LUCKY ME
US, 1954, 100 minutes, Colour.
Doris Day, Robert Cummings, Phil Silvers, Eddie Foy Jr, Nancy Walker, Martha Hyer.
Directed by Jack Donohue.
Lucky Me was made in 1954 along with Young at Heart, the last films Doris Day made at Warner Bros after seven years there in many musicals and some dramas. She was then to go freelance, making Love Me or Leave Me with James Cagney in 1955, The Man Who Knew Too Much in 1956 and continuing through the 60s, especially with comedies like Pillow Talk.
Her bright and bubbly personality is to the fore in this story of a group of performers in Miami who have to work in a hotel to make ends meet and finally get their opportunity to go to Broadway. Robert Cummings is the leading man, a song composer who wants to put on a show. Phil Silvers and Eddie Foy Jr put on some comedy and Nancy Walker is there for dancing and singing. The cold daughter of the oil investor is played by Martha Hyer.
There are some bright songs including ‘Superstitious’, ‘Men’ and ‘Love You Dearly’. (Nancy Walker was to direct Can’t Stop the Music with the Village People twenty-five years later.)
1.A popular Doris Day musical? Her personality, singing?
2.Miami settings, the theatre, hotels, the beaches, the mansions?
3.The musical score, the range of songs: ‘Superstitious’, ‘Men’, ‘Love You Dearly’ and the songs from the show? Her fantasy sequence and singing to the stars? The supporting cast and their contribution?
4.The 1950s, Cinemascope, bright colour, romance, comedy, putting on a show?
5.Doris Day as Candy Williams, her performance in the show? Her moral character? The meal, doing the washing up, working in the hotel? Looking for the big break? The chance encounter with Dick Carson, thinking he was Eddie the mechanic? Her superstitions, the song, the enormous range in her list, her causing the car accident because of the black cat, the cracks in the street? Out with Eddie, going to the restaurant, Hap and his spilling the beans? Her reaction, rejection? His offering her the lead part, her change of heart, the business deal? In love with him? The rehearsals, the song, her encounter with Lorraine? Her anger with Dick? His going back to New York? Her plot to sing the songs for Mr Thayer? Posing with Duke as British, leading Lorraine to the swimming pool? The performance, the contract? The happy ending?
6.Dick Carson, the stereotype of the songwriter? His agent, the show, the relationship with Lorraine, her father’s investment? The oil background? The crashes, meeting Candy, going out, not telling her the truth? His making a mess of the client’s car? Exposed, his reaction, Hap’s help? Offering her the lead, the rehearsals, his humiliating her in front of Lorraine? His being sorry, giving up, coming back to see the performance?
7.Hap, Phil Silvers’ style of comedy, the conman, performance? The dinner, the arrangement with the policeman, his absence? Having to work? Taking advantage of situations? Pretending to be the Texas oilman, the over-bidding for investment?
8.Duke and Flo, supporting comedy, song-and-dance routines?
9.The Thayers, the oil business, Otis Thayer and his interest in investment? His relationship with his daughter? Lorraine, her cold personality, her wanting to possess Dick? The business deal? The party, the humiliation, the jealousy of Candy? In the swimming pool, the aftermath?
10.Popular ingredients of a 50s musical comedy?
