LULLABY OF BROADWAY [1951 / 2021] [Warner Archive Collection] [Blu-ray] [USA Release] Wonderful Timeless Songs From The Original Broadway Musical!
C'mon and listen to songbird Doris Day heads towards the Great White Way stardom in this sparkling songfest full of favourite standards!
The steps of the studio set towered before her like a pyramid. All Doris Day had to do was dance up and down those steps wearing a flowing gold lame dress. “You've got to be out of your minds,” Doris Day exclaimed in a voice heard across the soundstage “I can't even walk up and down those stairs.”
Doris Day danced divinely and sang in this musical delight about a singer newly arrived in New York and destined for fame in the capable company of co-stars Gene Nelson, S. Z. ‘Cuddles’ Sakall, Billy De Wolfe, Gladys George and Florence Bates.
Savour the Oscar® winning title tune, Cole Porter's “Just One of Those Things,” “Somebody Loves Me” and six more swell songs. C'mon along and listen to and watch this ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY.’
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1952 Photoplay Awards: Win: Most Popular Female Star for Doris Day.
FILM FACT No.2: Songs from the film were released on an album of the same name. According to Warner Bros records the film earned $2,102,000 domestically and $983,000 foreign.
Cast: Doris Day, Gene Nelson. S. Z. ‘Cuddles’ Sakall, Billy De Wolfe, Gladys George, Florence Bates, Anne Triola, Hanley Stafford, Page Cavanaugh Trio, Carlo De Mattiazzi, Constance De Mattiazzi, Murray Alper (uncredited), Jimmy Aubrey (uncredited), Brooks Benedict (uncredited), Lulu Mae Bohrman (uncredited), Tex Brodus (uncredited), Steve Carruthers (uncredited), Tom Coleman (uncredited), James Conaty (uncredited), Herschel Daugherty (uncredited), Dan Dowling (uncredited), Franklyn Farnum (uncredited), Tom Ferrandini (uncredited), Elizabeth Flournoy (uncredited), Bess Flowers (uncredited), George Ford (uncredited), James Gonzalez (uncredited), Herschel Graham (uncredited), Marion Gray (uncredited), Stuart Hall (uncredited), Carl Harbaugh (uncredited), Ray Heindorf (uncredited), Hans Herbert (uncredited), Shep Houghton (uncredited), Sheldon Jett (uncredited), John Milton Kennedy (The Radio Announcer voice) (uncredited), Donald Kerr (uncredited), Mike Lally (uncredited), Louise Lane (uncredited), Perk Lazelle (uncredited), Edith Leslie (uncredited), Jimmy Lloyd (uncredited), King Lockwood (uncredited), John Marlin (uncredited), Charles Marsh (uncredited), Philo McCullough (uncredited), Paul McGuire (uncredited), Harold Miller (uncredited), Jack Mower (uncredited), Richard Neill (uncredited), Barry Norton (uncredited), William J. O'Brien (uncredited), Monty O'Grady (uncredited), Suzanne Ridgway (uncredited), Arlyn Roberts (uncredited), Jeffrey Sayre (uncredited), Bernard Sell (uncredited), Reginald Simpson (uncredited), Gerald Oliver Smith (uncredited), Larry Steers (uncredited), Norman Stevans (uncredited), Dorothy Tuttle (uncredited) and Charles Williams (uncredited)
Director: David Butler
Producer: William Jacobs
Screenplay: Earl Baldwin (based on the musical)
Composer: Howard Jackson (uncredited)
Costume Wardrobe: Milo Anderson
Cinematography: Wilfrid M. Cline, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Technicolor Color Consultant: Mitchell Kovaleski
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 92 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures / Warner Archive Collection
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY’ [1951] has Doris Day sings and dances up a storm in director David Butler’s 1951 musical that pairs her with, not Gordon MacRae who was her usual leading man of this period, but with Gene Nelson in Warner Bros. Pictures attempt to move the previous supporting player to leading man. The attempt was only a partial success, and the film’s narrative is more feather-brained and nonsensical than usual, but there are plenty of familiar tunes to ease the pain, and the film gives Doris Day the most challenging opportunity she’d ever have in her career to prove that she was an adept and talented dancer along with possessing one of the most golden singing voices of the 20th century.
