Customer Reviews

Doris Day

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

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!

I have to agree with the other readers who have given low ratings for this book. Eric Braun's biography of Doris Day is perhaps the most poorly written book I have read in years. The sentences (which are more like paragraphs) are extremely long and packed with a lot of parenthetical, somewhat disconnected information. When you come to the end of a long sentence, you are not sure if the final words refer to what just preceded, or the middle, or the beginning of the sentence. Quoted information is not well punctuated--passing between quotes and author's comments without much clarity. Bad writing aside, we learn little of Ms. Day's early training and experience, the basis for her success as a fine singer and actress, her feelings about the "Hollywood scene", the underlying motivation for her retreat to the Carmel area, and other aspects which the reader would like to know in order to have some impression of just who this remarkable women really is. Perhaps with a person as special as Doris Day, we can never expect to have a comprehensive understanding of her.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I bought Doris Day "Her Own Story" by A.E.Hotchner back in the 1970`s, but this book has quite a bit of new news, stories and photo`s. It tells you all about her early days in the band and the trials and tribulations of her personal life. It includes a lot of other actors and producers opinions of Doris that she has worked with over the years. The book also talks about her home in Carmel, which offers a glance at the beautiful surroundings in which she lives. All in all I thought the book was well researched and gives an interesting insight into a much loved and respected Lady of the Silver Screen. I would definitely recommend buying it if you are a film buff or a fan of Doris Day. From Meryl Heasman (songwriter) CATFLAP MUSIC England.

Here is the problem: this book is apparently a reprint, but no one seems to have corrected anything. With the result that about a chapter or so into this mess, the author disccusses William Randolph Hurst. "William Randolph Hurst"?! That the author is British is no excuse. William R. Hearst was not only one of the most famous men of his time, but has left quite a legacy. So do yourself a favor and miss this one. I discarded my kindle version immediately and so will you.

This is a great read about Doris Day - you see many of the trials that she has endured - and get to understand
some of the things that helped shape her. Doris has to be one of the most inspirational people of our time - one who never seemed to get sucked in to the shallow world of movie stars. Her work with animals, and the Doris Day Animal League is so inspiring, and just like Doris. There is nothing like a animal to let you know that you are not a star because you are on tv - or make a million bucks - you are a star if you hold them right, help them, feed them - play with them!
You also learn about the tv show that Doris never knew she was supposed to star in - until after the sudden
death of her husband - which left her broke. But the show did go on - and through one of the apparently toughest periods in her life - she gave a great performance, as always. My only regret regarding her tv show was not keeping the concept she started with - the farm, and especially the kids. My favorite episodes are the first few years - heartwarming, charming, funny, and intelligent!

The author of this book is an egomaniacal, gossipy gabber. Inbetween blurbs about Doris, he gives a complete plot description of her films, interspersing gossip about the other stars. I do not appreciate reading about HIS childhood; he took this opportunity to recount facets of his life, instead of focusing on the celebrity of whom he purports to be fan. He does her other fans a disservice by wating our time with non-Doris Day info. I got about 1/4 the way thru this book and discarded it for the junk it is. As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Braun owes me $9.95.

...but that's where this one went. I've never read a more poorly written, sycophantic, piece of embarrassing drivel than this "biography" of Doris Day. The archaic, obseqious style is neauseating and could never have been authorized by Ms. Day, I surmise, if the sweet little octegenarian weren't a little dotty herself, making her and this "author" very compatible. If you are the least bit literate and hate wasting money, move on.