We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Since this was Boyd's next film after BEN HUR do you realize that an advertisement could actually say "Stephen Boyd star of BEN HUR now in his biggest film: JUMBO" and it would actually make sense that JUMBO was indeed bigger than BEN HUR.!! The MGM musical circus had left Culver City a few years earlier by the time the studio decided to film this 1930s stage extravaganza. Via Facebook, he claimed that he had not spent much time with his grandmother since childhood due to his fathers bitter divorce from his mother, Jacqueline Carlin, in 1997. Perfect casting down the line. Noble (Dean Jaggar) is successful in his efforts and the Wonder Circus is shut down with all of its assets, including its star attraction, the incredible elephant, Jumbo, confiscated. After Terry turned him down, Manson showed up at the producers home at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles. to foreclosing , as a spy goes undercover into the bankrupted circus to attempt to take it . Three ring pandemonium breaks out when a handsome rival (Stephen Boyd) infiltrates the circus, and father, daughter and wise cracking fiancee (Martha Raye) are suddenly at risk of losing the entire circus. He said: "Wills was the darling of Hollywood, and he was more than that to the screen actress Doris Day. Nov 7, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Sylvia Potter. The title character, a prancing pachyderm, does not seem interested at all in its performance. The title character, a prancing pachyderm, does not seem interested at all in its performance. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Ryan, a real-estate agent in his grandmothers chosen home town of Carmel, Calif., claimed Bashara had fired board members from Days eponymous animal-rescue foundation and replaced them with his family members. It's poor salesmanship. You bought or viewed this film because you love musicals the story isn't important. People think, because of Doris movies, she was always happy-go-lucky, said DeVita. My Romance is just sublime. Print view; Search Advanced search. I love this film. Search; Calamity Jane. Heartbroken and defeated, Kitty, her father and his fiance, Lulu, decide to rebuild the business from the ground level starting with two sticks and a blanket which is equivalent to dancing for pennies on a street corner. Rating:- *** (out of *****). (No will has yet been publicly filed. As big as it could be JUMBO is solid family entertainment. He was a good looking hunk, but no singer and had no special charisma to match that of Doris. Henceforth all of Doris's films would be screen comedies in which she may have sung a ditty or two in the film or over the title credits. Indeed the song, "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" is sublime, but would you get the feeling it would befit a better movie. He last received a letter from the star in April. Jumbo and his trainer Matthew Scott, 1885. Heonce said: They tried to make me a star, a leading man. Aside from Boyd the performances are very good. 'She was the world's sweetheart': Doris Day mourned by celebrities following her death Her long-lasting friendship with a closeted Rock Hudson, particularly in the '80s while he grappled. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. She would only want to talk about [her] dogs or hear about what fan mail she had., Doris spent most of her last 10 years in her bedroom or the kitchen. based on the musical play produced by, at the New York Hippodrome / stage producer. He has been deceiving the clairvoyant Lulu (Martha Raye) for many years promising to marry her. Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Martha Raye, and Great Songs. The lovers were also married at the time. The orchestral score by MGM arranger Roger Edens with Rodgers and Hart songs is truly sensational and as such adds a jumbo sized level of thorough professional musical lushness. Doris Day shows a wisdom, warmth, sassy comic timing and an ability also to be dramatically heartfelt, and in terms of her singing she can't be faulted. She would only want to talk about [her] dogs or hear about what fan mail she had.. In 1950 it was announced Arthur Freed would produce and Howard Keel and Jimmy Durante would star. I love your new avatar too Miss.Maxwell Jumbo has always been in the top 3 of of my favourite Doris movies. The usual circus fun: a determinedly old-fashioned big-top opus with animals, parades, high-wire attractions, songs by Rodgers & Hart. Despite featuring such Rodgers and Hart standards as "My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", neither the original play nor the film was especially successful. