Doris Day [Paperback]

Eric Braun (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004

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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In the year of her 80th birthday, Doris Day is still one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. At sixteen, 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.

About the Author

Eric Braun MA (Cantab.) is a theatre and film critic and show-business writer. After service in the Royal Artillery he began his writing career with Odeon cinemas before entering the film industry. He has written biographies of Doris Day and Deborah Kerr and three books with Beryl Reid.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing; Rev Upd edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752817159
• ISBN-13: 978-0752817156
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater > Acting & Auditioning
  • #19 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Movies > General
  • #44 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Entertainers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Update on "Doris Day Her Own Story" Would Have Been Bette, September 12, 2004

By 

a viewer "a viewer" (antioch, tn United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Doris Day (Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Doris Day and anyone else Eric Braun knows of, October 20, 2004

By 

Fleet "paul koncevic music man" (geneva,illinois) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Doris Day (Paperback)

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.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revised and updated 2004 edition..., June 19, 2004

By 

Mr. K "Webmaster of the 'Discovering Doris' w... (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doris Day (Paperback)

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!