Love Doris Day, both as an actress and as a singer, and would see any of her films, if in some cases just for her (some of her films like 'Calamity Jane' and 'Pillow Talk' are favourites). 'Starlift' also had a who's-who of Hollywood talent of the time.
Simply put, 'Starlift' could have been a very interesting film to see all that talent, but it is a kind of film that has been done before (perhaps even to death) and much better and does little with its huge amount of star power. This is yet another Doris Day film, like 'The West Point Story' and 'Lucky Me', that should have been good but something went badly wrong in translation. It is a case of some bright spots but mostly talent wastes and flounders badly in many crucial components.
Its best asset is Day, who brightens up the screen whenever she appears. She sings like a dream as always, and, like as was said with 'Lucky Me', she has a bright natural charm and breezy gusto that livens things up considerably in a film that desperately needed it elsewhere. Luckily there are other good components.
The songs are very pleasant, some even wonderful and gorgeously sung by Day and Gordon MacRae, and the dancing from Gene Nelson and Janice Rule dazzles in its energy and grace. Ruth Roman is very assured and James Cagney, Patricia Wymore and Virginia Mayo steal scenes effortlessly.
However, 'Starlift' is a cheap-looking film that looks like it was made on a shoestring budget and cries out for Technicolor, nothing against black and white (far from it) but the cheap production values further added to the dreariness of most of the film. Roy Del Ruth's direction has no energy or momentum, a very sleep-walking effort and like his heart was not in it.
'Starlift' only has an energetic pace when Day, Rule and Nelson are on screen, while begging for a steroid shot everywhere else, while the threadbare and contrived story is best forgotten. Was really disappointed at how bad the script was, with very corny and downright annoying comedy (that is delivered in a hammy mugging way) and deadly dull romantic elements, thanks to non-descript chemistry between Rule and Ron Hagerthy and the bland, robotic performance from Hagerthy (Rule is actually good particularly with Nelson). Dick Wesson really grates on the nerves as well.
While it was a joy to see so much talent on screen, very little is done with it, a waste of star power and a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. In short, too many cameos, most of which are forgettable and given such short shrift mostly that it's blink and miss. A few of them, like Gary Cooper, actually look like they wanted to be elsewhere.
Overall, Day is a joy but the film as a whole lacks lift and star power is mostly wasted. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Simply put, 'Starlift' could have been a very interesting film to see all that talent, but it is a kind of film that has been done before (perhaps even to death) and much better and does little with its huge amount of star power. This is yet another Doris Day film, like 'The West Point Story' and 'Lucky Me', that should have been good but something went badly wrong in translation. It is a case of some bright spots but mostly talent wastes and flounders badly in many crucial components.
Its best asset is Day, who brightens up the screen whenever she appears. She sings like a dream as always, and, like as was said with 'Lucky Me', she has a bright natural charm and breezy gusto that livens things up considerably in a film that desperately needed it elsewhere. Luckily there are other good components.
The songs are very pleasant, some even wonderful and gorgeously sung by Day and Gordon MacRae, and the dancing from Gene Nelson and Janice Rule dazzles in its energy and grace. Ruth Roman is very assured and James Cagney, Patricia Wymore and Virginia Mayo steal scenes effortlessly.
However, 'Starlift' is a cheap-looking film that looks like it was made on a shoestring budget and cries out for Technicolor, nothing against black and white (far from it) but the cheap production values further added to the dreariness of most of the film. Roy Del Ruth's direction has no energy or momentum, a very sleep-walking effort and like his heart was not in it.
'Starlift' only has an energetic pace when Day, Rule and Nelson are on screen, while begging for a steroid shot everywhere else, while the threadbare and contrived story is best forgotten. Was really disappointed at how bad the script was, with very corny and downright annoying comedy (that is delivered in a hammy mugging way) and deadly dull romantic elements, thanks to non-descript chemistry between Rule and Ron Hagerthy and the bland, robotic performance from Hagerthy (Rule is actually good particularly with Nelson). Dick Wesson really grates on the nerves as well.
While it was a joy to see so much talent on screen, very little is done with it, a waste of star power and a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. In short, too many cameos, most of which are forgettable and given such short shrift mostly that it's blink and miss. A few of them, like Gary Cooper, actually look like they wanted to be elsewhere.
Overall, Day is a joy but the film as a whole lacks lift and star power is mostly wasted. 4/10 Bethany Cox