An American Icon

At one time Roger Ebert discounted Doris Day's immense talent, skill and onscreen magnificence.

He has since not only apologized but kicked himself for being so short-sighted and for not taking her body of work seriously.

Doris Day is an American vocal and acting treasure.

If you haven't seen her in Calamity Jane, you are not a genuine film buff. She's hilarious. Her timing impeccable - and her range astonishing and her voice, well, typically perfect.

At the end of the film, she rounds off her sassy character singing the tender and soul searching Secret Love - a song adopted by everyone who has loved someone they're not "supposed to."























IMO, the reason Doris Day's on screen performances were so superb, whether suffering in Midnight Lace or kicking up her heels in Calamity Jane or meeting Rock Hudson or James Garner toe to toe in romantic comedies that still stand up today: her devotion to her singing.

She was a consummate singer - she took her singing so very seriously, continuing to perfect every detail of her chops, while taking her acting ... well, not as seriously.

But everything that made her a great singer made her an even better actor. Timing. Phrasing. Intent. Eye work. Breathing. Gestures. Sincerity. Body language. She put her performance out there for us 100% while simultaneously making her character hold back *something* we could never pry from her, which only made us want more. And she made it all look easy - the definition of a real artist.

At 92, she lives a reclusive life with her dogs now. I wish she would allow someone to interview her - just to talk about her craft. Especially singing, because everything she did artistically for her music, she applied to her acting.

Enjoy.