At the start of the film we find Melinda Howard [Doris Day] an aspiring singer-dancer who has been living and performing in England, who decides to return home and surprise her mother who she believes is a successful Broadway star with a big house in Manhattan in New York after a long absence. Having received deceptive letters over the years, Melinda Howard doesn’t know that her mother, once a top Broadway star, is now an alcoholic has-been singing in a Greenwich Village dive. Gladys George brilliantly portrays the mother, Jessica Howard, who has tried to protect her daughter from her own misfortune.
Melinda Howard is befriended by Lefty Mack [Billy De Wolfe] and Gloria Davis [Anne Triola], and by their employer, Adolph Hubbell [S. Z. ‘Cuddles’ Sakall], who also conspire to protect her from learning the truth about her mother. Although Adolph Hubbell is the real owner of a huge home, Melinda Howard is led to believe that he is merely renting it while her mother is on tour. Adolph Hubbell takes an instant liking to Melinda Howard and, unbeknownst to his wife, allows her to stay in the servant’s quarters.
At one of Adolph Hubbell’s parties, Melinda Howard and dancer Tom Farnham [Gene Nelson] entertain the guests and she subsequently falls in love with him. The two begin rehearsals for a Broadway show “Lullaby of Broadway,” which Adolph Hubbell is producing. Adolph Hubbell’s wife, gruffly portrayed by Florence Bates, is unaware that Melinda Howard is staying in the house, but becomes suspicious that her husband is seeing another woman. Rumours of an affair between Adolph Hubbell and Melinda Howard become public and lead to misunderstandings that are finally sorted out by the end of the film.
‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY’ is a musical comedy in which Doris Day is a total delight, but she gets the chance to do some dramatic acting as well. The reunion scene with her mother is very touching and Doris Day looks spectacular in Technicolor and has big close-ups in this tender scene in the film. Gladys George breaks your heart when she tearfully tells Doris Day’s character, “It’s tough being a mother after all these years. I guess I need a couple more rehearsals.”
Doris Day, in top hat and tails, opens the picture with the wonderful Cole Porter song “Just One of Those Things.” What a great number! The number she and Nelson perform at the party to the Harry Warren/Al Dubin song, “You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me,” is charming and showcases the dancing talents of both Doris Day and Gene Nelson.
At rehearsals for the “Lullaby of Broadway” Broadway show, they sing and dance to “Somebody Loves Me” (music by George Gershwin) and to “I Love the Way You Say Goodnight.” The latter routine is partially shot in slow motion, an interesting touch rarely seen in musicals, and is beautifully edited. It allows one to see how flexible and acrobatic Doris Day and Gene Nelson are where we find Gene Nelson does a high-stepping, high-kicking routine of “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart,” which shows why he was the Gene Kelly of Warner Brothers. The best is saved for last. The great title tune “Lullaby of Broadway” is sung and danced on a steep flight of stairs by Gene Nelson in tails and Doris Day in a gold lame gown and mink stole. It’s one of the best musical numbers in Warner Brothers’ film history.
By the time ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY’ was released in 1951, moviegoers were assured that a Doris Day film would be good family fare. Doris Day’s voice was part of her tremendous appeal, and her ability to be both sexy and a regular gal appealed to both men and women. Doris Day was different from most screen actresses, because the star was independent and portrayed women who were ambitious, employed, and self-sufficient.
