Saw 'It Happened to Jane' as a fan of Doris Day and wanted to see the films of hers not yet seen for completest sake. And it is a decently pleasant film that had potential to be so much more.
'It Happened to Jane' is not one of her best. It is no 'Calamity Jane', 'Pillow Talk', 'Move Over Darling', 'Lover Come Back', 'On Moonlight Bay' and 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon'. However, no it is not one of her worst either (if anything it's a middling effort of hers that does deserve a better reputation). It is much better than 'Starlift', 'Lucky Me', 'The West Point Story' (aka 'Fine and Dandy') and 'Do Not Disturb' of her films seen to date (which is most but a few more to see).
Not without its faults. The children are badly cast, being irritating and trying so hard to be cute that it's almost too sickly sweet. Their scenes are overplayed, under-directed, dull and annoying. The "Be Prepared" number did not fit within the film, went on for far too long (wouldn't have been so much an issue if it didn't interrupt the flow, seeing as it did substantially it was an issue), one really doesn't see the need of its inclusion and it's just not a good song and a weakly done scene all round in general.
Would have liked to have seen more chemistry between Day and Jack Lemmon. There are certainly some lovely and enjoyable moments that Day and Lemmon bring out beautifully, but mostly there could have been more of it and generally it could have been better executed. It's through no fault of Day, neither is it through fault of Lemmon, who really tries his best and gives an earnest charm, but their chemistry just seemed bland and underwritten. Lemmon's character is also a little underused and sketchily developed, a waste of a fine actor who still gives his all.
The story is lightweight and far-fetched, and, although there are plenty of entertaining and charming moments and most of the pacing is fine, the slightness is obvious at times which leads to a few scenes lacking zip. Without some of the children's scenes and "Be Prepared" there would already be a better film.
This may sound like 'It Happened to Jane' was a bad film to me. It wasn't, far from it. It just could have been much better and had some major faults even for somebody taking it for what it was and set out to do.
For all its flaws, however, there are a number of positives. 'It Happened to Jane' is lovely to look at, the exteriors and fashions are fabulously lavish and it is beautifully photographed. The locomotives also look amazing and like their own characters. With the exception of "Be Prepared", the music is not bad at all, it has the right amount of quirkiness and elegance. While Day has certainly had better songs in her career (don't misunderstand, this is not a musical but it has a few songs sung by Day), the music here is nonetheless pleasant and suit her voice, especially the title song. She sings them very well with her usual uniquely beautiful sound and with her usual musical and interpretive understanding and sincerity.
Regarding the script, a lot of it is amusing and almost to the level of an Ealing comedy in its best bits, charming and touching, with parts that also probe a great deal of thought like with the social satire Frank Capra style. The town hall speech is also stirring, packs a punch content-wise and has a message that still resonates and feels relevant. The story is hardly great, but there is an amiable light-heartedness and never too cloying sweetness that makes 'It Happened to Jane' still pleasing to watch and difficult to be too tough on. Most of the pacing is bright and breezy.
Day is perky and luminous, has deftly witty comic timing, sincerity and just charms everybody every time she's on screen in front of the camera and to the viewer watching. Lemmon is compromised somewhat by his writing and character, but still brings an earnest charm and he really sells it intensity-wise in his speech. Steve Forrest is dashing, and there is dependably solid support from Russ Brown, John Cecil Holm and Mary Wickes. Stealing the show, with the film's juiciest character, is Ernie Kovacs (reminding one of legendary Harry Cohn), who gives the film so much zest. The quirky and witty direction was a suitable fit and added a lot to the best of the material.
Overall, decent pleasant film that could have been more. 6/10 Bethany Cox
'It Happened to Jane' is not one of her best. It is no 'Calamity Jane', 'Pillow Talk', 'Move Over Darling', 'Lover Come Back', 'On Moonlight Bay' and 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon'. However, no it is not one of her worst either (if anything it's a middling effort of hers that does deserve a better reputation). It is much better than 'Starlift', 'Lucky Me', 'The West Point Story' (aka 'Fine and Dandy') and 'Do Not Disturb' of her films seen to date (which is most but a few more to see).
Not without its faults. The children are badly cast, being irritating and trying so hard to be cute that it's almost too sickly sweet. Their scenes are overplayed, under-directed, dull and annoying. The "Be Prepared" number did not fit within the film, went on for far too long (wouldn't have been so much an issue if it didn't interrupt the flow, seeing as it did substantially it was an issue), one really doesn't see the need of its inclusion and it's just not a good song and a weakly done scene all round in general.
Would have liked to have seen more chemistry between Day and Jack Lemmon. There are certainly some lovely and enjoyable moments that Day and Lemmon bring out beautifully, but mostly there could have been more of it and generally it could have been better executed. It's through no fault of Day, neither is it through fault of Lemmon, who really tries his best and gives an earnest charm, but their chemistry just seemed bland and underwritten. Lemmon's character is also a little underused and sketchily developed, a waste of a fine actor who still gives his all.
The story is lightweight and far-fetched, and, although there are plenty of entertaining and charming moments and most of the pacing is fine, the slightness is obvious at times which leads to a few scenes lacking zip. Without some of the children's scenes and "Be Prepared" there would already be a better film.
This may sound like 'It Happened to Jane' was a bad film to me. It wasn't, far from it. It just could have been much better and had some major faults even for somebody taking it for what it was and set out to do.
For all its flaws, however, there are a number of positives. 'It Happened to Jane' is lovely to look at, the exteriors and fashions are fabulously lavish and it is beautifully photographed. The locomotives also look amazing and like their own characters. With the exception of "Be Prepared", the music is not bad at all, it has the right amount of quirkiness and elegance. While Day has certainly had better songs in her career (don't misunderstand, this is not a musical but it has a few songs sung by Day), the music here is nonetheless pleasant and suit her voice, especially the title song. She sings them very well with her usual uniquely beautiful sound and with her usual musical and interpretive understanding and sincerity.
Regarding the script, a lot of it is amusing and almost to the level of an Ealing comedy in its best bits, charming and touching, with parts that also probe a great deal of thought like with the social satire Frank Capra style. The town hall speech is also stirring, packs a punch content-wise and has a message that still resonates and feels relevant. The story is hardly great, but there is an amiable light-heartedness and never too cloying sweetness that makes 'It Happened to Jane' still pleasing to watch and difficult to be too tough on. Most of the pacing is bright and breezy.
Day is perky and luminous, has deftly witty comic timing, sincerity and just charms everybody every time she's on screen in front of the camera and to the viewer watching. Lemmon is compromised somewhat by his writing and character, but still brings an earnest charm and he really sells it intensity-wise in his speech. Steve Forrest is dashing, and there is dependably solid support from Russ Brown, John Cecil Holm and Mary Wickes. Stealing the show, with the film's juiciest character, is Ernie Kovacs (reminding one of legendary Harry Cohn), who gives the film so much zest. The quirky and witty direction was a suitable fit and added a lot to the best of the material.
Overall, decent pleasant film that could have been more. 6/10 Bethany Cox