Doll Face

Pretty fantastic musical, enlivened no end by vivacious Vivian Blaine in the title role along with some memorable tunes ("Walking in My Dreams", "Here Comes Heaven Again").The story is straight-forward: burlesque star `Doll Face' Carroll (Vivian Blaine) publishes her autobiography entitled `Genius De Milo' and then goes on to star in a Broadway show based on it. Perry Como and Carmen Miranda sparkle in fine supporting roles but for fans of the sorely underrated Vivian Blaine this film is a sheer delight. This was based on a book written by Louise Hovick (aka Gypsy Rose Lee, the legendary burlesque artiste and raconteur).Blaine is perhaps still best-known and remembered for two roles: as Miss Adelaide in the 1950 original Broadway production of GUYS AND DOLLS (which she subsequently got to reprise in the film version); and Emily in the 1945 film of Rodgers and Hammerstein's STATE FAIR. Blaine had a very successful career as a nightclub and cabaret artist, but Hollywood fame strangely alluded her. Fox initially tried to market her as their next big musical leading lady when Alice Faye announced her retirement. Audiences sadly never quite latched onto her, more's the pity.My only gripe is the horrid sound quality, which is muffled and full of hiss. The picture quality is average (seems to be taken from a VHS master) but from Alpha what else can you expect? I can't understand why this delightful Twentieth Century-Fox musical has fallen into Public Domain territory.

I was watching this movie for Dennis O'Keefe, but the DVD is so horrible, I can't enjoy it. This is a Critics Choice Video release of a film that is in public domain. The only other release that's available is by Alpha Video, and is just as bad. Evidently both were made from the same poor quality master. The sound is obnoxiously loud, and the picture is contrasty and uncomfortable to watch, even though the package says "Digitally Restored." Nevertheless, all the actors are good, and I love Como's songs. O'Keefe is good, but this is not one of his better roles.If anyone else is interested in the films of Dennis O'Keefe, this is the first one out of about ten I've ordered recently that had poor quality. It's also the only one in which I've been disappointed for any reason. I'm hoping O'Keefe will be rediscovered at some point, and more of his films released, because they are wonderful. His range is broad. He does excellent dramatic work in Film Noir classics like T-Men and Raw Deal - both by Anthony Mann - and in Fighting Seabees with John Wayne; comedies like Up In Mabel's Room and Getting Gertie's Garter; detective pictures like Dishonored Lady and Cover Up; and family films like The Great Dan Patch.I think if a company releases a DVD on which the movie is substandard, they should state as much in their write-up, instead of waiting for people to get the film and then be disappointed. They aren't helping themselves by releasing substandard product. I wondered why Critic's Choice Video, a company with an extensive catalog, had a 92% satisfaction rating. Now I know.Waitsel Smith

Great cast including Dennis O'Keefe and Perry Como in one of his earliest films, such a voice that man had, and not bad to look at! The female leads were good as well, but I was unfamiliar with Vivian Blaine and Martha Stewart, and they were lovely, talented women in this movie. What impressed me, and this may be odd, but in a film of slender women, lots of extras for dance numbers, Carmen Miranda is the only one who seemed to have actual muscle tone/definition. Must be her dancing.Anyway, fitted around all the songs and dance numbers is a bit of predictable romance that I did enjoy, although the misunderstanding in this one was a bit irritating but that's all I'll say as I try not to do spoilers even on old movies.

Although he didn't have a leading role in this movie, Perry Como "made it great" for me. He made 3 films with Vivian Blaine and Carmen Miranda, but this one seems to set his singing apart more than the others. Show biz managers and ghost writers and deadlines and auditions, as well as over-the-top ambitions and wild ideas make this show a lot of fun to watch over and over again.

The storyline of a dancer at a club trying out,auditioning for better jobs as LIKE a singer.Her business partner hires a writer to write a book about her to better themselves as for the club where she works and so that she has enough publicityto have a chance on going further in her career.A good ENTERTAINING movie and Musical.

I love to turn on these old movies and do housework. It's what my mom did when I was young. Movies like this where on tv all the time, I love the sound of them playing in the back ground.

As usual, a great little story, but the video is very grainy. The classic free Prime videos are usually from copies of copies of copies, and have lost their clarity years ago. But then, they're free!.

This 2008 release of Doll Face is beautifully restored, except for the Hubba Hubba performance, just after the barking sound made by Vivian Blaine. The image and sound skip for a few seconds. Such a pity! It's the best scene of the film. And there's no good alternative to this DVD-relaease.

i love this film, mainly for carmen, but it is a great watch.

1st class all round