Product Description

Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 17-JUN-2008
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113199 in DVD
• Brand: MIRANDA,CARMEN
• Released on: 2008-06-17
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 80 minutes

Customer Reviews

At last a transfer that is magnificent!
Doll Face has seen so many releases that feature poor quality vision and sound - but not anymore!!!! This release is both brilliant in vision and sound. To improve the sound you can isolate the soundtrack - do so and you get 21st Century quality sound - absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much 20th Century Fox - this is the way old movies should be released - tender loving care and magnificent transfers!!!!

finally released from Public Domain hell!
I've always had a soft spot for DOLL FACE, Twentieth Century-Fox's 1946 musical treat starring Vivian Blaine, Carmen Miranda and Perry Como. So when I heard that Fox was finally going to release their own pristine print on DVD, I was thrilled to finally junk my old Alpha public domain copy.

The plot for DOLL FACE was derived from a story entitled "The Naked Genius" written by renowned burlesque legend Gypsy Rose Lee (aka Louise Hovick). Vivian Blaine stars as stripper Doll Face Carroll, whose ghostwritten autobiography "Genius De Milo" becomes the catalyst for her talents to shine on Broadway. Along the way there's a rivalry between the two men in the Doll's lovelife (Dennis O'Keefe and Stephen Dunne); and some fun musical numbers with Carmen Miranda ("Chico Chico") and Perry Como ("Here Comes Heaven Again", and his classic "Dig You Later (A-Hubba Hubba Hubba)").

After enduring fuzzy, washed-out PD prints for years, it's a revelation to finally watch DOLL FACE in it's authorized studio version. This is Vivian Blaine's show all the way, and she has an infectious, fun-loving role as Doll Face Carroll. Carmen Miranda's a hoot as well.

Bonus features include Carmen Miranda's deleted musical number "True to the Navy", a mini commentary track from historian John Cork, photo galleries and the trailer. Welcome home, Doll Face!

Available separately or as part of Fox's Carmen Miranda Collection box-set (which also boasts "If I'm Lucky", "Greenwich Village" and "Something for the Boys" in addition to a colour-corrected remaster of "The Gang's All Here").

this is more than magnificent--in fact, it's mediocre and a little bit more
Doll Face is a fairly good movie musical from Twentieth Century-Fox. The acting is rather convincing with the exception of Perry Como who appears rather stiff and uncomfortable; I just get the sense he held back a lot when he was on screen. The plot moves along at a good pace and the musical numbers are staged and choreographed very well. The cinematography is also very well done. The print quality is excellent although I am left wondering why they didn't film this in color.

When the action starts, we quickly meet Mary Elizabeth "Doll Face" Carroll (Vivian Blaine), a burlesque queen who comes to a ritzy Broadway theater with her boyfriend and stage manager Michael Francis "Mike" Hannegan (Dennis O'Keefe). She's trying out for Flo Hartman's (Reed Hadley) new operetta called "Park Avenue;" but even though they like her Hartman won't hire her because she's a burlesque queen. Naturally, Doll Face and Mike are upset--until Mike gets the idea that Doll Face should write a book to prove that she's got class, "true" cultured talent and loads of sophistication. When Doll Face expresses her doubts to Mike that she can write such a book; Mike simply says they'll hire a ghost writer and pay him off to make it look as if Doll Face had truly written her autobiography.

But trouble starts when the ghostwriter, Frederick Manly Gerard (Stephen Dunne), sees Doll Face; he begins to fall for her. At first, Doll Face refuses his advances and keeps everything strictly business even though Mike starts to feel threatened. Mike also gets sporadic advice from Chita Chula (Carmen Miranda), who also works in Mike's burlesque show. For a while things go fairly well--until Fred and Doll Face get stuck on the water in a boat when all Fred and Doll Face wanted to do was get to the publisher who lives on a small island off Jamaica Bay. Naturally, Mike misinterprets all this and he dumps Doll Face; she's pretty angry too and a romance does begin to blossom between Doll Face and Fred.

Of course from here the plot can go anywhere. At one point, Mike thinks that maybe they can put on their own show after Doll Face's book comes out; maybe they don't need to be in any Hartman show to be on Broadway--will this work out? Especially with these complications, that could be dicey. Will Doll Face ever patch things up with Mike--or will she accept Fred's offer of marriage and remain with Fred after all? And what about Nicky Ricci (Perry Como) who wants to go out with chorus girl Frankie Porter (Martha Stewart)--will he ever be able to catch her eye? Watch and find out!

The DVD comes with a few extras. There is a deleted scene with an optional commentary for that scene; and the stills gallery is very nicely done.

Doll Face is a "B" movie musical that could have been an "A" rated film if only Fox had given it its due. The musical numbers, especially the ones that feature Carmen Miranda and Vivian Blaine, are very good but without color they lacked that certain "something extra." However, this film isn't all that bad; and we do get fine acting from all except Perry Como who really sings much more than he acts or dances. If you like classic movie musicals, you should at least consider adding this one to your collection. Of course, fans of the actors in this movie would do well to get this DVD.