With a year so packed with Doris Day titles, it seems only fitting that we are bringing 2021 to a close with another in a long line of charming musical romantic comedies. From her early roles in Romance On The High Seas and My Dream Is Yours to her more established turns in films such as The Pajama Game, we have gotten a well-rounded view of the vibrant personality Day brought to the silver screen. Just a few months before she would appear in On Moonlight Bay in 1951, the performer would appear in the frothy escapade Lullaby Of Broadway from director David Butler (Look For The Silver Lining). Admittedly, it is a more slight effort in her overall output, but those who appreciate the old-fashioned song and dance that Day excelled at so effortlessly will find this a pleasant viewing experience.
Day stars as Melinda Howard, an entertainer first seen on a ship traveling from England to New York to surprise her mother, Broadway singer Jessica Howard (Gladys George, The Maltese Falcon). While on the ship she meets Tom Farnham (Gene Nelson, Oklahoma!), a man who hides his prowess as a fellow entertainer in an attempt to flirt with the young lady. While there is a semblance of a spark, Melinda is more focused on reaching her mother, who unbeknownst to her is actually a washed-up singer that struggles with alcoholism. Helping to hide her from the truth when she arrives at what she believes is her mother’s mansion is Lefty Mack (Billy De Wolfe, Tea For Two) and his fiancée Gloria Davis (Anne Triola, Without Reservations), a struggling vaudeville team who serve as the butler and maid for the real owners of the mansion, Adolph Hubbell (S.Z. Sakall, In The Good Old Summertime) and his wife (Florence Bates, Rebecca). In the course of trying to protect the good name of Melinda’s mother, Melinda gets caught up in the Broadway scene including a reunion with Tom, but secrets being kept from her leads to a comedy of errors.
The true joy of this film is the performances. Whenever you have Day on the screen singing “Just One Of Those Things” or the Oscar-winning titular tune, the movie comes alive with an electricity that can only be conjured by the most captivating stars. What makes this feature stand apart from some of her others is the inclusion of some dazzling dance numbers. This is particularly impressive given the fact that Day had been injured in a car accident as a youth and believed she would never be able to dance in such a manner. You would never be able to tell as she floats across the screen. Where the film does not quite live up to its potential is in the plotting. The complex web of lies that are constructed throughout result in some irksome presumptions on behalf of Tom which read as rather sexist through a modern context. The ending also seems rather rushed as it quickly tries to shape the course towards a happy ending. On a production level, there is not really a fault to be seen, but the narrative keeps this one of the more middling efforts from the lovely Day.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Lullaby Of Broadway with a sumptuous new 1080p master transfer in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio. This always-dependable label delivers an eye-popping presentation from the elements that were available. One of the standout aspects of the film is the vibrant colors within the costumes and settings that practically leap off the screen. The black levels are very deep with impeccable stability throughout. The film exhibits no signs of any damage or debris, which is typical of the magic that the workers at Warner Archive pull off. Detail and clarity is off the charts with the beautiful, natural film grain intact and well resolved. There does not appear to be any digital nuisances such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such issues. This presentation offers a lovely viewing experience from start to finish.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has delivered a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that is incredibly pleasing. Every single element seems clearly defined and in balance as everything is presented with a nice fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly from beginning to end without being stepped on by any musical beats or sound effects. This track also effortlessly handles all of the music that is so integral to shaping this story with nothing ever sounding blown out. Warner Archive has provided a five-star audio presentation that does not exhibit any glaring signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Trailer: The nearly three-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Lullaby Of Broadway is a film with some captivating song and dance numbers, but it does not stand as a high point in the career of Doris Day. She was a performer who never failed to give it her all, and for that reason it is worth seeking out. With a little more care given to the script, it could hold a more solid place in the history of cinema. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a marvelous A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. If you have been enjoying the Warner Archive output of Doris Day material, this should be another great addition to your collection.
Lullaby Of Broadway can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
