biographies on Miley Cyrus and Justin Beiber that have more artistic merit than this nonsense, and one of Hollywood's biggest stars deserves a whole lot better than that. #justicefordorisday

[Oliveoyl306 · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were too many references to everyone who had a role in each film Doris made . I lost track of which film they were talking about. I ended up skipping over those paragraphs.

[Annette Abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a HUMONGOUS fan of Doris Day!! I love every movie, show, and song she has ever done. I loved reading about her life. But, it was kind of poorly written with alot of grammar and typo errors. But, I still love reading about this amazing woman!! LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worst. Written. Biography. Ever.