LULLABY OF BROADWAY MUSIC TRACK LIST
LULLABY OF BROADWAY [Main Title] (uncredited) (Music by Harry Warren) (Lyrics by Al Dubin) [Sung by Doris Day, Danced by Doris Day, Gene Nelson and mixed chorus]
JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS (uncredited) (Written by Cole Porter) [Sung by Doris Day]
IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN (uncredited) (Music by Jack Little and John Siras) (Lyrics by Joe Young) [Sung by Gladys George]
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN (composed by Nathaniel Shilkret and Dana Suesse)
WE’D LIKE TO GO ON A TRIP (Music by Sy Miller) (Lyrics by Jerry Seelen) [Sung by Billy De Wolfe and Anne Triola]
YOU’RE DEPENDABLE (Music by Sy Miller) (Lyrics by Jerry Seelen) [Sung by Billy De Wolfe and Anne Triola]
ZING! WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART (uncredited) (Written by James F. Hanley) [Sung/Danced by Gene Nelson but dubbed by Hal Derwin]
YOU’RE GETTING TO BE A HABIT WITH ME (uncredited) (Music by Harry Warren) (Lyrics by Al Dubin) [Sung by Doris Day, Danced by Doris Day and Gene Nelson]
SOMEBODY LOVES ME (uncredited) (Music by George Gershwin) (Lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Ballard MacDonald) [Sung/Danced by Doris Day and Gene Nelson but dubbed by Hal Derwin]
MECHANICAL DOLL [Musical Number] (Composer Unknown)
I LOVE THE WAY YOU SAY GOODNIGHT (uncredited) (Music by George Wyle) (Lyrics by Eddie Pola) [Sung/Danced by Doris Day and Gene Nelson but dubbed by Hal Derwin with mixed chorus]
PLEASE DON’T TALK ABOUT ME WHEN I’M GONE (uncredited) (Music by Sam H. Stept) (Lyrics by Sidney Clare) [Sung by Gladys George]
LULLABY OF BROADWAY [Finale] (uncredited) (Music by Harry Warren) (Lyrics by Al Dubin) [Sung by Doris Day, Danced by Doris Day, Gene Nelson and mixed chorus]
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – Warner Archive Collection presents us the film ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY’ and does a completely outstanding 1080p image transfer that makes full uses of the eye-popping Technicolor. Warner Archive technicians have done another fantastic job dealing with three-strip Technicolor resulting in a gorgeous image with pristine picture quality. Sharpness is outstanding except in soft-focused glamour shots, and the colour is deeply saturated but always under control. The rich blacks of Doris Day's tuxedo in the opening number make a statement, the bright, well-defined whites resist blooming, and bold primaries punch up the frame on occasion. The subtle pastels don't exude as much oomph as they do on other Doris Day titles, and though close-ups are plenty sharp. There are no instances of splices, scratches, or reel cues to mar the viewing experience. This Blu-ray is just fine and certainly a nice step up from the previous inferior DVD release, which should make all of Doris Day's legions of fans very happy.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Archive Collection brings us the film ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY’ with one standard 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. The sound mix is very good and offers fine fidelity though the tap sounds for Gene Nelson’s “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart” number sound weirdly disembodied as if the ghosts from Follies were doing the tapping. Dialogue and song lyrics come through clearly and cleanly, and the music and sound effects are otherwise blended well. Excellent fidelity brightens the songs and a wide dynamic scale handles all the highs and lows of the orchestrations and Doris Day's golden-toned vocals without a hint of distortion. Hiss, crackle, flutter, and pops are trouble free and not a problem at all.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Theatrical Trailer [1951] [1080p] [1.37:1] [2}41] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY,’ where they inform us that Warner Bros. presents NOTES On The Year’s Merriest MUSICAL! A New Note of DANCING! A Gay Note of COMEDY! A STAR-BURST of ENTERTAINMENT . . . In A Musical JOY-RIDE Along The Great White Way! That is LULLABY OF BROADWAY!
Finally, ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY’ shows us Doris Day at the peak of her singing and dancing best with a clutch of classic show tunes that she handles to perfection. The backstage story punctuated with multiple misunderstandings doesn't amount to much, but it's always a treat to hear Doris Day sing, and here she also shows off her considerable terpsichorean talent. The film is filled with elements from musicals of the 1930’s and presented in the timeline of the early 1950’s and ‘LULLABY OF BROADWAY’ is one of my favourite Doris Day films, where Doris Day dances beautifully and proving Doris Day is more than a great singer and is also a very capable multi-talented entertainer. A strong supporting cast and a beautiful Technicolor production adds great lustre to another great Blu-ray success for Warner Archive Collection fans like me. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
