Janis Paige Movies
American singer/actress Janis Paige was singing in public from age 5 in local amateur shows. Journeying from her native Washington to Los Angeles after high school, Paige secured a job as vocalist at the Hollywood Canteen, a studio-sponsored gathering spot for servicemen. It was only logical, then, that her first feature film upon being signed by Warner Bros. would be Hollywood Canteen (1944). A few musicals aside, Paige didn't get to sing much in her subsequent films, appearing mostly as ingenues and second leads. She left for Broadway in 1950, where she scored a hit in the popular comedy-mystery Remains to Be Seen, in which she costarred with then-husband Jackie Cooper. A few seasons later, Paige enjoyed her biggest hit in the Tony-Winning musical comedy The Pajama Game. Back in Hollywood, Paige watched as her stage roles went to bigger actresses (the star of the filmization of Pajama Game was her old rival at Warners, Doris Day), but she managed to secure one memorable movie role as an Esther Williams-like aquatic movie star in 1957's Silk Stockings. Janis was permitted one strong number, "Stereophonic Sound," with costar Fred Astaire, and copped most of the film's laughs as she slapped herself in the head to get the water out of her ears during interviews. The actress was a fixture of television from the early '50s onward, starring in the sitcom It's Always Jan and featured in recurring roles on such series as Eight is Enough, Trapper John MD, and Lanigan's Rabbi. Perhaps her most conspicuous prime-time TV role was as the waitress who conducted a brief affair with Archie Bunker on All in the Family. Daytime TV fans have been treated to Paige's talents on such serials as General Hospital, Capitol, and Santa Barbara, while devotees of summer stock theatre will remember the actress as star of straw-hat productions of Gypsy and Pajama Game in the '60s. As busy off-camera as on, Janis Paige was the founder of the Sunset Plaza Civic Association; and after the death of her composer husband Ray Gilbert (who penned "Zip-i-dee-Doo-Dah"), Paige was placed in charge of Gilbert's Ipanema Music Company. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1978
Desi Arnaz and Janis Paige respectively guest-star as a philandering Cuban photographer and his long-suffering wife. When the photographer makes a play for Alice (Linda Lavin), his wife jumps to the erroneous conclusion that our heroine is the latest "other woman." It falls to Alice to act as counselor between the tempestuous couple. (Factoid: Alice was at this time produced by Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, who had previously spent several lucrative years in the employ of Desi Arnaz as head writers of I Love Lucy). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Season seven of All in the Family opened with an hour-long episode -- the first of a two-part story arc -- which put the relationship between Archie and Edith Bunker to its severest test. With Edith busy at the Sunshine Nursing Home, a lonely Archie gravitates to an attractive middle-aged waitress named Denise (Janis Paige). He carries the relationship one step further, when, wearing his "good shirt from Disney World," he pays a nocturnal visit to Denise's apartment. And then, Edith finds out. Written by Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, part one of "Archie's Brief Encounter" first aired on September 22, 1976; since that time, the 60-minute episode has been re-edited into two 30-minute installments for syndication purposes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1978
Archie is shocked to discover that the new waitress hired by Harry is none other than Denise (Janis Paige), the woman with whom Archie nearly had an extramarital fling back in 1976. Unfortunately, Edith also learns that Denise is back in the neighborhood. Inevitably, the two women in Archie's life have a showdown -- with surprising and surprisingly touching results. Written by Milt Josefsberg and Phil Sharp, "The Return of the Waitress" was first broadcast on November 26, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1947
In this frothy, star-studded Warner Brothers outing, tightwad tycoon Jonathan Turner, believing himself at death's door, gives star-struck movie buff Jane Barker a million bucks. Problems begin when Jane's hubby, an aspiring writer, finds out about her new fortune. Marital turmoil ensues causing Jane to launch divorce proceedings. He in turn begins demanding alimony. The situation seems at a permanent impasse until the Turner miraculously recovers and decides he wants the money back. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hutton, Joyce Reynolds, (more)
- 1980
