Customer Reviews

Doll Face

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!!!!

One reviewer was watching this DVD for Vivian Blaine; another, for Perry Como. I was watching for Dennis O'Keefe. Now all we need is a review from someone watching it for Carmen Miranda and we'll be set.

I have to agree with the other two reviewers: the DVD is horrible, although I am watching the Critics Choice release rather than the Alpha version. Evidently both were made from the same poor quality master. The sound is obnoxiously loud, and the picture is contrasty and uncomfortable to watch, even though the package says "Digitally Restored." Nevertheless, all the actors are good, and I love Como's songs. O'Keefe is good, but this is not one of his better roles.

If anyone else is interested in the films of Dennis O'Keefe, this is the first one out of about ten I've ordered recently that had poor quality. It's also the only one in which I've been disappointed for any reason. I'm hoping O'Keefe will be rediscovered at some point, and more of his films released, because they are wonderful. His range is broad. He does excellent dramatic work in Film Noir classics like T-Men and Raw Deal - both by Anthony Mann - and in Fighting Seabees with John Wayne; comedies like Up In Mabel's Room and Getting Gertie's Garter; detective pictures like Dishonored Lady and Cover Up; and family films like The Great Dan Patch.

I think if a company releases a DVD on which the movie is substandard, they should state as much in their write-up, instead of waiting for people to get the film and then be disappointed. They aren't helping themselves by releasing substandard product. I wondered why Critic's Choice Video, a company with an extensive catalog, had a 92% satisfaction rating. Now I know.

Waitsel Smith

I urge anyone who even thinks about it not to buy this movie. Its so bad it was difficult to give it 1 star.
Being a great fan of Perry Como, and being brought up in the 50`s with nothing but happy memories of his TV shows i was waiting for this movie to be released. It was never released it escaped. The quality is awful, the sound is bad and the picture the same. I should have known better what else can you expect from Alpha Video. I know it was a budget price but i expected something better than this. I watched half an hour and threw it in the trash in disgust. Lets hope one day will see a better quality copy appear and also a release of Words and Music which also featured Mr C.

Pretty fantastic musical, enlivened no end by vivacious Vivian Blaine in the title role along with some memorable tunes ("Walking in My Dreams", "Here Comes Heaven Again").

The story is straight-forward: burlesque star `Doll Face' Carroll (Vivian Blaine) publishes her autobiography entitled `Genius De Milo' and then goes on to star in a Broadway show based on it. Perry Como and Carmen Miranda sparkle in fine supporting roles but for fans of the sorely underrated Vivian Blaine this film is a sheer delight. This was based on a book written by Louise Hovick (aka Gypsy Rose Lee, the legendary burlesque artiste and raconteur).

Blaine is perhaps still best-known and remembered for two roles: as Miss Adelaide in the 1950 original Broadway production of GUYS AND DOLLS (which she subsequently got to reprise in the film version); and Emily in the 1945 film of Rodgers and Hammerstein's STATE FAIR. Blaine had a very successful career as a nightclub and cabaret artist, but Hollywood fame strangely alluded her. Fox initially tried to market her as their next big musical leading lady when Alice Faye announced her retirement. Audiences sadly never quite latched onto her, more's the pity.

My only gripe is the horrid sound quality, which is muffled and full of hiss. The picture quality is average (seems to be taken from a VHS master) but from Alpha what else can you expect? I can't understand why this delightful Twentieth Century-Fox musical has fallen into Public Domain territory.

I was watching this movie for Dennis O'Keefe, but the DVD is so horrible, I can't enjoy it. This is a Critics Choice Video release of a film that is in public domain. The only other release that's available is by Alpha Video, and is just as bad. Evidently both were made from the same poor quality master. The sound is obnoxiously loud, and the picture is contrasty and uncomfortable to watch, even though the package says "Digitally Restored." Nevertheless, all the actors are good, and I love Como's songs. O'Keefe is good, but this is not one of his better roles.

If anyone else is interested in the films of Dennis O'Keefe, this is the first one out of about ten I've ordered recently that had poor quality. It's also the only one in which I've been disappointed for any reason. I'm hoping O'Keefe will be rediscovered at some point, and more of his films released, because they are wonderful. His range is broad. He does excellent dramatic work in Film Noir classics like T-Men and Raw Deal - both by Anthony Mann - and in Fighting Seabees with John Wayne; comedies like Up In Mabel's Room and Getting Gertie's Garter; detective pictures like Dishonored Lady and Cover Up; and family films like The Great Dan Patch.

I think if a company releases a DVD on which the movie is substandard, they should state as much in their write-up, instead of waiting for people to get the film and then be disappointed. They aren't helping themselves by releasing substandard product. I wondered why Critic's Choice Video, a company with an extensive catalog, had a 92% satisfaction rating. Now I know.

Waitsel Smith

I've always had a soft spot for DOLL FACE, Twentieth Century-Fox's 1946 musical treat starring Vivian Blaine, Carmen Miranda and Perry Como. So when I heard that Fox was finally going to release their own pristine print on DVD, I was thrilled to finally junk my old Alpha public domain copy.

