Star of the Month: Doris Day.

Doris Day (born April 3, 1923) is a very talented actress, singer, and animal rights activist. Doris Day's amazing career has spanned over 50 years. Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but hit the "Big Time" after her first hit recording, "Sentimental Journey".



After leaving Les Brown's Band, she started her partnership with Columbia Records. The contract lasted from 1947 to 1967, and produced more than 650 recordings. In 1948, she auditioned for Michael Curtiz, which led to the lead role in one of my favorite Doris Day films, Romance on the High Seas, her first film with close friend, Jack Carson.

A musical romantic comedy film nominated for two Academy Awards, for Original Song: "It's Magic".

The story is about wealthy Elvira Kent (Janis Paige) and her husband Michael (Don DeFore), who do not trust each other. Elvira makes plans for a cruise to Rio de Janeiro, to celebrate their wedding anniversary. She is very disappointed when her husband cancells because of business. She then sees an opportunity to catch him red handed. Elvira pretends to take the trip alone, but sends singer Georgia Garrett (Doris Day), a woman she'd met at the travel agency, in her place using her name. Michael, is also suspicious of Elvira's going on the trip alone and hires private detective Peter Virgil (Jack Carson) to see if she is sneaking around behind his back.

Peter joins the cruise and as part of his job, becomes friends with Georgia. Georgia, following the instructions of the real Elvira, pretends to be Elvira. Georgia and Peter are attracted to each other and gradually fall in love, which begins their troubles.

During one of the cruise stops, Georgia's friend, Oscar Farrar (Oscar Levant), comes on board. Oscar is in love with Georgia and when Peter spots them together, he thinks he has discovered the identity of Elvira's lover.

With a legendary Hollywood "girl next door" image, and capable of delivering comedy and romance, as well as heavy drama, she performed in 39 films, released 29 albums. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in, Pillow Talk.

Day's strong commitment to animal rights began in 1971, when she co-founded "Actors and Others for Animals". She started her own non-profit organization in the late 1970s, the Doris Day Animal Foundation and, later, the Doris Day Animal League. Establishing the annual observance Spay Day USA in 1994, The Doris Day Animal League now partners with the Humane Society of the United States and continues to be a leading advocacy organization. In 2004 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in recognition of her distinguished service to the country. President Bush recognized Miss Day's work on behalf of animals by saying, "It was a good day for our fellow creatures when she gave her good heart to the cause of animal welfare."

Video: Sentimental Journey (1 of 7) Doris Day documentary.