A gangster who was wrongfully executed for a killing is promised leniency from Satan if he returns to earth in the body of a lawman who is trying to stamp out evil. Trouble is, the dead man has a hard time being evil enough to get revenge. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Strauss, Richard Kiley, (more)
- 1961
Bob Hope was in the first stages of his cinematic decline when he starred in Bachelor in Paradise. Hope plays a "romance expert" who is contracted to write an expose on the sexual habits of suburban California housewives. For research purposes, he moves into a subdivision called Paradise, populated exclusively by good-looking young newlyweds. Much to the dismay of the men in the community, all of the gorgeous young wives gravitate to Hope-especially Paula Prentiss, the sexy bride of nonplussed Jim Hutton. Fortunately for all concerned, Hope is "claimed" by the only other single resident of Paradise, the glamorous Lana Turner. Frequent Bob Hope collaborator Hal Kanter cowrote the screenplay of Bachelor of Paradise with Valentine Davies; the script was based on a story by Vera Caspary, who in better days wrote Laura. Henry Mancini and Mack Davis' Oscar-nominated title song is the only true distinction of this lesser Hope farce. He seems to be sleepwalking while the rest of the cast is trying way too hard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hope, Lana Turner, (more)
- 1972
In this mystery, ace-detective Bancek looks into the case of a missing coin valued at $3-million. The priceless object was stolen from a hotel vault. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1944
If you've never seen a '40s singing, swimming musical this may be the one to catch. Featuring a mammoth cast, including such notables as Xavier Cugat, Basil Rathbone, Red Skelton, and Esther Williams, this is a swimming spectacular. The plot's quite thin: Skelton plays a lovesick songwriter who enrolls in a girls' school to stay near his new wife who ditched him shortly after the wedding bells rang and was hired on as the college's swim teacher. Of course Esther Williams is the beautiful swimming instructor who spends most of her time in the pool performing in a score of choreographed pieces. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Red Skelton, Esther Williams, (more)
- 1947
A mysterious crook by the name of "The Poet" is robbing Wells Fargo stages and creating havoc in the Old West. The sheriff is having no luck discovering the desperado's identity; when he comes across James Wylie (Dennis Morgan), a gambler who is running from the law in Carson City, he blackmails him into going undercover and tracking the outlaw down. Wylie takes the next coach out, joined by two tantalizing women, Ann (Jane Wyman) and Emily (Janis Paige). Emily is just a saloon singer (which affords her the chance to croon "I'm So in Love" and "Going Back to Old Cheyenne"), but it turns out that Ann is more unusual -- she's the wife of The Poet. The two team up to track him down (encountering The Sundance Kid and his gang along the way) -- and discover that they make a pretty good team. A popular TV series of the same name was loosely based upon the movie; starring Clint Walker, it ran for 7 years starting in 1955. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Alvin, Bruce Bennett, (more)
- 1963
Follow the Boys attempts to recapture the box-office magic of 1960's Where the Boys Are; sometimes it succeeds. Returning from the earlier film are Connie Francis and Paula Prentiss, here cast as Bonnie Pulaski and Toni Denham, tourists on the French Riviera. Together with their Gallic friend Michelle (Dany Robin), Bonnie and Toni are romanced by three sailors on leave: Smitty (Russ Tamblyn), Pete (Richard Long) and Hulldown (Robert Nichols). Also on hand for the fun are married couple Ben (Ron Randell) and Liz (Janis Paige), the latter justifiably jealous of the former. The plot serves as an excuse for a series of sprightly tunes, including the title number. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss, (more)
- 1950
Janis Paige stars as Fugitive Lady Barbara Clementi in this internationally produced melodrama. When Italian millionaire Ralph Clementi (Eduardo Cianelli) dies mysteriously, suspicion falls upon Clementi's admittedly mercenary American wife Barbara. Insurance investigator Jeff (Tony Centa) is hesitant to jump to the obvious conclusion, determining that Clementi's stepsister Esther (Binnie Barnes) and Barbara's lover Gene (Massimo Serato) also had motive and opportunity. The story concludes with a neat "Postman Always Rings Twice" twist. Released in the U.S. by Republic, Fugitive Lady was produced by future Columbia studio chief Mike Frankovich, the husband of co-star Binnie Barnes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Janis Paige, Binnie Barnes, (more)
