Doris Day

Rating:
Summary: An Update on "Doris Day Her Own Story" Would Have Been Bette
Review: Braun makes a valid attempt to immortalize Doris Day in this tepid biography. However, most of it is repetitous quoting from Doris' own autobiography published in 1975. The plot lines from the movies are taken from the "Films of Doris Day" book that came out in the late seventies. There is nothing new that I learned about Doris from this book that I didn't already know. It would have been nice to have read about her life after her TV series and her decision to move to Carmel and why she has chosen not to pursue any new Hollywood projects. But Braun makes a hurried attempt in the final pages of the book to wrap things up and one can't help but feel cheated that they're not getting the whole story. Oh and one more thing, any true Doris Day fan knows that in the movie "Storm Warning" in which she dies at the end, the character's name that is played by Ginger Rogers, her sister in the movie, is Marsha, NOT MARTHA. As I said, I learned nothing new in this biography and wish that A.E. Hotchner would come up with an updated version of Doris Day's autobiography. It would definitely have been better.

Rating:
Summary: A golden glow
Review: Erik Braun's book is a labor of love, and he has actually spent some time with the retired screen goddess. He gives us priceless glimpses of the films that never got made, as well as a knowing eye at the ones that did. For an Englishman, his takes on US pop culture are well-researched and never get in the way of his critical insights.

His comments on Marty Melcher, the bete noire of the Day story, are remarkably even-tempered, and his take on Day's practice of Christian Science ditto. He's got an opinion on everything, but he's agreeable enough to make you wish the book was twice as long as it is.

The comical thing is that in every paragraph, Braun somehow makes a British connection whenever possible; sometimes it seems like he's pulling them out of his arse as he goes along. Who would have guessed that Doris, the all-American girl, had less than six degrees of separation to so many UK institutions? She starred with British born Cary Grant in THAT TOUCH OF MINK, Rex Harrison in MIDNIGHT LACE and with Richard Harris in CAPRICE. (Harris, mysteriously, refused to speak to Braun without a signed release from Doris Day.) The sequences of the Hitchcock film, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, that were filmed in London, get special attention here. Erix Braun compares Doris Day to the British musical comedy stars Jessie Matthews, Gracie Fields and Gertrude Lawrence. And a host of character actors from England made appearances in Doris' films, from Terry-Thomas to Reginald Gardiner.

Who was the co-star with whom Doris later fell in love and had an affair during her TV years? In her own memoir Doris refused to identify him, for he was a married man then. Braun preserves his anonymity, though a fancy bit of writing suggests, then denies, that he is thinking of Kirk Douglas for the part. I wonder!

Rating:
Summary: A golden glow
Review: Erik Braun's book is a labor of love, and he has actually spent some time with the retired screen goddess. He gives us priceless glimpses of the films that never got made, as well as a knowing eye at the ones that did. For an Englishman, his takes on US pop culture are well-researched and never get in the way of his critical insights.

His comments on Marty Melcher, the bete noire of the Day story, are remarkably even-tempered, and his take on Day's practice of Christian Science ditto. He's got an opinion on everything, but he's agreeable enough to make you wish the book was twice as long as it is.

The comical thing is that in every paragraph, Braun somehow makes a British connection whenever possible; sometimes it seems like he's pulling them out of his arse as he goes along. Who would have guessed that Doris, the all-American girl, had less than six degrees of separation to so many UK institutions? She starred with British born Cary Grant in THAT TOUCH OF MINK, Rex Harrison in MIDNIGHT LACE and with Richard Harris in CAPRICE. (Harris, mysteriously, refused to speak to Braun without a signed release from Doris Day.) The sequences of the Hitchcock film, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, that were filmed in London, get special attention here. Erix Braun compares Doris Day to the British musical comedy stars Jessie Matthews, Gracie Fields and Gertrude Lawrence. And a host of character actors from England made appearances in Doris' films, from Terry-Thomas to Reginald Gardiner.

Who was the co-star with whom Doris later fell in love and had an affair during her TV years? In her own memoir Doris refused to identify him, for he was a married man then. Braun preserves his anonymity, though a fancy bit of writing suggests, then denies, that he is thinking of Kirk Douglas for the part. I wonder!

Rating:
Summary: Review of Updated Version
Review: Having already got an older edition of this biography, I wondered what reason there would be in getting this 2004 revised and updated version for her 80th birthday. Well, there is reason. It does include a worthy amount of new things (among them, some cool "previously unreleased" photos by Leo Fuchs) and it's worth picking up for the "extra" content, not in previous editions. Of course, if you never had an older edition before, then that's all the more reason for you to buy it.

This book by British writer, Eric Braun, was originally a "Top 10" bestselling biography, and it has been well written, researched, and is a good, accurate look at the life of screen legend, Doris Day, who was by far the greatest female talent in the movies, and music business.

However, for us more dedicated fans, who have seen all 39 of her movies, a good number of times over, you might find that the author goes a little "over-the-top" on detailing out the plotlines of all her movies. His interesting opinions though, and "behind-the-scenes" info, are all the more welcome. For those of you who have not seen all of her movies though, it may be more usefull to you, and more welcome, than it is to me (and some others).

At the end of the book, it does include complete listings of her filmography, with small information towards them. A discography, TV-Show appearances, and so on. That load of information that's been compiled at the end alone, is actually a good little bit to take a look at and "browse" through.

This book is a "must-have" for Doris Day fans, and, if one hasn't already picked up the official biography, "Doris Day: Her Own Story" (which is indeed, long out-of-print now) then you will want to aswell. Although I suggest you give Micheal Freedland's "The Illustrated Biography" a miss (which I suggest more for completists only). So pick up this new edition, which no doubt you won't be disappointed in.

Rating:
Summary: Doris Day and anyone else Eric Braun knows of
Review: Hoping for more insight on one of my favorite talents and finding nothing new except for Mr. Braun's relentless stream of consciosness on everyone from Vera Lynn to Gladys George and anyone in between. Some times, because of these tangents it was hard to keep straight just who he was talking about. Possibly the worst written and least researched book I've ever read. let's hope the next bio on this gal is better. Would love to hear more about the making of her best film "Love Me Or Leave Me." she deserves more scrutiny as an artist.



Rating:
Summary: Revised and updated 2004 edition...
Review: In the year of Doris's 80th birthday, Orion Publishing in the UK revise and update their bestselling biography by British writer, Eric Braun.

The book is an informative and honest account of the lady who can only be described as a showbiz legend! Expect NO tabloid twists, just a good read with some stunning new b/w shots from the 1960s, a photo of Grandma Doris in the new millennium and detailed listings of her music, movies and awards.

This book is a faithful companion for anyone who admires Doris, one of the main reasons why I got involved in revising this edition in time for her epic 80th!

If you haven't yet bought this book I'd wholeheartedly recommend it. If you have a previous edition this one knocks spots of those before - as it contains lots of new content. In the absense of her official biography (Doris Day: Her Own Story), which is out of print, this one is the BEST on the market!