by Emma Bell
Films in the 1960s saw a shift to more sophisticated, urbane
comedies, which starred her friend Rock Hudson. They had genuine chemistry,
comic timing, and a good deal of love for each other.
A true talent, a true star.
There was no greater joy, as a child locked into a rather joyless
suburb of Birmingham in the 1970s, than to come across Doris Day’s glorious
talent, especially on a rainy Sunday, which was when her films usually played
on British T.V.
She simply shone in huge technicolour films, which seemed
made for her wide, happy personality.
She of course starred in many musicals where her comedic
disposition stood out. She was simply superb in Calamity Jane as the tomboy Calamity
(a role which happened to make her a gay icon):
She was carelessly classified as ‘The Girl Next Door’ but she
could be surprisingly sultry; her album ‘Latin for Lovers’ is chock full of
superb renditions like this:
And she could be dramatic: in a film role that was surprisingly hard
hitting (the plot included domestic abuse and extortion) the film, Love Me or
Leave Me saw her co-starring with Jimmy Cagney, a tough on-screen presence.
One of my favourites, Young at Heart pitched her with Frank Sinatra,
who played a struggling songwriter. She
might have been ‘The Girl Next Door’ but there was a surprising toughness to
her as well.
At one point, Doris was simply the biggest female star in
the world, but sadly was a victim of two awful husbands who stole her money and
subjected her to physical abuse.
She retired from the entertainment business and devoted
herself to animal welfare, setting up animal charities and lived quietly in
California until she died aged 97 this week.
She may well have reflected on her amazing career and life with the words of one of her most famous hits: Que Sera Sera (Whatever will be, will be)
She may well have reflected on her amazing career and life with the words of one of her most famous hits: Que Sera Sera (Whatever will be, will be)
A true talent, a true star.
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