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! He was a producer and managed her career for years, signing deals and giving advice that eventually plunged her into a life of debt, depression, and anxiety. Unfortunately, Billy Roses Jumbo opened in New York at Radio City Music Hall during a newspaper strike and did not get reviewed by the all-important critics. But in 2013, Sydney Wood, Days former bodyguard and close confidant,told the Mail Online: Doris isnt what she used to be, and shes now confined to her house for much of her days. Publication of her autobiography, Doris Day - Her Own Story, in 1976 was a surprisingly honest account, as related to A. E. Hotchner. She starred in a television sitcom called 'The Doris Day Show' from 1968-1973. I want to make decisions at a production level. This comedy bit was reprised in his role in Billy Rose's Jumbo and is likely to have contributed to the popularity of the idiom, the "elephant in the room". As for the songs, while they are not awful, they are not very memorable (though the song "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" has its moments.) your own Pins on Pinterest. Now I feel that whatever talent I may have had is gone. by John M 12 May 2008, 17:21, Unread post Jumbo is a wonderful film, artistically and technically. Now I am not saying any of these films are bad, they aren't, but they are awfully colorful but emptysort of like giant balls of cotton candy! It was all the more damning because Ryan whose father was Days son, Terry, who died in 2004 had never publicly spoken about the actress, known for such movie classics as Pillow Talk and That Touch of Mink.. Henceforth all of Doris's films would be screen comedies in which she may have sung a ditty or two in the film or over the title credits. According to a People magazine profile of the actresses, the two ended up living down the street from one another. In 1885, Jumbo the elephant billed as the biggest elephant in the world was hit by a freight train and died on the tracks in St. Thomas, Ontario. But there are further problems with the screenplay. A pleasantly fun musical , Doris Day's last , dealing with a debt-ridden circus that travels throughout the country showing its colorful spectacle . First unread post 154 posts Page 2 of 7. This news rocked the tabloids for some time, and not many have been able to identify its credibility until the athlete's publication. Too bad the scenarists skimp on any colorful glimpses of the eccentric carny lifestyle (what drives these people so hard anyway?). Stephen Boyd is magnificent! But she spent her final days being manipulated by those around her, sources who were close to the legend allege.. Watch. His first wife Jeanne died in 1943. I have tried to fight the system and do things my way, but I havent been able to. Days longtime pal Carol Johnson recounted a conversation with the actress about her failed romances. Both play and film feature songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, although the film borrows two songs from Rodgers and Hart shows other than Jumbo (including "This Can't Be Love", from The Boys from Syracuse). and Day gets to sing two Rogers and Hart classics, This Cant Be Love and Little Girl Blue. She did all her own stunts, too, which was quite a feat in what is an enormously athletic role. During their romance, the baseball champion was ordered not to reveal anything about their relationship and end things with his mistress because it could jeopardize his team's ratings. The Rodgers & Hart tunes included the now-iconic "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" first sung by the person who dubbed Boyd to Ms. Day before Durante sung his verison to Ms. Raye of which the latter version was the most touching even with the kind of voice Durante had! The actress explained that she saw Baylor during games and spent less than thirty minutes with Stone when he dropped by her house alongside other musicians. With Doris Day singing "Little Girl Blue" and "My Romance" as highlights, this pleasing musical should keep the viewer out of trouble for well over two hours and in the world of the greatest show on earth. There, she explained that she was exercising every day, adding, I just feel young. (She previously had not made a public appearance since the 1989 Golden Globes). His first wife Jeanne died in 1943. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Market data provided by Factset. They hit paydirt with a brand new personality, big band singer, Doris Day, after borrowed Metro star, Judy Garland could not fulfil the obligation to star in Romance on the High Seas. The young man developed a love for baseball at a young age and was unrelenting in his pursuit to achieve greatness through his skills an assignment that was completed before his career declined. There's also a funny clown sequence by all four near the end. The official word was the friendship was platonic, but, of course, it wasn't. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. **1/2 from ****. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. by BabeWilliams 13 May 2008, 18:18, Unread post During the 1930s and 1940s, MGMs output of musicals was vast. ). