Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next Door | 
| Author: David Kaufman
Publisher: Virgin Books
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $19.77
You Save: $10.18 (34%)
New (9) Used (4) from $19.76
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 1719
Media: Hardcover
Edition: USA Only
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.7
ISBN: 1905264305
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.43028092
EAN: 9781905264308
ASIN: 1905264305
Publication Date: June 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
David Kaufman has now written the long-awaited, definitive biography of Doris Day. By telling Day’s incredible, previously untold story, Kaufman takes the reader to the epicenter of American popular culture— a roller-coaster saga, from the 1940s to the 1980s. While Day symbolized virtuous America to the rest of the world—especially in her heyday, the 1950s and early 1960s—both she and that era are still perceived as being far more innocent and carefree than they really were. Indeed, what makes Day’s story so richly fascinating is the fact that she was in many ways the opposite of her image as “the girl next door.” She was also a real-life Cinderella who regretted having gone to the ball and who found a series of princes who proved far less than charming. Thanks to Kaufman’s dogged diligence in tracking down countless colleagues and intimates, he gives us: Scintillating tales of fame, beauty, money, tragedy, sexual ambiguity, and sexual conquests. Anecdotes about a vast array of major subsidiary players in Day’s life, including Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Alfred Hitchcock, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Charles Manson, Mickey Mantle, Candice Bergen, and Rock Hudson. Kaufman reveals Day’s demons while emphasizing the extraordinary credit she deserves as an artist. In the tradition of great biographies, Kaufman’s detailed work not only reveals the surprising story of one of America’s most beloved icons, but also compels us to rush back and see her best films—including The Man Who Knew Too Much, Pillow Talk, Love Me or Leave Me—and to listen to her unforgettable songs—“Sentimental Journey,” “Secret Love,” “Que Sera, Sera.” Though she made more than 550 recordings and starred in 39 movies—not to mention her own TV show for five years—the epic story of Doris Day’s life has never been told . . . until now.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
One Fine Biography! July 17, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
A very, very detailed account of Doris Day's career and personal life. I tend to doubt some of the information such as the Maury Wills mention and even maybe the Mickey Mantle. Maybe or maybe not, no one really knows. There was nothing to document these rumors. It does not change what I think about this lovely woman. Appreciated all of the background information the author retrieved from archives. A rather large book, but not as tedious a read as one might imagine. I recommend this to any Doris Day fan. I applaud the author for his research as it is certainly worth taking a look.
AWASH IN DORIS DAY BIBLIOGRAPHICA July 16, 2008
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
I just finished reading a plethora of Doris Day biographies. I started with the book written by her former secretary, Dorothy, called DAY AT A TIME. I found it charming...to a point. The fact that Dorothy betrayed confidences in Doris that led to her being fired makes me wonder how much of the negativism is not just "getting back".
After that, I read the new David Kaufman book, UNTOLD STORY OF THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. Actually, I liked it a lot (and I am a dyed in the wool Doris Day fan...have been since the age of 7, and I am now 71). What is compelling about this book is that the reader can tell how much the author likes Doris Day because it shines through on every page...even when he is reporting something not so savory, as "the best lay Mickey Mantle ever had!" (Frankly,,I hope she was!)
Then came the new book (with exactly the same cover) just published in the UK called RELUCTANT STAR. (I waited to read any of the books until I had all of them on hand). I HATED THIS BOOK. The guy who wrote this book was just looking for a way to keep kicking Doris throughout...and frankly, she has been kicked, aligned, ignored, mistreated, underrated far too much in her life...we certainly don't need to read about it. Those of us who love her already know some important things:
1. SHE IS THE TOP FEMALE ENTERTAINER OF ALL TIME
2. SHE IS THE TOP BOX OFFICE ATTRACTION OF ALL TIME
3. SHE HAS THE BEST SINGING VOICE OF ANY ONE WHO HAS EVER RECORDED AND IS SECOND TO NONE! (Ella and Barbra can take a back seat and listen to the very very best)
4. SHE TURNED HER BACK ON HOLLYWOOD for many good reasons..and why not? What did Hollywood ever do for her? Did they honor her with an Academy Award DURING HER CAREER? Did they honor her with a grammy during her career. (They did STREISAND, and she can't hold a tea light to Doris)
Did they give her an Emmy? NO..BUT SHE DESERVED THEM ALL. So..now she is doing a service to the whole world with her animals, and we love her for that too.
AT ANY RATE, after reading all these books, I went back and picked up DORIS DAY-HER OWN STORY (WRITTEN with A.E. Hotchner) and re-read it. Funny....almost everything the new books called "revealing" was already mentioned by Doris in her own book from 1976. So much for any new slants!
