Doll Face

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.

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.

The whole cast is good, but kudos go to Carmen Miranda who delivers some of the funniest dialogue and wildest dance routines. But everyone in the cast is perfect. This musical somehow really works unlike many Hollywood movies of that time.

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

Entertaining for my parents in their 80s. They enjoyed it.

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!.

I got this for work, seniors in an assisted living with Alzheimer's/Dementia. They loved it, at times they have a hard time staying awake, not with movies like this. Everyone loved it, great music, singing and dancing. I highly recommend it. I liked it too.

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

1st class all round

The 1946 movie Doll Face has finally been released by 20th Century Fox in pristine form.I have seen this movie many times(too many)on tv in either trincated and/or very washed out form.This print however is crisp and very clean and 20th Century is to be congratulated on its' efforts here.Having said that however the movie itself is not one that holds up very well.There are countless others of this time period with as trivial a plotline as this that DO hold up very well(see "Down Argentine Way" or "Weekend in Havana").However "Doll Face"'s plot unfortunately falls flat more often than not and in the end is not as satisfying as it might otherwise be.Also Dennis O'Keefe's tough guy persona overwhelms the rest of the casts'characters so much that at times he proves to be a distraction from the others,dominating every scene he is in.The rest of the characters seem to just react to him and there are no others that come across quite as strong to balance things out.Besides this was a lower budget film and there are no actors of the caliber here of a Don Ameche or Alice Faye to give the film the extra pizzazz it so badly needs .The film,based VERY loosely on a Gypsy Rose Lee book,involves the story of a burlesque queen(pronounced "burly-Q" by O'Keefes' character).As the film opens she is auditioning for a legit stage show.When she is turned down because of who she is(burlesque houses were considered by many of the time to be just a hop,skip and a jump from Satan's door!) her manager/sweatheart gets the idea of writing a book to make it appear she has as much class as anyone.They enlist the help of a rather snobbish writer who though reluctant because of its' subject matter eventually agrees to do it when he meets his subject(matter).The writer and subject get stranded when their boat stalls and the manager tracks them down and of course ends up with the wrong idea.He spilts with her on the spot and leaves the writer to finally getthisclose with her.Farther along she tries to stage a show based on her bestselling book but it seems her old boyfriend has to relinquish some of his previous control of her re their old contract.In the end the two get back together and the show goes on.There are some very good musical numbers throughout but of course I give the inimitable Carmen Miranda the first prize here.She has only one number but was a joy in every number she was ever in and this one was no exception.There is also an extra Miranda number included in the special features section that was excised from the movie that is great to see.There is also a precious moment that has Carmens'character reacting to the mention of someone getting one Carmen Miranda to play a part.The others in the cast also sing quite respectfully here and there and of course there's Perry Como.Perry had a wonderful voice and does sings his numbers well but he looks too stiff and self concious which unfortunately detracts from his performances and does nothing to enhance the picture.All in all this picture,while worthy to film buffs,is not one that stands up well for a general audience today.If this picture did not have Carmen Miranda in it I doubt whether the film would be worthy of much interest at all.Also some might find today,mentions in the dialogue by O'Keefes'character of men having to use their fists to keep their girls in line,a little testing to say the least.The film has been restored wonderfully and does have some good moments,mostly with Miranda,but it was a B-grade picture then and it still is one now.