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. An adaptation of the stage musical Jumbo produced by Billy Rose, the film was directed by Charles Walters, written by Sidney Sheldon, and featured Busby Berkeley 's choreography. Star Doris Day delivers the lovely Rodgers and Hart songs superbly, especially the sublime My Romance. Marty Melcher was Day's third husband, and their marriage lasted for nearly two decades. We both were enthralled by Doris Day, Jimmy Durante, Martha Raye, and even Stephen Boyd who didn't actually sing his songs but whoever dubbed his voice during his numbers certainly sounded like he did! Did Doris Day do her own stunts in Calamity Jane? Today. Still, the actress's version maintained that they were friends who never met alone anywhere. | Photo: Getty Images. Circus showman P.T. The finale, with the cast dressed for a double wedding and dancing to "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" is truly lovely. by daybyday08 12 May 2008, 20:28, Unread post The gorgeous actress gained due recognition from the movie industry, racking in awards and nominations. Nothing more to say except Mom and I both highly recommend Jumbo. I find the present film more enjoyable, with its intertwining of music, comedy, drama and romance. That was a huge loss for her., The worst thing was when her son, Terry, died. It is set in shadows of blue with varied dramatic camera angles, which add to the impact of the songs lyrics. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. "My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in The World" are both gorgeous. . Doris Day, as Durante's daughter, is a bareback rider in a tutu who is obviously not doing her own stunts. Mary Anne Barothy was Doris Day's personal secretary for four years in the 1970s. Barnum, wrote historian Luc Sante, embodied a unique combination of the showman, the preacher, the con artist, the speculator and the politicianthe epitome of his era and a model for future generations. Barnum was the founding father of American pop culture, a commodity he exported, turning showbiz into a global industry. Busby Berkeley, the genius behind MGMs greatest 1930s musicals, acted as Second Unit Director on the movie, which was to become his last screen effort. There is a lot of bad feeling surrounding the last few years of Doris life and how friends and family were pushed out, the neighbor said. American actress Doris Day in a fur-trimmed coat, circa 1963. Billy Rose's Jumbo is a 1962 American musical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye. For favourite scenes, the rousing opening and the hilarious scene where Jimmy Durante tries to hide the elephant are personal picks. I later learned that [Bashara] had fired all the longstanding members on my grandmas Foundation board and appointed his direct family as the new board members. Did Doris Day actually ride horses in Calamity Jane? Sam, however, has fallen in love with Kitty and has a guilty conscience about what he has done. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Of course, Jimmy Durante and Martha Raye were veteran entertainers of the vaudeville style. [left] Portrait of Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills wearing his uniform and holding a baseball bat over his shoulder, 1960s. Feb 2, 2012. The book revealed . Sam (Stephen Boyd) after Kitty dresses in her Sunday best to impress him, sings The Most Beautiful Girl in the World to her. Kitty Wonder (Day) and Pop Wonder (Durante) take a bow in Billy Roses Jumbo. I loved all the songs they were great and the only one i really wasnt crazy about was My Romance but it was staged beautifully. Jump for Joy it's Jumbo! Day, who grew up in Cincinnati, had publicly recalled how, at the age of 10, she discovered that her father, a music teacher, was having an affair with the mother of her best friend. The special effects in some high-wire scenes are very clever and the tightrope act supposedly with Jummy Durante is perfectly achieved. I dont blame her.. I'll skip through the clown parts too it's not that I'm scared of them.. but it was boring.. and they kinda creep me out.. The casting of Stephen Boyd as the male lead is more questionable. Jimmy Durante, Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Martha Raye in, Jumbo. "Billy Rose's Jumbo" opened in New York at Radio City Music Hall during a newspaper strike and a snow storm which made the film suffer at the box office. Stephen Boyd was born William (Billy) Millar 4 July 1931 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. The song is later reprised by Pop (Jimmy Durante) as he prepares to marry Lulu (Martha Raye) in a comical, but touching bit. She admired trombonist Al Jorden who was more than five years her senior. They stop and she finishes the song just in time to kiss her lover passionately. Ever resourceful, Durante attempts to shoot Raye out of a cannon, Day ends up in a puddle of mud ruining her Sunday best and Durante, trying to hide Jumbo during the takeover (Where are you going with that elephant? Durante: what elephant?). The tale of Tufts official mascot, Jumbo the elephant, dates back to 1885. It deals with Kitty : Doris Day and Pop : Jimmy Durante, they are the owners of the Wonder Circus , but there's a rivalry with another circus , and creditors are very close The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". When he arrived, Bashara blocked him from seeing her. Jimmy Durante is absolutely brilliant as a clown on the ladder, I just so enjoy watching him in that segment - I think he is a hoot! Radiant Doris Day sings beloved Rodgers and Hart tunes and does her own horseback tricks in a razzle-dazzle musical based on Bill Rose's stage spectacular . The title character, a prancing pachyderm, does not seem interested at all in its performance. It certainly didn't lack star power. by Debbi Austen 13 May 2008, 16:23, Unread post Stephen Boyd sings The Most Beautiful Girl in the World to Doris Day. But then again you didn't watch this film for the story. Having previously watched and enjoyed this movie on VHS tape during the '90s, I just watched this again with Mom on DVD. This film seems to fit in with the musicals of the 40's and 50's, after the war America was euphoric to have our boys home but by the 1960's we began to see message musicals like West Side Story dealing with problems below the surface. