Coming up next is 1945's "Doll Face", starring Vivian Blaine, Dennis O'Keefe, Perry Como, and Carmen Miranda. A burlesque star wants to break into Broadway, but her beginnings in burlesque ensure that the doors are slammed in her face. She writes a book in the hopes that a little culture will pry those doors open again. The film's supporting cast includes Martha Stewart, Stephen Dunne, Reed Hadley, and Donald MacBride.
The film opens as "Doll Face" Carroll is auditioning for a Broadway producer. She does a beautiful rendition of "Somebody's Walking In My Dreams". Unfortunately for her, someone recognizes her as Doll Face Carroll, the Queen of Burlesque, and the object of New York men's desires. She stars in a show on the other side of town. The producer says he doesn't want her because she has no class.
In order to get her some class, Doll Face's manager (and boyfriend) arranges for her to "write" a book. He gets a ghostwriter to come down to the theater for an interview. At first, the writer, Frederick Manly Gerard, wants nothing to do with this aspect of the theater. One look at Doll Face changes his mind. When he leaves, Mike shows Doll Face some engagement rings he picked up at the jeweler. They're not engaged yet, but are waiting for the right time.
While talking with Gerard the next day, Mike gets an idea. He wants to take his whole show to Broadway. Mike says why should the big, fancy Broadway producer get all the publicity? The only problem is they don't have enough money to put on the show. Gerard saves the day and says he'll invest whatever sum they need. Doll Face gives him a big hug in gratitude and Mike gets jealous.
Mike watches as the two discuss the book and get along well. Gerard says the book is nearly finished and rehearsal starts on the show soon. He's a bit sad that their relationship will be over. Mike walks away just before Gerard tells Doll Face how he feels about her. She tells him not to talk that way. She loves Mike and no other guy will do. Mike comes back and tells her she doesn't need to write the book anymore. The show will do fine because of all the publicity the news of the book generated. Just gets angry when he tries to call it off. She tells him she's going through with the book being published, and she and Gerard storm off.
Right after this, Nicky (Perry Como) sings "Here Comes Heaven Again", something he's written for the new show.
It's a beautiful ballad that he sings to his love interest, another star of the burlesque show.
The next day, Gerard and Doll Face have to go to the publisher's weekend house on an island in Jamaica Bay. They rent a boat so they can be back for Doll Face's night performance. She's been distracted that day, because of her quarrel with Mike. Gerard tells her he'll get over it. While they're on their way to the publisher's house, the motor conks out on the boat. With no way to solve their problem, the two have to swim to the nearest shore and spend the night. Mike frantically searches for them.
Doll Face is horribly worried about what he'll think when she's not back. Unfortunately, Mike calls out the Coast Guard and arrives with them after they spot the boat stranded on a beach. Mike walks up and sees the two sleeping side by side. He thinks the worst, no matter what Gerard and Doll Face tell him. Despite their protestations, he refuses to believe that things happened like they said. He leaves them on the beach, and Doll Face leaves his burlesque show.
When Doll Face leaves the show, so do the customers, and Mike is forced to close it. Chita (Carmen Miranda) sets Mike straight about Doll Face, and tells him to apologize. He tells her he's tried, but she doesn't answer his phone calls and all his letters come back unopened. Chita also gives Mike the engagement rings back, saying Doll Face told her to send them to him.
Hurt by Mike's actions, Doll Face has started a relationship with Gerard, and he's given her a ring...no strings attached. If at any time she feels it's not right for her, she can give it back. Just after he gives it, the big Broadway producer shows up and wants Doll Face for a show. She suggests using her autobiography as source material for the show. She says they can also use the cast from her old burlesque troupe, and he's all for it.
The show goes into rehearsal. A few weeks before opening, Gerard tells Chita that Doll Face has been very short with him lately. During a rehearsal of "Somebody's Walking In My Dreams", Doll Face gets emotional and wants to cut the song. She says they should cut out the part of Mike Hannegan altogether. When Gerard goes after her, Doll Face sends him away. Chita uses the opportunity to call Mike and tell him to come and see Doll Face right away. However, Doll Face doesn't want to see him after the things he said that day on the beach. Mike tells Chita he's got an idea and Doll Face will talk to him if it's the last thing he ever does.
The opening night of the show comes, and Chita opens things with the fast-paced "Chico Chico".
Carmen Miranda's band, Bando da Lua, accompanies her in the number. It's quite humorous and full of fun.
When it's Doll Face's turn to come on, she finds she can't. Mike has slapped an injunction on the show. Since he has a personal contract with Doll Face, she can't appear unless he says so. And all he wants is to talk. Doll Face is still furious about the scene he made on the beach.
While Mike talks, Doll Face falls in love with him all over again. He agrees to let Doll Face go on. Before she does, she goes to the Broadway producer and gets Mike a twenty-five percent interest in the show, plus a producer's credit and top billing. She and Nicky sing the final number of the show, a medley of "Somebody's Walking In My Dreams" and "Here Comes Heaven Again". Cast rundown:
Vivian Blaine.....................................Doll Face Carroll
Dennis O'Keefe..................................Mike Hannegan
Perry Como.......................................Nicky Ricci
Carmen Miranda.................................Chita Chula
Donald MacBride................................Lawyer Ferguson And that's a wrap on Doll Face. The film was based on a book by legendary burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. Originally, Carole Landis had been slated to play Doll Face, but was unhappy with the script. Vivian Blaine stepped in.
One scene from the original script never made it into the movie. The film was advertised heavily using Carmen Miranda in a nautical outfit with a lighthouse headdress. The script called for her to sing the song "True To The Navy". Paramount Pictures, who owned the rights to the song, refused to let Fox use it. Although the scene was filmed, it was never used. It can be seen on the DVD release. The headdress Carmen wears can still be seen in the film, as a prop on her dressing table. As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.
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