Lucky Me (1954)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Jack Donohue

Writers:

Irving Elinson (screenplay)
Robert O'Brien (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 July 1954 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The fastest-paced pleasure that ever spread a wide smile across the face of the screen!

Plot:

Candy Williams is a struggling performer in a musical troupe, headed by Hap Schneider. Unfortunately...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman

Cast

Doris Day	...	Candy Williams
Robert Cummings	...	Dick Carson
Phil Silvers	...	Hap Schneider
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Duke McGee
Nancy Walker	...	Flo Neely
Martha Hyer	...	Lorraine Thayer
Bill Goodwin	...	Otis Thayer
Marcel Dalio	...	Anton
Hayden Rorke	...	Tommy Arthur
James Burke	...	Mahoney

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:U (video) | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #16754)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Doris Day did not want to make this movie but had to under contract obligations.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Chorus: [sings] Lucky me! / Down the four leaf clover highway, all the signs are pointing my way. / Yes siree. / For lucky me, lucky me, yes siree. / With a lucky star to guide me, and the one I love beside me. / Life can be, so fancy free! / Don't you wish that you could be... Lucky Me!

Movie Connections:

References The Command (1954)

Soundtrack:

The Superstition Song

The First CinemaScope Musical

"Lucky Me" was the first musical to be shot in the then, new process, CinemaScope. It was also a picture that Doris Day, Hollywood's Golden Girl, did NOT want to make.

Because of contractual obligations, she decided to do the film and to give it 110% of herself in the role of 'Candy Williams'. Her co-star was Robert Cummings, long-time Hollywood leading man and television star. In support, she had Phil Silvers, Nancy Walker, who later gained fame as Ida Morgenstern in "Rhoda", and Eddie Foy, Jr.

It was reported that Martha Hyer, a blond, was forced to dye her hair red so as not to conflict with the star, Miss Day.

This film is famous for another reason. Judy Garland was on the Warner Brothers lot filming "A Star is Born". She and Miss Day visited each other's sets and became friends.

"Lucky Me" is a fun musical which opens with Doris Day's dynamite opening number, "The Superstition Song," which she sings while bouncing down the streets of Miami! A TRUE STAR PERFORMANCE! Only Doris could have gotten away with this, and she was brilliant.

She played Candy Williams, a singer/actress who was appearing in a travelling show, "Parisian Pretties" which bombed in Miami. Standed, she meets a New York songwriter, Cummings, who is casting a new Broadway show. He pretends to be someone else to court Candy, but falls in love with her.

During the proceedings, Doris Day sings most of the numbers including her chart hit, "I Speak to the Stars". The highlight is "I Wanna Sing Like an Angel" and "Love You, Dearly," a lovely ballad which should have been a hit.

Phil Sivers was wonderful and had a great number with Day called "Men!" The other actors gave Miss Day able support and everyone seemed to work well with each other.

Angie Dickinson made her film debut in a walk-on scene at the big party, but you probably won't recognize her (she had black hair). Bill Goodwin played the same role he played in many a film at various studios.

Again, Doris Day fans will just love seeing their favorite star do ANYthing. Even though Miss Day didn't like the picture, her fans seem to love every minute of it. I must admit, I liked it!