Doris Day

This is a great read about Doris Day - you see many of the trials that she has endured - and get to understand some of the things that helped shape her. Doris has to be one of the most inspirational people of our time - one who never seemed to get sucked in to the shallow world of movie stars. Her work with animals, and the Doris Day Animal League is so inspiring, and just like Doris. There is nothing like a animal to let you know that you are not a star because you are on tv - or make a million bucks - you are a star if you hold them right, help them, feed them - play with them! You also learn about the tv show that Doris never knew she was supposed to star in - until after the sudden death of her husband - which left her broke. But the show did go on - and through one of the apparently toughest periods in her life - she gave a great performance, as always. My only regret regarding her tv show was not keeping the concept she started with - the farm, and especially the kids. My favorite episodes are the first few years - heartwarming, charming, funny, and intelligent!

I enjoyed this book immensely. I bought Doris Day "Her Own Story" by A.E.Hotchner back in the 1970`s, but this book has quite a bit of new news, stories and photo`s. It tells you all about her early days in the band and the trials and tribulations of her personal life. It includes a lot of other actors and producers opinions of Doris that she has worked with over the years. The book also talks about her home in Carmel, which offers a glance at the beautiful surroundings in which she lives. All in all I thought the book was well researched and gives an interesting insight into a much loved and respected Lady of the Silver Screen. I would definitely recommend buying it if you are a film buff or a fan of Doris Day. From Meryl Heasman (songwriter) CATFLAP MUSIC England.

Erik Braun's book is a labor of love, and he has actually spent some time with the retired screen goddess. He gives us priceless glimpses of the films that never got made, as well as a knowing eye at the ones that did. For an Englishman, his takes on US pop culture are well-researched and never get in the way of his critical insights.His comments on Marty Melcher, the bete noire of the Day story, are remarkably even-tempered, and his take on Day's practice of Christian Science ditto. He's got an opinion on everything, but he's agreeable enough to make you wish the book was twice as long as it is.The comical thing is that in every paragraph, Braun somehow makes a British connection whenever possible; sometimes it seems like he's pulling them out of his arse as he goes along. Who would have guessed that Doris, the all-American girl, had less than six degrees of separation to so many UK institutions? She starred with British born Cary Grant in THAT TOUCH OF MINK, Rex Harrison in MIDNIGHT LACE and with Richard Harris in CAPRICE. (Harris, mysteriously, refused to speak to Braun without a signed release from Doris Day.) The sequences of the Hitchcock film, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, that were filmed in London, get special attention here. Erix Braun compares Doris Day to the British musical comedy stars Jessie Matthews, Gracie Fields and Gertrude Lawrence. And a host of character actors from England made appearances in Doris' films, from Terry-Thomas to Reginald Gardiner. Who was the co-star with whom Doris later fell in love and had an affair during her TV years? In her own memoir Doris refused to identify him, for he was a married man then. Braun preserves his anonymity, though a fancy bit of writing suggests, then denies, that he is thinking of Kirk Douglas for the part. I wonder!

In the year of Doris's 80th birthday, Orion Publishing in the UK revise and update their bestselling biography by British writer, Eric Braun.The book is an informative and honest account of the lady who can only be described as a showbiz legend! Expect NO tabloid twists, just a good read with some stunning new b/w shots from the 1960s, a photo of Grandma Doris in the new millennium and detailed listings of her music, movies and awards. This book is a faithful companion for anyone who admires Doris, one of the main reasons why I got involved in revising this edition in time for her epic 80th!If you haven't yet bought this book I'd wholeheartedly recommend it. If you have a previous edition this one knocks spots of those before - as it contains lots of new content. In the absense of her official biography (Doris Day: Her Own Story), which is out of print, this one is the BEST on the market!