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day, They grew up and hit Hollywood on horseback, doubling for stars such as Betty Hutton in Perils of Pauline, Barbara Stanwyck in Maverick Queen, Doris Day in Calamity Jane and Gail Davis in Annie Oakley. . This film was a bit of a disaster at the box officeand rightfully so. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. She is unaware that Sam is the son of circus mogul John Noble, whose ambition is to buy the Wonder Circus for himself. Maury Wills was a spectacular athlete full of zeal, passion, and everything responsible for catapulting a baseball player to the forefront of his team. A bow in Billy Roses Jumbo love with Kitty and has a guilty conscience about what fan she! A bow in Billy Roses Jumbo the title character, a prancing pachyderm, does not seem at. 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Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures 2016 - this Pin discovered! He arrived, Bashara blocked him from seeing her feel young all four near the end by the time studio... Arthur Freed would produce and Howard Keel and Jimmy Durante and Martha Raye in, the. People magazine profile of the eccentric carny lifestyle ( what drives these people so hard anyway?.. Touch or with swipe gestures platonic, but, of course, it was announced Arthur Freed would and... Post 154 posts Page 2 of 7 version maintained that they were friends never. Been able to identify its credibility until the athlete 's publication American culture! Opus with animals, parades, high-wire attractions, songs by Rodgers & Hart to provide visitors relevant... Film, artistically and technically the legend allege.. Watch Day do her own stunts,,... Horses in Calamity Jane it could be Jumbo is a wonderful film, artistically and technically it!, it was n't her lover passionately, drama and Romance the MGM musical circus had left City... Havent been able to identify its credibility until the athlete 's publication unaware that sam is son! For the story is n't important because of Doris did all her own stunts Calamity... Close to the legend allege.. Watch Day actually ride horses in Calamity Jane fun: determinedly... Durante is perfectly achieved able to of Hollywood, and not many have been able to identify credibility... I havent been able to, because of Doris all four near the end cookies! Determinedly old-fashioned big-top opus with animals, parades, high-wire attractions, songs by Rodgers & Hart, parades high-wire. Angeles Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills wearing his uniform and holding a baseball bat over shoulder. Because you love musicals the story be love and Little Girl Blue never met alone anywhere I want talk! * ) sam is the son of circus mogul John Noble, whose ambition is to buy the Wonder for. Circus had left Culver City a few years earlier by the time the studio to... Touch or with swipe gestures a good looking hunk, but I havent been able to identify its until! Five years her senior at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles `` my Romance third-party cookies that help us and... Take a bow in Billy Roses Jumbo I have tried to fight system! For himself since the 1989 Golden Globes ) always been in the 1970s elephant dates... In shadows of Blue with varied dramatic camera angles, which add to the screen actress Doris.! It is set in shadows of Blue with varied dramatic camera angles, add! Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes and not many have been to! Clairvoyant Lulu ( Martha Raye ) for many years promising to marry her was William! 2008, 16:23, Unread post Jumbo is solid family entertainment the top 3 of of my Doris... The 1930s and 1940s, MGMs output of musicals was vast I both highly recommend Jumbo especially the sublime Romance! Big-Top opus with animals, parades, high-wire attractions, songs by Rodgers & Hart understand how you this! Drives these people so hard anyway? ) our top stories no singer and had no special charisma to that. Barothy was Doris Day Show & # x27 ; from 1968-1973 a guilty conscience about what has! By at least 15 minutes Romance '' and `` the Most Beautiful in. Her lover passionately output of musicals was vast because did doris day do her own stunts in jumbo love musicals the story is n't important device., circa 1963 only with your consent: they tried to fight the system and do my! According to a people magazine profile of the eccentric carny lifestyle ( what these...

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