Review of Romance on the High Seas

The music composer team of Jules Styne and Sammy Cahn must have realized that they had a potential megahit in their romantic ballad "It's Magic", composed for this musical comedy. It became the de facto theme song for the film, sung two and a half times, including the finale. And who better to sing it than the personable, cute, blond Big Band singer: Doris Day, although she wasn't the first to be offered the role. Paramount's Betty Hutton, and MGM's Judy Garland and Kathryn Grayson were given a shot at it, but turned it down. After director Michael Curtiz heard a sampling of Doris's singing, he knew he had found the right singer, albeit she had no acting experience. It proved a perfect marriage, as you will discover. After seeing herself in the early going, Doris was dissatisfied with her acting , and asked Curtiz to recommend an acting coach. Curtiz replied emphatically "No, no, that would ruin everything. You are a natural born actress!"..........The wacky screenplay is full of unrealistic or very improbable contrivances and plot holes, yet provides a scaffolding for an very entertaining story, given the skill and charisma of the lead actors. It begins with the wedding of Mike Kent(Dan Defore) and Elvira(Janis Paige). But, the fun really begins when the glamorous socialite , Elmira, plans a cruise to Latin America, for their 3rd wedding anniversary. She goes to Mike's office and confronts him with this plan. He replies that he can't work that into his schedule, and suggests that she go alone. Elvira notices that Mike has hired a new statuesque sexy blond secretary, played by Leslie Brooks.(Leslie was the spitting image of Lana Turner, and I was shocked to discover that it wasn't Lana!). Leslie appears to be flirting with Mike, and he appears to be responding, right in the presence of Elvira. Elvira points out that this siren is typing with only one finger, and sarcastically suggests that by the time Elvira returns from her voyage, perhaps this 'secretary' will have learned to type with 10 fingers!...........Elmira hatches a plan to see if Mike will fool around if he thinks she is on this cruise, but actually she will remain in NYC, spying on her husband. She needs an impersonator to go on the cruise in place of her. Singer Doris is the lucky one chosen. The suspicious Mike hires a private detective (Jack Carson, as Pete) to tail Elmira and make sure she doesn't dally with any men. Naturally, Peter and 'Elmira'(Georgia) soon meet, and establish a friendly relationship, which gradually turns romantic. But the fact that 'Elmira' is supposedly married, discourages a more serious relationship.......... Eventually, both Elmira and Mike lose confidence in their respective agents, who are now in Rio. Separately, they fly to Rio to find out what is really going on, setting the stage for the hilarious comedy climax, which also includes Elmira's eccentric English-impaired uncle (played, of course, by S. Z. Sakall), and Doris's apparently platonic boyfriend Oscar(Oscar Levant), who joined the cruise at some point, and strikes up a friendship with Peter in Rio. I will let you discover the details of the climax comedy in Rio. In the end, things get sorted out and we end up with 2 happy couples, as Doris stage sings "It's Magic" for the last time(in English, not Portuguese!).............. Unlike Doris's subsequent hits "Secrete Love", and "Que, Sera, Sera", "It's Magic" didn't win the Oscar for best original song, but it was nominated.......... Jack Carson would again costar with Doris in her next 2 films. They were good friends, including some romantic dabbling during this period.......... Although Doris clearly had the lead female role, Janis Paige was billed above her because she was an established actress, while Doris was just beginning. Doris and Janis would meet again in several subsequent films, including "Don't Eat the Daisies", where Janis tries to steal Doris's husband.