(except...we did not need to know that Patrick O'Neal was her love for a solid year...her own damned business, and no one else's!!!)
Doris Day July 14, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
Doris Day fans will remain fans of their beloved "Clara" even though there are way too many facts in the book. Still it is interesting reading, and
illustrates this is one tough lady we love to love for good reasons!
 Very Little New in Disappointing Biography July 11, 2008
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
Liz Smith, on the book's back cover, says, "There's never been a truly great biography of Doris Day." Well, that statement is still true because this book is not a great biography. It's basically an updating of a 30-year-old autobiography that the star wrote, with very little new information. It certainly doesn't have many "untold stories" as the subtitle claims--it's mostly stuff that is told in Day's own book or a more recent book that analyzes her films.
Whether you like the book will depend on whether you have read other books about her, including her autobiography. If this is your first exposure to the star on paper, then you may enjoy it as it quickly glides through her life, starting at birth and going year-by-year through her career as singer and actress.
If you have read the other books about her, then this is a waste of time. It's almost 600 pages and still contains little that hasn't been stated before.
The author focuses mostly on her films, but makes unusual choices in spending more space on some of her worst films (Midnight Lace, Julie, That Touch of Mink, Jumbo) and short-changing her big hits (Man Who Knew Too Much, Pillow Talk). He just skims the surface and too often quotes her autobiography or Variety articles. He is very subjective in claiming what was her best work and he favors Rock Hudson while skewering Cary Grant. At times it almost feels like a biography of Rock & Doris since so much subjective passion is stated about Hudson. That would be fine if the author spent more time disecting why the relationship worked on screen and devoted more pages to the movies they made together. But as it is written, there is very little behind the scenes insight into her work with her co-stars.
The author does point out that she (like Hudson) was the opposite of her on-screen image. And that she had terrible husbands. But we knew all that before this book.
He also admits that he is unable to answer some of the conflicting information that comes when different people tell stories about the star. In a number of places he doesn't seem to have done enough research to come to solid conclusions, so instead he throws in all the perspectives and leaves it all up in the air.
So whether you like the book will be based on your expectation going into it--if you believe you'll hear some "untold stories" you will be disappointed. If you want a long, laborious map of the star's career with few inside stories, then you may enjoy it.
Well Done Biography!! July 9, 2008
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
This long overdue bio on Doris Day was worth waiting for. I've been a fan from my childhood and grew up on her 60's films. (and saw the rest on tv!) I, of course, loved her frank autobiography that came out in the 70's and was curious if this new biography could provide more information and insight. That it does! Although it does depend on a lot of already published sources, that cant be helped, as most of the people who worked with her (at least in her movie days) are long dead. He has interviewed a lot of people who worked with or knew Doris who are still living as well as some of her biggest fans who shared parts of her life. Doris emerges as a flawed, but human, very likeable performer who fell into stardom, and walked away from it once she felt her time had passed. Her biggest faults seem to be her inability to form close lasting friendships with people and letting others (particularly her 3rd husband, Marty Melcher) do her dirty work. She also was not the greatest mother as she was busy working all the time. Like many stars she wasnt the greatest employer either. Once a person lost their usefullness, despite making them feel part of her family, they were dispensed with. As anyone familiar with Doris Day knows her life wasnt a bed of roses: 4 failed marriages (one husband beat her; another squandered her fortune and left her almost penniless); her father left her mother at an early age; an early car accident ended her dancing career; her only child Terry died tragically a few years ago. There's plenty of drama and heartache. But Day always bounced back. She's a survivor. There isnt a lot new here, but enough for any fan (or anyone curious about this Garbolike former megastar) to be worth buying and reading. My only complaints of the book: it could've used some tighter editing (the details of the pressbooks of every film gets tiresome) and I wish there had been more details of her post-Carmel life. But considering how hard it is to get any information on this very private star and the fact she did not cooperate with the author, this is understandable. Terry Melcher, in particular, falls off the radar in the last 2 chapters. Suddenly he's remarried, then a page later he's married again. Then he's an alcoholic. Then he dies. Very little background information is provided. Doris' strained relationship with her grandson is not explained well either. WHY? He's an adult now. What's he doing with his life? The book feels rushed at the end. Overall, a very good book about a much underappreciated actress/ singer that never really got the respect she deserved. One can only hope The Academy will finally wake up before it's too late and award her an honorary Oscar. But I dont think Doris really cares (or would even show up to get the award). I do hope she realizes all the wonderful hours of happiness she's given to people who've enjoyed her movies and that wonderful voice!
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