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| Bobby Van and Debbie Reynolds |
THE AFFAIRS OF DOBIE GILLIS (1953). Director: Don Weis.
Dobie Gillis (Bobby Van) has enrolled in college but he doesn't seem to have much on his mind academically. He is much more interested in
girls, especially Pansy Hammer (Debbie Reynolds), who is initially resistant. Pansy's parents, especially her grumpy father (Hanley Stafford), rarely approve of her boyfriends and Dobie is no exception. Further complicating the matter is that Dobie's pal and roommate, Charlie (Bob Fosse), goes for Lorna (Barbara Ruick), who only has eyes for Dobie. Then Dobie manages to get into trouble over and over again, and it seems as if he and Pansy are to be separated forever.
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| Roomies: Bob Fosse and Bobby Van |
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis is a trifle, but what a charming and entertaining trifle it is, with a great cast of talented performers giving their utmost. Bobby Van [
The Navy vs the Night Monsters], while not traditionally handsome, proves an adept leading man with both singing and dancing skills, a pleasant, outgoing personality, and plenty of exuberance and charisma. The same could be said for Bob Fosse, who is both cute (if not on a Tab Hunter level) and appealing, but chose to work primarily behind the scenes as a top choreographer in later years. Debbie Reynolds [
Singin' in the Rain] is also cute and perky and while this is mostly Van's show, gives him her best in support. Barbara Ruick, who was in the film version of
Carousel as well as
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, scores as the love-sick gal who adores her disinterested Dobie and is given at least one snappy number.
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| Reynolds, Van, Freeman |
As for the supporting cast, Hans Conreid, as a stuffy professor, reminds one of Mr. Livermore on
I Love Lucy. Kathleen Freeman certainly adds to the fun as the comical leader of an all-girl band. Percy Helton shows up as a shop owner, Charles Lane is well-cast as a -- what else? -- grouchy chemistry professor, and there are bits by Alvy Moore, Almira Sessions, and John Smith. Lurene Tuttle is Debbie's mother, and is fine, but Hanley Stafford as her father is all bluster and no laughs. The songs include "All I Do is Dream of You," "I'm Through with Love;" and "Can't Do Wrong If It's Right," which features some fancy footwork from Van and Fosse. The somewhat episodic film reminds one a bit of a sitcom at times, and indeed it wasn't long before
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis was being telecast every week, although with a completely different cast.
Verdict: Lots of fun, good tunes, and fancy footwork. ***.
2 comments:
Cute movie chock full of youthful vibrant star quality—Debbie being Debbie, and a rare opportunity for chorus boy Bobby Van to step out front in a lead role. Also a rare opportunity to see the great Fosse on screen for more than a number or two...doesn’t he also appear briefly in Damn Yankees and Sweet Charity? I always enjoyed reruns of the TV show based on this movie, with Bob Denver and Dwayne Hickman, plus A young Warren Beatty and Tuesday Weld to boot.
- Chris
I used to watch the Dobie TV show reruns when I was a kid, but I tried watching it as an adult and I just couldn't get into it, oddly. I don't remember if Fosse appeared in either of the films you mentioned but he had a big part in the remake of 'My Sister Eileen" with Betty Garrett. Fosse may not have been Tab Hunter-handsome, but he was "cute," and his acting career might have been developed more, but either he didn't get the opportunities or preferred to work behind the scenes and in theater. Bobby Van was a very talented fellow with a lot of screen appeal.
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