Doll Face (1946)

System Requirements:Running Time: 80 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS Rating: NR UPC: 024543520016 Manufacturer No: 2252001 Product Description

DOLL FACE

This post-war musical marked the eventual end of CARMEN MIRANDA'S contract with FOX. Once the highest paid actress in Hollywood in the early 40s, she was now reduced to B&W and just ONE Production number. In the height of her fame and popularity at FOX she had 3 musical/production numbers many with lavish sets and costumes and...in TECHNICOLOR!! However after the war,her novelty begain to wear thin with the public...with the "GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY" with tropical/Brazilian themes over, Fox had less interest in promoting her in future films. Her contract had a few years to go so she did two B&W "B" type musicals for FOX. This one "DOLL FACE" has been beautifully restored, and after looking at all the bad prints that were in Public Domain this transfer is superb!...like a totally new film...more detail and so much 1940s Nostalgia. As in other of my reviews I'll not go into the story line. There are many good songs in this film which showcases VIVIAN BLAINE(she herself now reduced to B&W). PERRY COMO has some great songs...lots of beautiful showgirls as well. The one production number for Carmen and the only time she sings in this film is called "CHICO" a somewhat lavish production number(how great if it had been in COLOR!)with Carmen singing and dancing her heart out in a tropical setting. She put so much into this number that she fractured her ribs, also getting a splinter in her bare foot (no platforms here!)that became infected. There was to be two production numbers...the other "SHE'S ALWAYS TRUE TO THE NAVY" was unfortunately cut from the film. It must have been cut late in the pre-release as most all the advertising, lobby cards and photos shows Carmen in her risque costume with the lighthouse on her head. Trivia has stated that the reason it was cut was due to the song rights owned by PARAMOUNT and they would not allow FOX to use what was Carmen's most'campy'production number. However, another and more acceptable reason was with the censors that felt that Carmen's number was too 'risque' and showed the U.S. Navy in a poor light...also Carmen's mis-pronounciation of the word "GENTLE"...hilarious!!!! MAY HAVE ALSO CAUSED A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I THINK IT WENT OVER THEIR HEADS! Check it out! Only from CARMEN! This 'lost' complete production number unearthed from the FOX vaults is fortunately inserted in the 'SPECIAL FEATURES' on this disc as are some wonderful production and portrait stills. The extras are worth the price of this disc...If your a CARMEN MIRANDA FAN...THIS IS A MUST!...4 stars only because it is in B&W...CARMEN IN B&W...no way! It is also part of the newly released 5-DVD set in the terrific new CARMEN MIRANDA COLLECTION.
July 11, 2008

There is a reason why so many movies end up forgotten. Doll Face is a good example

Doll Face proves the point that all old movies aren't classics. In fact, Doll Face proves the point that most movies, whether made 60 years ago, 30 years ago or last week, are deservedly forgotten because they age so badly.

This guy-has-doll, guy-loses-doll, guy-wins-doll-back story gives us Doll Face Carroll (Vivian Blaine), a burleyque star with a great voice and a big following among the bald-headed set, and Mike Hannegan (Dennis O'Keefe), her manager and the impresario of the burlesque house where she stars. Doll Face wants to go legit as a singer on Broadway and Mike wants to help her...but her notoriety as a burlesque queen gets in the way. So Mike cooks up an idea to have a noted author ghost Doll Face's memoirs and smooth over the rough spots. Doll Face will get culture and that will get her legit stage offers. Misunderstandings arise, or course, but all is resolved with a Broadway show starring Doll Face and all her pals from Mike's burlesque show, which means Perry Como, Carmen Miranda and Martha Stewart.

We get Como and Stewart singing and sort of dancing to "A-hubba, Hubba, Hubba," Blaine, Como and Stewart separately and in various combinations singing "Somebody's Walking in My Dreams," Como fronting the girls with "Red, Hot and Beautiful" and crooning "Here Comes Heaven Again," plus Carmen Miranda rolling her hips and eyes while trilling her r's through "Chico Chico," the big production number. Miranda is always Miranda, but in this black-and-white movie "Chico Chico" needs color and Busby Berkeley.

The strong parts of Doll Face, in my opinion, include a vivacious performance by Martha Stewart and a likeable performance, even with the Damon Runyon dialogue and clothes, by Dennis O'Keefe. Vivian Blaine, on the other hand, was an actress who I think you'll either like a lot or not be attracted to. For me, she's so polished and professional she never gets very close to my heart.

But let's hear it for the people who never get a mention; in this case, a bit player named Charles Williams. He was a small guy with a little mustache and an energetic manner. Did he ever get a credit line in any of the movies he appeared in? In Doll Face he has a tiny part as a drug store clerk reading a notice to Mike Hannegan. It's not much but he makes the most of it. For those with long memories or big DVD collections, you might remember him from Vogues of 1938. Williams plays a customs clerk in a big production number. We're watching him through a window where he works. For about two minutes he goes into a song and dance, not quite imitating Eddie Cantor. That's all the screen time he has. It's funny and first-rate, and he didn't get billing there, either. June 27, 2008

At last a transfer that is magnificent!

Doll Face has seen so many releases that feature poor quality vision and sound - but not anymore!!!! This release is both brilliant in vision and sound. To improve the sound you can isolate the soundtrack - do so and you get 21st Century quality sound - absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much 20th Century Fox - this is the way old movies should be released - tender loving care and magnificent transfers!!!! June 24, 2008

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