In her fifth movie, Doris Day finally achieved top-billing, yet she shares the screen equally with a talented ensemble cast, with everyone working hard to inject some sparkle into a wafer-thin concoction. Inspired by the 1920s stage hit "No, No, Nanette" (itself filmed in 1940), this plays out as sort of the backstage story, with Doris betting her wealthy uncle that she won't say 'yes' for 48 hours in exchange for show-money. Unbeknownst to her, uncle S.Z. Sakall has been nearly ruined by the 1929 stock market crash which, incidentally, hasn't kept all the hoofers from hanging up their tap shoes (they're the merriest group of poor, working dancers I've ever seen!). Pleasant tunes, colorful costumes and fun dance routines (including a hair-raising bit with Gene Nelson on a staircase) can't really add excitement to the proceedings, which seems to have been made as a matinée quickie. Day shines (as usual), but her relationships with the men (Nelson, Gordon MacRae, and Billy De Wolf) are unclear, with De Wolf in particular a real wild card (would you believe him as a ladies' man stage producer?). Eve Arden has some funny asides, and the wrap-up is cute, but "Tea for Two" vanishes from the cup just as quickly as it is poured. ** from ****
Review of Tea for Two
