Tea for Two *** (1950, Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson, Eve Arden, Billy DeWolfe, S Z Sakall) – Classic Movie Review 7684

‘Everybody’s goin’ Gay with – Doris Day and Gordon MacRae.’ No, really?

Director David Butler’s diverting 1950 Technicolor musical Tea for Two, a distant cousin to the Twenties show No, No, Nanette from which it is derived, is one of the bright spots in Doris Day’s singing and dancing career, as she plays Nanette Carter, a financier’s niece promised backing for her Broadway musical if she says no to all offers for 24 hours.

As the romantically inclined Jimmy Smith, Gordon MacRae is in delightful voice too, while Gene Nelson co-stars as Tommy Trainor. But it is mainly the funny comedy turns (Eve Arden, Billy DeWolfe, S Z Sakall), the catchy songs (George and Ira Gershwin’s ‘Do, Do, Do’, ‘I Only Have Eyes for You’), Butler’s bouncy direction and the redoubtable Day that make this such a welcome cup of tea.

Also in the cast are Bill Goodwin, Patrice Wymore, Virginia Gibson, Pat Flaherty, Elinor Donahue, Elizabeth Flournoy, Harry Harvey, Heschel Daugherty, Crauford Kent, Johnny McGovern and Carol Haney.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7684

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