Monday, July 18, 2011

All Aboard!



Romance On The High Seas(1948). Musical romantic comedy. Cast: Jack Carson, Janis Paige, Don DeFore, and Doris Day in her film debut. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Original Song for "It's Magic" (music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn), and Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture (Ray Heindorf).

The story begins when Elvira Kent and her husband Michael suspect each other of cheating. Elvira books an ocean cruise to Rio de Janeiro. When her husband tells her that an unexpected business has popped up and he can not go, Elvira pretends to take the trip alone, sending in her place singer Georgia Garrett, a woman she just met at the travel agency. Now, she can spy on Michael to see if he is two timing her. Meanwhile, Michael hires private detective Peter Virgil to keep an eye on her.

Peter befriends Georgia (believing her to be Elvira). They fall in love, which livens things up.. Georgia's boyfriend, is also aboard. When Peter sees them together, he thinks he has discovered the identity of Elvira's lover.

This is my favorite Doris Day's movie and her winning personality was enough to launch one of Hollywood's most successful film careers.





Luxury Liner(1948). The story begins when Polly, asks her dad who is the skipper of a luxury liner to take her on a cruise to Rio. To her disappointment Captain Bradford refuses, wanting her to stay in school. Polly, decides to stow away and tries to impress a operatic star on board with her singing skills.

You will love Jane Powell, in this happy and upbeat movie..





Love Affair(1939). Romantic film. Cast: Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer and  Maria Ouspenskaya. It was directed by Leo McCarey.

Love Affair was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing, Original Story (Mildred Cram, Leo McCarey), Best Original Song (Buddy G. DeSylva, For the song "Wishing"), and Best Art Direction (Van Nest Polglase, Alfred Herman).

The film was remade in 1957 as An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr and in 1994 as Love Affair, starring Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, and, in her last film performance, Katharine Hepburn.

The story begins when French painter Michel Marnet meets American singer Terry McKay, aboard a liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They are both already engaged to other people, but.. that does not stop them from falling in love. The couple makes plans to meet six months later on top of the Empire State Building. Unfortunately, Terry... is hit by a car, on her way to meet Michel and she finds out that she may be crippled, for the rest of her life. Will they ever see each other ever again?

Dunne sings "Sing My Heart" beautifully. Also, a worthwhile film version of the original.





Please Believe Me(1950). Romantic comedy film directed by Norman Taurog. Cast: Deborah Kerr, Robert Walker, Mark Stevens and Peter Lawford.

The story begins when Alison Kirbe, finds out she has inherited a Texas ranch from a soldier she had befriended during World War II. While traveling to America from London, across the Ocean by boat, she meets Terence Keath, who owes a lot of money to casino owner, Lucky Reilly. He quickly comes up with a plan to marry a rich woman and sets his cap for, Alison, who he thinks is a wealthy heiress. Millionaire Jeremy Taylor, also becomes attracted to Alison.

While enjoying her trip, she finds herself attracted to Matthew, but he mistakenly accuses her of being part of a scheme. After arriving in America, Alison makes plans stay in New York, for a week before traveling to Texas. Matthew, tries to find more information on the ranch, which makes him suspect her more.

Later, Matthew finds out Alison's ranch is not worth much and confronts her again with trying to rip off Jeremy. Alison, now angry at Matthew for thinking she was part of a scheme, breaks down in tears. With all the twists and turns, who does Alison decide to marry in the end?

Peter Lawford, was my favorite character playing the perfect, fun, rich guy.




Ship Of Fools (1965). Drama which tells the overlapping stories of several passengers aboard an ocean liner bound to Germany from Mexico in 1933. Cast: Vivien Leigh, Simone Signoret, José Ferrer, Lee Marvin, Oskar Werner, Michael Dunn, Elizabeth Ashley, George Segal, José Greco and Heinz Rühmann.

The movie was adapted by Abby Mann from the novel of the same name by Katherine Anne Porter. It was directed by Stanley Kramer.

It was to be Vivien Leigh's last film and Christiane Schmidtmer's first US film. The Fat Man was portrayed by Henry Calvin, who was known for starring on Walt Disney's television series Zorro as Sergeant Demetrio Lopez Garcia. Lt. Huebner was portrayed by Werner Klemperer, who was best known for his portrayal of Colonel Wilhelm Klink in the 1965-1971 CBS television comedy, Hogan's Heroes.

The story begins when the ship's doctor, Schumann, decides to take special care of La Condesa, a countess from Spain who is addicted to drugs and is being shipped to a German prison. The doctor has a terminal heart condition. Which does not stop him and the countess from falling in love. Will he be able to save her from going to prison?



3 comments:

  1. Dawn,
    This was a fun topic! Sadly I haven't seen "Luxury Liner" or Romance of the High Seas" but Love Affair always comes to mind when I think of ship themed films and then "Now Voyager".
    Great clips.
    Page

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  2. Page, I hope you were able to see, "Romance of the High Seas" last night on TCM. It is my favorite Doris Day, movies. It was also wonderful to see Jane Powell, stepping in as guest host for, Robert Osborne, while he is recouping.

    I was also kind of hoping to see the films, "Love Affair" and "Now Voyager", in last nights line up of films..

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  3. You forogt to mention the Marx Bros. Monkey Business (1931). Groucho trying to romance Thelma Todd on the high seas

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