The plot for DOLL FACE was derived from a story entitled "The Naked Genius" written by renowned burlesque legend Gypsy Rose Lee (aka Louise Hovick). Vivian Blaine stars as stripper Doll Face Carroll, whose ghostwritten autobiography "Genius De Milo" becomes the catalyst for her talents to shine on Broadway. Along the way there's a rivalry between the two men in the Doll's lovelife (Dennis O'Keefe and Stephen Dunne); and some fun musical numbers with Carmen Miranda ("Chico Chico") and Perry Como ("Here Comes Heaven Again", and his classic "Dig You Later (A-Hubba Hubba Hubba)").

After enduring fuzzy, washed-out PD prints for years, it's a revelation to finally watch DOLL FACE in it's authorized studio version. This is Vivian Blaine's show all the way, and she has an infectious, fun-loving role as Doll Face Carroll. Carmen Miranda's a hoot as well.

Bonus features include Carmen Miranda's deleted musical number "True to the Navy", a mini commentary track from historian John Cork, photo galleries and the trailer. Welcome home, Doll Face!

Available separately or as part of Fox's Carmen Miranda Collection box-set (which also boasts "If I'm Lucky", "Greenwich Village" and "Something for the Boys" in addition to a colour-corrected remaster of "The Gang's All Here").

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.

This 2008 release of Doll Face is beautifully restored, except for the Hubba Hubba performance, just after the barking sound made by Vivian Blaine. The image and sound skip for a few seconds. Such a pity! It's the best scene of the film. And there's no good alternative to this DVD-relaease.

Doll Face is a fairly good movie musical from Twentieth Century-Fox. The acting is rather convincing with the exception of Perry Como who appears rather stiff and uncomfortable; I just get the sense he held back a lot when he was on screen. The plot moves along at a good pace and the musical numbers are staged and choreographed very well. The cinematography is also very well done. The print quality is excellent although I am left wondering why they didn't film this in color.

When the action starts, we quickly meet Mary Elizabeth "Doll Face" Carroll (Vivian Blaine), a burlesque queen who comes to a ritzy Broadway theater with her boyfriend and stage manager Michael Francis "Mike" Hannegan (Dennis O'Keefe). She's trying out for Flo Hartman's (Reed Hadley) new operetta called "Park Avenue;" but even though they like her Hartman won't hire her because she's a burlesque queen. Naturally, Doll Face and Mike are upset--until Mike gets the idea that Doll Face should write a book to prove that she's got class, "true" cultured talent and loads of sophistication. When Doll Face expresses her doubts to Mike that she can write such a book; Mike simply says they'll hire a ghost writer and pay him off to make it look as if Doll Face had truly written her autobiography.

But trouble starts when the ghostwriter, Frederick Manly Gerard (Stephen Dunne), sees Doll Face; he begins to fall for her. At first, Doll Face refuses his advances and keeps everything strictly business even though Mike starts to feel threatened. Mike also gets sporadic advice from Chita Chula (Carmen Miranda), who also works in Mike's burlesque show. For a while things go fairly well--until Fred and Doll Face get stuck on the water in a boat when all Fred and Doll Face wanted to do was get to the publisher who lives on a small island off Jamaica Bay. Naturally, Mike misinterprets all this and he dumps Doll Face; she's pretty angry too and a romance does begin to blossom between Doll Face and Fred.

Of course from here the plot can go anywhere. At one point, Mike thinks that maybe they can put on their own show after Doll Face's book comes out; maybe they don't need to be in any Hartman show to be on Broadway--will this work out? Especially with these complications, that could be dicey. Will Doll Face ever patch things up with Mike--or will she accept Fred's offer of marriage and remain with Fred after all? And what about Nicky Ricci (Perry Como) who wants to go out with chorus girl Frankie Porter (Martha Stewart)--will he ever be able to catch her eye? Watch and find out!

The DVD comes with a few extras. There is a deleted scene with an optional commentary for that scene; and the stills gallery is very nicely done.

Doll Face is a "B" movie musical that could have been an "A" rated film if only Fox had given it its due. The musical numbers, especially the ones that feature Carmen Miranda and Vivian Blaine, are very good but without color they lacked that certain "something extra." However, this film isn't all that bad; and we do get fine acting from all except Perry Como who really sings much more than he acts or dances. If you like classic movie musicals, you should at least consider adding this one to your collection. Of course, fans of the actors in this movie would do well to get this DVD.

Pretty fantastic musical, enlivened no end by vivacious Vivian Blaine in the title role along with some memorable tunes ("Walking in My Dreams", "Here Comes Heaven Again").

The story is straight-forward: burlesque star 'Doll Face' Carroll (Vivian Blaine) publishes her autobiography entitled 'Genius De Milo' and then goes on to star in a Broadway show based on it. Perry Como and Carmen Miranda sparkle in fine supporting roles but for fans of the sorely underrated Vivian Blaine this film is a sheer delight. This was based on a book written by Louise Hovick (aka Gypsy Rose Lee, the legendary burlesque artiste and raconteur).

Blaine is perhaps still best-known and remembered for two roles: as Miss Adelaide in the 1950 original Broadway production of GUYS AND DOLLS (which she subsequently got to reprise in the film version); and Emily in the 1945 film of Rodgers and Hammerstein's STATE FAIR. Blaine had a very successful career as a nightclub and cabaret artist, but Hollywood fame strangely alluded her. Fox initially tried to market her as their next big musical leading lady when Alice Faye announced her retirement. Audiences sadly never quite latched onto her, more's the pity.

My only gripe is the horrid sound quality, which is muffled and full of hiss. The picture quality is average (seems to be taken from a VHS master) but what else can you expect?