As
Doris Day's career advanced, many films were mentioned as possible
starring vehicles for the blonde superstar. In 1950, Box-office
Magazine reported that Warners had the following plans for
her:
The Helen Morgan Story - (Musical Biography)
Warner Brothers. Musical biography planned for Doris Day, in which
she has the title role as the celebrated nightclub and vaudeville songstress
of another era. Note: This is one of the few planned projects that Doris
vehemently refused to play. She did not feel she wished to portray the
sordid aspects of Helen Morgan and would be totally different from her
screen image. The film was later made with Ann Blyth and Paul Newman.
Ann mouthed the beautiful sounds of Gogi Grant who sang for her. The
soundtrack album was wonderful and very popular
Miss America - (Romantic Comedy) Warner Brothers. Stars:
Doris Day, Virginia Mayo. Producer: Walter Jacobs.
This backgrounded against the annual "Miss America" beauty
pageant held in Atlantic City.
Note: No other information is available. Sounds like a great idea!
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine - (Musical
Comedy) Warner Bros Stars: Doris Day, Lucille Norman, Dennis Morgan, and Gene Nelson.
Producer: William Jacobs. Director: David Butler. A tune film with
a Tin Pan Alley background.
Note: This film was made with other stars replacing Doris!
The Jazz Singer (Musical) Warner Bros Warners planned to remake the famous first talking picture with
Danny Thomas playing the old Al Jolson role. However, Doris had other
ideas:
"There's a faint chill on between Doris Day and director Michael Curtiz,
who first signed Doris to a movie contract and who's been responsible to a
great degree for her stardom. The temperature dropped when Doris decided that
she wasn't right for the part opposite Danny Thomas in the remake of The Jazz
Singer. Curtiz, who's directing the picture, tried to change Doris' mind, then
let his anger show. Peggy Lee is the lark who gets the part that Doris refused." - (Movie
Magazine Gossip Column)
Anniversary Waltz (Musical Comedy) - Hedda
Hopper reported:
"While Marty Melcher was back east with Doris Day he got together
with Joe Fields. They're hoping to sign Gene Kelly to co-star with
Doris in "Anniversary Waltz" and also to direct the picture." (Doris
only worked with Gene as director on "The Tunnel of Love.")
South
Pacific (Musical) 20th Century Fox Doris Day was thought to be the perfect choice for Nellie Forbush
in this famous Broadway musical brought to the screen. However, it
is reported from several sources (whether true or not) that Martin
Melcher wanted too much money for Doris to play the part. The other
rumor is that Doris was asked to do a little singing impromptu at
a Hollywood party by Richard Rodgers. She refused since she did not
like doing that sort of thing and that it cost her the role. What
a difference her presence could have made in this Hollywood classic.
From a gossip column came this release: "(Doris) is dying to
do the Nellie Forbush role in 'South Pacific' and is willing to give
a million for the screen rights."
Listen to Doris' version of (I'm in Love with)
A Wonderful Guy:
Listen to Doris' version of Happy Talk
Doris Day wrote: "I
was offered the part of Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate but I could
not see myself rolling around in the sheets with a young man half my
age whom I'd seduced. I realized it was an effective part (Anne Bancroft
won an Academy Award for it) but it offended my sense of values.
Of
course, in the years since then, explicit sex has become commonplace
on the screen - so commonplace that it is considered novel when
a film appears without a few naked bodies thrashing about. Now I really
don't put anybody else down for doing such scenes. To each his own. Many
actors enjoy doing these turns, and obviously many people enjoy
watching them. I don't, either doing or watching. I can't picture myself
in bed with a man, all the crew around us, doing that which I consider
so exciting and exalting when it is very personal and private.
I am really appalled by some of the public exhibitions on the screen
by good actors and actresses who certainly have the talent to convey
the impact of what they are doing without showing us to the last detail
of pubic hair and rosy nipple how they are doing it." Doris Day, Her Own Story
Other ideas bounced around and
reported in Variety as upcoming projects included: Two Films With Alan
Ladd:
(Which apparently fell through) A statement read: "Via
a reciprocal agreement, Doris Day and Alan Ladd have agreed to appear
together in two pictures during the next three years. They're exchanging
commitments to co-star in each other's independent productions. "Miss
Day and her husband, Marty Melcher, own Arwin Productions, which
will launch 'Julie' next month for MGM release. Ladd's Jaguar Productions
has already made three features under a releasing commitment with
Warner's."The
actress probably will appear first with Ladd in the latter's projected
'The Deep Six,' based on the novel by Martin Dibner, which will roll
under the Jaguar banner later this year."
Love Affair (MGM) - Starring
Doris Day and Howard Keel
This remake of the famous Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne classic was
to be a musical version of the film and was to star Howard Keel with
Doris.
Mame" and "Hello
Dolly" were also mooted for Doris Day
Plus
a TV Series On "Calamity Jane" - (As reported in Variety) Doris Day Series' $2,million Budget (Hollywood, Oct. 30)
Arwin Productions, the Doris Day-Marty Melcher outfit, is preparing
a 39 stanza vidpix series starring Miss Day, based on the "Calamity Jane" character.
It's reportedly budgeted at $2,000,000. Series starts after the actress completes
Warners' "Pajama Game." Three directors will be used, one each
for comedy, musical sequences, and dramatic segments.
Doris Day as TV Detective: -
As late as 1993 there was a possible TV series with Doris Day starring
in an Angela Lansbury type detective series. She did not approve of the
scripts thus the project was dropped.
The
Sound of Music - Doris was also mentioned for the Julie Andrews
role in "The Sound of Music".
Derald Hendry
Listen to Doris Day's version of "The Sound
of Music"
