TEA FOR TWO

US, 1950, 98 minutes, Colour.
Doris Day, Gordon Mac Rae, Gene Nelson, Eve Arden, Billy de Wolfe, S.Z. Sakall, Patrice Wymore.
Directed by David Butler.

Tea For Two is one of the best-known songs from the musical No, No Nanette. The plot of No No Nanette is updated to the '50s for this Doris Day-Gordon? MacRae? musical. It is one of the many musicals that Warner Bros made at this time, taking song titles to enhance their popularity. This could be the archetypal Warner Bros musical of the period.

Doris Day is at her bright and beezy best. Gordon Mac Rae is a singing hero. Gene Nelson dances energetically, Patrice Wymore sings Crazy Rhythm and also dances with vigour. Billy de Wolfe provides his usual raised-eyebrow style of comedy, there is S.Z. Sakall being as cuddly as usual- and there are also eve Arden's wisecracks. who could ask for anything more?

The film contains a flashback from the '50s to the crazy days of the late '20s. The setting is the Wall Street crash. There are many songs from No, No Nanette as well as other popular songs of the period. Direction is by David Butler who directed nany of these musicals.

1. The popularity of this kind of Warner Bros. musical comedy of the '50s? The theatrical background? The music, singing and dancing? Doris Day? Gordon McRae?

2. The background of the plot of No, No Nanette, the score, singing and dancing? Colour photography? America in the '20s? Theatre, Wall Street, mansions? Fashions and style?

3. The flashback style of the the '50s and the youngsters learning the lesson of the '20s? The humour of the ending with Macrae and Day as their parents?

4. The show must go on genre: the show itself, the stars, the need for money, the Wall Street Crash, the double dealings, the bet that Nanette makes, the jokes, the happy ending?

5. Doris Day as Nanette, singing, in love with Jim, singing, dancing, her uncle, the bet, her having to say 'no' and her devices for saying it? Her role in the musical, the rivalry with Beatrice, Larry and their engagement, his two-timing? In love with Jim ? Her uncle? The advice from Eve Arden and her wisecracks?

6. Jim and his singing, in love? Gene Nelson as the buddy, the show must go on, choreography, dancing?

7. Larry and Billy de Wolfe's raised eyebrow, double-dealing? Patrice Wymore and her singing and dancing? Virginia Gibson as the ingenue dancer? her prima donna style?

8. The contribution of eve Arden and her character, wisecrack observations, contribution to the plot?

9. S.Z. Sakall and his cuteness, worried comedy?

10. The popular ingredients of the '50s musical?