Customer Reviews

Lullaby of Broadway

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The 1951 Warner Brothers release, "Lullaby of Broadway" was a big success at the box-office. Warners had taken the hit song from one of their big 1930's extravaganzas, dressed it all in pretty technicolor, given it a typical back-stage storyline and filled it with a lot of talented and gifted performers. It was a surefire recipe for success and it succeeded admirably.
From the opening frames when star Doris Day, donned in a tux, ala Eleanor Powell, sings and dances her way delightfully through Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things", the audience is whisked away on a melodic journey. The songs come fast and furious thereby capably keeping the audience from realizing they'd seen the story done before and that the chemistry between Miss Day and co-star Gene Nelson is more like that between a brother and a sister than two sweethearts.
Doris Day arrives in America to visit her mother who she has been led to believe is a great American star. The plot deals with the efforts of those around her in preventing her from realizing the truth. In the meantime Doris meets talented dancer Nelson, they fall in love, and by the end of the picture Day is rendering the ultimate version of the title tune in a lavish number that'll leave a smile on everyones' face.
After only three years of making films, Doris Day easily proves why her rise to superstardom was accompished so quickly. While there is little to challenge her thespian skills, she makes the most of the opportunities presented and is completely winning and natural. It's during the musical sequences that she shows why she was Warner Brothers best musical asset in the late 40's and early 50's. No one else could come close.
Gene Nelson is a very talented and athletic dancer. His "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" is a kockout. He and Miss Day make a great dancing pair, in particular doing "You're Getting To Be a Habit With Me" and a new song composed for the picture, "I Love The Way You Say Goodnight". As previously noted however, the chemistry Day had with other Warner co-stars such as Gordon MacRae and even Jack Carson, seems to be missing. It throws the picture ever so slightly off balance.
S.Z. Sakall and Florence Bates are a delight in supporting roles, as are Billy DeWolfe and Anne Triola, as musical "staff" to Sakall and Bates. Gladys George, a notable dramatic actress in the 1930's, provides a moving and powerful portrayal as Day's mother and they have a scene together that is extremely effective.
While I don't think it quite measures up to some of Day's other Warners pictures, "Lullaby of Broadway" is nevertheless a tuneful formula picture, blessed with some fine talent and if you're not tapping your feet during Day's snappy rendition of the title tune, then you need to check for a pulse. This is one lullaby that won't put you to sleep.

Doris Day is enchanting as Melinda Howard, in this 1950s classic. The songs will have you're toes tapping! This movie is touching, romantic, funny, and most of all entertaining. It is sure to delight both young and old alike. If you are fan of Doris Day, or even if you're not, Lullaby of Broadway, is a must for any movie collection!!!

I've watched the video about 4 or 5 times and I have come to the conclusion that the film is about one of the best early Doris Day films in existence. The dancing, the singing and the cute story are but a few of the wonderful things the film has to offer. The supporting cast, especially S.Z. Sakall, who was a great Viennese actor in early 1930s, provides one of the best examples of character acting in movie musical history. Florence Bates and Anne Triola, who teams with Billy DeWolfe, are excellent in their roles, too. You would be foolish to pass this one up!

C'mon along and join Doris Day and a top supporting cast in a high-stepping musical feast - the infectious LULLABY OF BROADWAY!

Melinda Howard (Doris Day) a young up-and-coming musical star, has just arrived back in New York, totally unaware that her mother Jessica (Gladys George), once the biggest star on Broadway, is now singing in a dingy tavern. The mansion which Jessica used to own has now been taken over by a rich brewery magnate and his wife (S.Z. Sakall and Florence Bates).

Old-time vaudevilians Lefty and Gloria (Billy DeWolfe and Anne Triola), now the butler and maid of the house, take Melinda under their wing and uphold the ruse that Jessica is just 'out of town'...

Complications arise when Melinda finds herself on the cusp of Broadway fame, just as Jessica's cover is blown! Gene Nelson co-stars as the brash and confident dancer who falls in love with Melinda.

Doris Day as usual gives her all in the lead role. Gladys George was a perfect casting choice for Melinda's washed-up alcoholic mother and Florence Bates is fun in one of her trademark 'society matron' roles. Billy DeWolfe, S.Z. Sakall and Gene Nelson would go on to co-star with Doris Day again in the successful TEA FOR TWO (both movies were made and released in the same year and were big box office drawcards for Warners).

A top Hollywood musical.

completely enjoyable with my favorite version of 'Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart' sung and danced by Gene Nelson. If I didn't own it already, I'd buy it again.

I've watched this Musical so many times and still get a great joy in watching it, it's so breath-taking with the songs, dance's and story line. I've just bought this video, and I would recommend it to anyone. Doris Day is my favourite actress of all time, and she teams well with Gene Nelson (who is a fantastic dancer).

She's a singer and a tap-dancer. Doris Day does it all. She is an entertainer aboard a cruise ship. She's come back to the United States to visit her mother. Her mother is also a singer, but in a nightclub. What Doris does not know, her mother no longer has the New York house and she is no longer a well-known Broadway star. She is too ashamed to see her daughter the way her life has turned. Very nice musical! Tunes include: "Lullaby of Broadway", "In a Shanty In Old Shanty Town", "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", "Somebody Loves Me", "I Love The Way You Say Goodnight".
Also in the cast: Billy DeWolfe (one of Doris' closest friends), Gladys George, Florence Bates and Anne Triola.
Best line: Doris gives Gene Nelson a gift. She says that there is a message on there for you. It's a 1949 penny that says atop, "In God We Trust".
Awesome mechanical dolls number.

Doris Day and Gene Nelson star in this classic movie! Doris Day is going to New York from Londan England. Doris is going home from England thinking that she is going to be metting his mother but she then learns that her mother has been lying and she is not a famous singing but a singer at a local Night Club! This also stars Cuddles as the sweet man who tries to cheer Miss Day up by buying her a nice mink stole and a lot of other nice stuff! This movie will keep you in stitches! But then Cuddles wife finds out and gets really mad at her! This is a hilarious and a very funny movie! You will always enjoy this movie!

... one of my all time favorite musical songs sung by Doris Day.

Never seen before this movie but I had been curious about. Not bad. Doris Days sings the songs more with swing, Gene Nelson Tap-Dancing isn't bad... but when I'm comparing the tap-dances of the Song "Lullaby of Broadway" with this Movie and "Gold Diggers of 1935" then definitive I prefer the 1935 version. There it was a much bigger scene, more innovativ.

This movie isn't bad. No, its funny. Specially S.Z.Sakall is funny with his nervous gestic / acting and accent.
Doris Days singing also is great like all the time and Gene Nelson tap dancing very good too.

A specially dancing scene: the dancing doll!!!

The DVD:

The picture quality is incredible good, no damages or something. The sound is in MONO and good too.

Bonus: only a few Doris Day movie trailer.

FAZIT: when you like tap dancing, Doris Day, musical comedies then you could like the movie.

I'm a fan and the singing and dancing was just too wonderful to miss! Loved Gene Nelson's dancing especially. I actually was fortunate enough to meet him a couple of times. And he was still hopping around at 70!