HotToastyRag With all the Broadway Melody of . . . films from the 1930s, it's a wonder anyone could keep them straight. Thankfully, this delightful must-see musical starring Doris Day and Gene Nelson, is totally unforgettable. If you love singing, dancing, and beautiful people in leading roles, you're going to want to add this one to your list today. Sometimes, musicals of the 1950s have one or two cute songs to tide you over for the full movie, but Lullaby of Broadway has so many wonderful numbers: "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me", "I Love the Way You Say Goodnight", "Somebody Loves Me", "Just One of Those Things", and of course, the title song.The supporting cast is full of 1950s veterans, S.Z. Sakall, Billy De Wolfe, and Gladys George, but it's the song and dance numbers that make this a truly enjoyable viewing experience. Where else can you see Doris Day charming and gorgeous in a tuxedo or Gene Nelson paying homage to Fred Astaire and dancing with a dozen girls at once? Plus, isn't it a nice change to see Gene Nelson in the leading role? So often he was stuck in supporting roles, but in this one he, his superb dancing talents, and his gorgeous mug, get front and center stage. To whet your appetite, and to make sure you watch this one as soon as you can get your hands on it, watch the trailer. It's got great clips of the songs and dances, and it's impossible to resist.

mark.waltz When we first heard "Lullaby of Broadway" in "Gold Diggers of 1935", it told the story of Broadway Babies who said goodnight early in the morning. One of them must have been the character played here by Gladys George, "Greenwich Village Gertie" she calls herself, a torch singer in Washington Square who sings such songs as "In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town" and "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone". George's character could also be the speakeasy lady she played in "The Roaring Twenties", now a drunken shell of herself whose daughter (Day) thinks that her mother is a great star. Doris comes back from being away in Europe, moves into what she believes is her mother's Beekman Place home (right next to Mame Dennis, of course!), and proceeds to innocently cause scandal for a Hungarian beer manufacturer (S.Z. Sakall) and his imperious wife (Florence Bates). A mix-up over a mink coat causes Bates to think that something more is going on between hubby Sakall and newcomer Day. Then, Doris learns the truth about her mother, reels over the accusations of the press, and prepares to return to Europe.That storyline is more than a lullaby, it is a torch song! But thanks to a light-hearted presentation by Warner Brothers, "Lullaby of Broadway" ends up being one of their better early 50's musicals, not lavish like MGM's crop, but unpretentious and fun. There's a bit of dated comedy (Billy DeWolfe & Anne Triola's routines reek of vaudeville, particularly their song, "You're Dependable") but when Doris sings and Gene dances, the film shines. Doris is a fine dancer too, but for some reason, Gene (who did his own singing in the movie version of "Oklahoma!") is dubbed by a bass singer that doesn't fit his speaking voice. Sakall can sometimes be a bit too cutesy, but Bates is delightfully comic. Her society matron manages to win sympathy because it is obvious that she only gets domineering with Sakall to prevent him from getting involved in creating disaster and truly loves him.As for the musical numbers, Day's "Just One of Those Things" is the stand-out (she looks great in a tux!), while Nelson's athletic dancing in "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" is amazing. There's some special effects thrown into the dancing during "I Like the Way You Say Good Night" (slowing down of the film, like Fred Astaire did in "Easter Parade"), and the mechanical doll number is truly funny as well. The title song lacks strong choreography but has a great opening of only Day's head being seen until the lights come up on her in a beautiful gold dress. It is her personality exploding on screen that the audience can describe, like her first movie song hit, "It's Magic!"

edwagreen An absolute tremendous Doris Day-Gene Nelson musical. Why? There is a great plot here which was similar in a musical way to "Lady for A Day," which later became a Bette Davis-Ann Margret-Glenn Ford remake of "Pocketful of Miracles." Besides the wonderful plot of washed up boozy actress (Gladys George) having her daughter live abroad while she is a chanteuse at a broken singing lounge. Of course, the mayhem begins when Day plans a surprise visit and goes to the house where her mother has said she has lived all these years.The house is inhabited by S.Z. Sakall a Broadway producer, who knew George in her day, and is penny pinching, ever suspicious wife, Florence Bates. Billy De Wolfe and Anne Triola, both formerly of the stage and a friend to the George character, are valets there so that's how George was able to give out the address.The hilarity starts when Sakall starts taking out Day, creating a jealous Nelson and infuriating Bates, the latter suing for divorce naming Day as the correspondent!While all this is occurring, love blossoms between Nelson and Day, and they get involved in a forthcoming show-"Lullaby of Broadway."Day sings hit songs of the period and Nelson, of course, dances up a storm in this lively, entertaining wonderful film.

moonspinner55 Overstuffed Warner Bros. vehicle for Doris Day, here playing a nightclub singer who travels from England to New York to be reunited with her mom, a former Broadway star who has fallen on hard times; meanwhile, an elderly B-way producer hires Day for his new show, causing rumors that he's her lover! Since the many musical numbers consist of musty oldies (even for 1951) and the plot is a drag, that only leaves the stars to carry this second-biller, and Day, Gladys Cooper, S.Z. Sakall and Billy de Wolfe are all fun. Gene Nelson is off-putting as Day's romantic lead (he harbors a strangely creepy side which was probably unintentional), although his tap-dance with Doris up a steep flight of steps is breathtaking. An adequate time-filler, and Doris sparkles as usual. ** from ****