HotToastyRag Romance on the High Seas is not only my favorite Doris Day movie, but it's also one of my favorite old movies! Everything about it is perfect: the acting, the songs, the premise, the jokes, the costumes-and to top it all off, the two leads fell in love with each other during the movie! I've yet to see a man look at a woman in real life the way Jack Carson looks at Doris Day in Romance on the High Seas. Every time he gazes at her during the song "It's Magic", I swoon-and I've seen the movie close to fifty times!I could spend a paragraph detailing the adorable setup of the plot, but then you wouldn't get to experience every delightful emotion the first time you watch it. Trust me on this one, it's cute, funny, and irresistible. Every character, no matter their faults, is endearing, and you can't help but root for them. And an added bonus is the wonderful chemistry and timing of the cast. Everyone works beautifully off each other, and the natural but tight timing of the jokes is remarkable.It's hard to believe that Romance on the High Seas was Doris Day's first movie; she'd made a name for herself with her singing and Hollywood gave her a break by introducing her in a leading role. She and Jack Carson made three movies together, and after watching any of them-but this first one in particular-you'll refuse to believe any other offscreen tale than their enjoyment of a long and happy life together. They're so sweet, considerate, comfortable, and down-right perfect together. Many times in movies, old or new, the supporting characters aren't very interesting or entertaining. In Romance on the High Seas, everyone has laugh lines, everyone puts their heart into their performance, and everyone gives the audience a warm, fuzzy feeling. S.Z. Sakall has hilarious quips with a mixture of broken English and well-intended awkward comments. Oscar Levant, while as depressing and negative as he always is, still grabs at the audience's heart as he knows he doesn't have Doris Day's heart. Eric Blore's show-stopping turn as an incompetent doctor is easily one of the funniest parts of the entire film. Even Franklin Pangborn makes the most of his few minutes on the screen, and John Berkes who has no lines at all, is a hilarious addition to his scene!There are certain gowns that stand out in one's memory as the greatest gowns in film history. Everyone has their favorites-Gone with the Wind, The King and I, and Atonement come to mind-and Doris Day's metallic blue gown designed by Milo Anderson in Romance on the High Seas is one of my all-time favorite film dresses. Even if the movie were garbage, it would be worth watching just to admire that dress. Thankfully, the movie is nearly perfect, but in all the wondrous moments you'll remember long after you watch it-"It's Magic," "You have principles," "I'm no blabbermouth!"-I guarantee the blue dress will be one of them. Watch it and find out. You're better off buying a copy than renting it, though, as I can't seem to let a few months go by without popping my copy in the DVD player!

TheLittleSongbird Being a fan of Doris Day, particularly in 'Calamity Jane', her outings with Gordon McRae and her comedies and who considers Michael Curtiz a talented director with 'Casablanca' and 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' masterpieces, 'Romance on the High Seas' was met with high expectations.High expectations that were mostly met, even though all have done better. The story is slight and silly with a few to many mix ups. The ending itself is a bit rushed and the build up slightly tedious. Most of the songs are great, but two don't work. "Run, Run, Run" leaves a bad taste in the mouth and "Cuban Rhapsody" feels really out of place.Doris Day however captivates in her first film role, that was initially intended for Betty Hutton. She has a lot of charm and her singing is as gorgeous as ever. The songs more than do her and her songs, especially "It's Magic", and they are beautifully staged.Jack Carson is a charming and witty leading man, while Janis Page steals every scene she's in. SZ Sakall is amusingly curmudgeon and avoids being irritating, while Oscar Levant is just about tolerable.Curtiz, while not in his comfort zone, directs more than admirably. The production values truly enchant, while the script has non-stop fun and wit, making one laugh more than once. The mix ups entertain, and the film goes along at a snappy pace, petering out only at the end.Overall, has a few faults but mostly a winner. 8/10 Bethany Cox

