The Official Blog of Laemmle Theatres.

blog.laemmle.com

The official blog of Laemmle Theatres

  • All
  • Laemmle Virtual Cinema
  • Theater Buzz
    • Claremont 5
    • Glendale
    • Newhall
    • NoHo 7
    • Playhouse 7
    • Royal
    • Santa Monica
    • Town Center 5
  • Q&A’s
  • Film Series
    • Anniversary Classics
    • Culture Vulture
    • Throwback Thursdays
  • Locations & Showtimes
    • Laemmle Virtual Cinema
    • Claremont
    • Glendale
    • NewHall
    • North Hollywood
    • Pasadena Playhouse 7
    • Royal (West LA)
    • Santa Monica
    • Town Center (Encino)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Doris Day Tribute: LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME and CALAMITY JANE Double Feature on June 5th in North Hollywood.

May 22, 2019 by Lamb L.

Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a tribute to America’s most spirited sweetheart, Doris Day, who died on May 13 at the age of 97. We have screened some of Day’s best-loved movie— The Man Who Knew Too Much, Pillow Talk, and Lover Come Back — in our Anniversary series over the last few years. Join us as we remember her with a double feature of two of her very best musical films—the Western romp Calamity Jane and the dramatic story of 1920s torch singer Ruth Etting, Love Me Or Leave Me. Both films demonstrate that Day was a pioneer in portraying strong-willed female characters during the conformist 1950s. Enjoy both of these entertaining movies for one low price!

After a stellar career as a big-band singer, Day started in movies in 1948 and she made a number of lighthearted musical programmers before starring in ‘Calamity Jane’ in 1953. This sagebrush musical comedy marked a change of pace for her and catapulted her to full-fledged movie stardom. She later cited it as her personal favorite of all the films she made.

Warners admitted they made the film to cash in on the enormous success of ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ another musical tale of Western gunslingers. In Calamity Jane, Day plays the real-life Deadwood sharpshooter, paired with Howard Keel as Wild Bill Hickok. During most of the film, they are sparring partners and friendly antagonists, and it is not until the climax that Jane recognizes her true feelings for Bill. That transformation comes when Day croons “Secret Love,” the song by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster that won the Oscar as best song of the year and also became a #1 hit on the pop charts. The film also earned Academy Award nominations for best scoring of a musical and for best sound.

Kate Muir of the British Times wrote of Calamity Jane, “As a pistol-packin’ cowgirl in fringed leather trousers, Day is terrific.” Leonard Maltin concurred: “Doris is irresistible as the bombastic, rootin’-tootin’ title character in this lively musical.”

Love Me Or Leave Me, made two years later, was nominated for six Oscars, including one for the screenplay by Daniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart. It won the Oscar for the original story by Fuchs. Other nominations included one for a new song, “I’ll Never Stop Loving You,” which became another of Day’s most popular romantic ballads. James Cagney also earned a nomination for best actor for his electrifying portrayal of Etting’s husband and manager, gangster Marty Singer. Although he helped to advance Etting’s career, he was often brutally domineering in their personal relationship, and this hard-edged portrayal of an abusive marriage was ahead of its time in the 1950s and gave Day a vivid opportunity to essay a dramatic role. She brought it off with skill, while at the same time performing several of Etting’s signature songs, including “Ten Cents a Dance” and “Shaking the Blues Away.” Cameron Mitchell and Tom Tully co-star in the film, which was directed by Charles Vidor.

Variety called the film “a rich canvas of the Roaring 20s with gutsy and excellent performances.” Pauline Kael added, “The script by Daniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart is several notches above the usual, and James Cagney brings frightening strength to his role as the singer’s vicious lover.” It was reportedly Cagney who suggested casting Day as Etting, and she rewarded her co-star’s instinct with one of the strongest performances of her career.

Our Doris Day tribute screens on Wednesday June 5th in North Hollywood. CALAMITY JANE screens at 5 and 9:30 PM. LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME screens at 7 PM. Click here for tickets to the 5pm CALAMITY JANE with the 7 PM LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME included. Or, click here for tickets to the 7 PM LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME with the 9:30pm CALAMITY JANE included.

Format: DCP

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Anniversary Classics, News, NoHo 7, Repertory Cinema, Twofer Tuesdays

Comments

  1. Regina Garrido says

    June 1, 2019 at 9:52 pm

    I wish I could attend it!! I live so far away!! But I am so proud and happy to have been with her in Carmel. Her letters are my dearest treasures. She was such a wonderful human being. She made me feel as a friend of hers, inspiring my whole life. I watched a movie of hers for the first time when I was 10 now I’m 81 years old. So grateful to you for doing this. You must continue doing it, so the image of our Doris remains on the silver screen forever. Regina Garrido S.
    Santiago de Chile South America

Search

Featured Posts

‘Soros’ and Other New Films

PopCorn Pop-Ups: LAST CHANCE

Instagram

laemmletheatres

Laemmle Theatres
NOTTURNO, from Oscar nominated filmmaker Gianfranc NOTTURNO, from Oscar nominated filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi, seeks to capture the everyday realities of those struggling to survive the violent civil wars, dictatorships, and foreign occupations that besiege the Middle East. Regardless of your opinion on the subject, the film’s painful beauty renders it essential viewing. Watch NOTTURNO now on Laemmle Virtual Cinema!
The critically-acclaimed german drama MY LITTLE SI The critically-acclaimed german drama MY LITTLE SISTER stars Nina Hoss as a playwright, who moves back to Berlin to take care of her successful yet ailing brother. It's "a moving character piece, about the fierce bond between siblings" (Reeling Reviews). Watch MY LITTLE SISTER now on Laemmle Virtual Cinema!
SOME KIND OF HEAVEN is a delightful and philosophi SOME KIND OF HEAVEN is a delightful and philosophical documentary about the age-resistant residents of America’s largest (and most infamous) retirement community: The Villages, Florida. Produced by Darren Aronofsky, the film offers up healthy doses of "unexpected empathy, for people who have cocooned themselves from the outside world" (NYT). Watch SOME KIND OF HEAVEN now on Laemmle Virtual Cinema!
BLIZZARD OF SOULS, a "propulsive" adaptation of it BLIZZARD OF SOULS, a "propulsive" adaptation of its namesake 1934 novel (Variety), details the brutality of the First World War from the Latvian perspective. It's "a very powerful film made on a particularly small budget (FilmWeek). Watch BLIZZARD OF SOULS now on Laemmle Virtual Cinema!
Load More... Follow us on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • ‘Notturno’ And Other New Films
  • ‘Some Kind of Heaven’ And Other New Films
  • ‘Savage State’ And Other New Films
  • HAPPY NEW YEARS: ‘Shadow in the Cloud’ And Other New Films
  • ‘Love Sarah’ And Other New Films
  • HOLIDAY IDEAS: Virtual Gift Cards
gayman gayman gayman.cc gayman gayman gayman.cc gayman gayman.cc gayman.cc

Archive

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.