atlasmb This film feels like a cornucopia--a real assemblage of small pleasures that add up to plenty of enjoyment.Filmed in Technicolor, "Romance on the High Seas", tells the simple story of a dysfunctional married couple--Janis Paige as Elvira and Don DeFore as Michael--who look for reasons to distrust one another. Janis pretends to go on a cruise so she can stay stateside and keep an eye on Michael. Doris Day, in her film debut, plays a gum chewing club singer, the woman Elvira gets to take her place on the cruise. Meanwhile, Michael engages a private detective (Jack Carson) to shadow his wife on the voyage. All of the stars play their parts well, with Ms. Day practically jumping off the screen with enthusiasm and presence.Most of the songs by Styne and Cahn are enjoyable, if not remarkable. The supporting cast is rife with recognizable character actors. "Cuddles" Sakall, especially--as the uncle of Elvira-- brightens the production.A special nod goes to the fashions in this film. Milo Anderson is responsible for the wardrobe. Some of the women in this film are real beauties and their ensembles only compliment their assets.Put all of these elements together and you have an enjoyable film experience.

crispy_comments So this film was originally offered to Judy Garland and Betty Hutton? Although the script is certainly beneath them, I would've much preferred to see either of these actresses in Doris Day's place, as I find Day's perky/cutesy mannerisms to be cartoonish and irritating. Her pout annoys me. Her big toothy grin annoys me. Ditto the bug-eyed stare. Even the way she walks, with these mincing little bird-like baby steps... bugs me. Her voice is alright, but nothing special, certainly no match for Garland or Hutton, or a dozen other singers I could name. I guess I'll never understand Doris Day's popularity.Anyway, "Romance On The High Seas" has a tired mistaken-identity plot, with none of the charm you'll find in other movies that use this plot device (Astaire/Rogers films, for instance). The story just plods along predictably. And the trying-to-be-zany-madcap finale, with all the characters' paths almost crossing as they just miss running into each other in elevators and hotel rooms...well, it's a bore. Hilarity does NOT ensue at watching The Husband enter the same room over and over, finding a different person in his wife's bed each time (um, not *with* the wife though, after all this was still 1948 - although there is some risqué humour that seems to be a precursor to Day's I'm-so-wholesome-but-tee-hee-maybe-I'll-be-corrupted 60's sex comedies). The ending is rushed and the deceptions aren't really explained to the appropriate parties, but the obvious couples end up in eachothers arms anyway. Ho hum.Oddly, Jack Carson actually plays the Desirable Romantic Lead in this film, which leaves Oscar Levant to play the wisecrackin' shmuck who doesn't get the girl. Levant's dry line delivery is the best thing about this movie - I'm *convinced* he improvised his own lines because they seem so much more clever than the rest of the dialogue. Or maybe it's all in the delivery. It's also nice to see S.Z. Sakall and Eric Blore, briefly, although their comic bits fall flat.Nothing else to recommend here - I don't even remember the songs, despite the fact that some were repeated. "Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea" was the highlight, if I have to choose. Too bad Janis Paige didn't sing any of them, just to mix things up & give us a break from Doris (whose songs were sometimes only a few minutes apart!) Paige *could* sing, contrary to the claims made by her hubby in the film. Remember that awesome "Stereophonic Sound" number from "Silk Stockings"? Some of that kind of energetic belting would've been very welcome here and provided nice contrast to Day's ballads. Oh well.I was actually surprised how little we saw of Janis Paige in general, since she had top billing and all. Guess the studio was already grooming Doris for stardom and wouldn't let another actress share the spotlight. Personally I find Janis more likable, a better comedienne and, incidentally much prettier than Doris Day. But talent and merit have nothing to do with success...sadly, it really is all about who you know. Who knew Jack Carson had so much pull back then? But he was in Day's corner (to quote her, they were "going together"), and apparently that did the trick.By the way, I notice Janis Paige's IMDb bio calls her a "joyous scene-stealer", and I must agree! She totally upstages Doris with her supporting role in the film "Please Don't Eat The Daisies". I wanted David Niven to dump Doris and go for her. Ah well. That movie was much better written than this one, (and Niven far more charming than Carson), but you still have to watch Doris bird-walk across the screen. Is it worth it? You decide.