- 1946
This Warner Bros. programmer stars Dane Clark as Prohibition-era columnist Don Corwin and Janis Paige as speakeasy singer Georgia King. Corwin is in love with Georgia, but she has promised herself to disreputable gambler/gangster Steve Maddux (Zachary Scott). With the repeal of Prohibition, Maddux's high-rolling days come to an abrupt end, leaving poor Georgia high and dry. But through it all, Corwin has remained faithful and true-blue. The film scores on a nostalgic level, with its colorful recreation of the Roaring 20s and its denizens. Otherwise, Her Kind of Man is rather tame stuff, with the stars looking somewhat ill at ease with their roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dane Clark, Janis Paige, (more)
Stephen Frears' Hero is a contemporary re-working of a Frank Capra-styled fable about a two-bit criminal named Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) who saves several passengers from a plane crash and leaves the scene without being identified, leaving only a lost shoe for identification. One of the passengers happens to be news-reporter Gale (Geena Davis) who is intent on finding her savior, and offers a million dollars to the "hero" of the crashed flight. Bernie has since given his remaining shoe to a homeless man named John (Andy Garcia) who decides to cash in on the offer. A handsome, charming man, John wins the hearts of the entire city. Soon, Bernie realizes that he's been cheated out of a million dollars, and he begins an effort to get his proper recognition--and his money. Hero manages to be quite funny and satirical while sticking to a story that is essentially a Hollywood fable. That is to the credit of director Frears and the cast, who turn in uniformly excellent performances. Nevertheless, Hoffman is superb as a bitterly comic and spiteful variation on his classic Ratso Rizzo character. By the way, be on the lookout for Chevy Chase in a very funny cameo. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Geena Davis, (more)
- 1944
The West Coast's answer to Broadway's Stage Door Canteen, the Hollywood Canteen was created as a GI morale-booster by film stars Bette Davis and John Garfield. The Canteen was established so that Our Boys on leave in Tinseltown could have a good time with good food and good dancing -- and, as a bonus, rub shoulders with their favorite movie personalities, who functioned as waiters, chefs, busboys and dancing partners. Since the 1944 all-star flick Hollywood Canteen was produced by Warner Bros., it was only to be expected that the celebrities seen herein would consist mostly of Warner Bros. contract players. The frail plot concerns a soldier on medical leave (played by Robert Hutton) who falls in love with lovely leading lady Joan Leslie (played by Joan Leslie) while visiting the Canteen. Bette Davis and John Garfield are on hand to emcee the Canteen's variety acts, and to act as cupids for the Hutton/Leslie romance. The "supporting cast" includes the likes of The Andrews Sisters, Jack Benny, Joe E. Brown, Eddie Cantor, Sidney Greenstreet, Paul Henreid, Peter Lorre, Ida Lupino, Dennis Morgan, Roy Rogers, S.Z. Sakall, Barbara Stanwyck, and the Jimmy Dorsey and Carmen Cavallaro musical aggregations. Virtually everyone involved donated their salaries to the Canteen fund--even Jack Benny. As with most of these patriotic wartime star rallies, the results are a mixed bag: the best sequences include Benny's violin "duel" with Joseph Szigeti and Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers introducing Cole Porter's Don't Fence Me In. Hollywood Canteen won three Oscar nominations, more for its good intentions than its inherent excellence. Still, don't pass up the opportunity when this "movie star salad" shows up on cable TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hutton, Jack Benny, (more)
- 1976
Lanigan's Rabbi is the pilot for the subsequent TV series based on Harry Kemelman's novels about crimesolving Rabbi David Small. Stuart Margolin plays the Rabbi, while Art Carney is top-billed as the police detective who frequently relies on Small's intuition. This initial episode, adapted from Kemelman's Friday the Rabbi Slept Late concerns the murder of a woman whose body is discovered on the steps of the Rabbi's California synagogue. The mystery is given equal time with Small's concern over his pregnant wife, who is about to give birth at any minute. When Lanigan's Rabbi became as series, Stuart Margolin was committed to Rockford Files, so Bruce Solomon became the new Rabbi Small. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1947
Jack Carson and Robert Hutton make a curious but copacetic comedy duo in the Warner Bros. musical Love and Learn. The stars are cast as Jingles and Bob, a pair of would-be songwriters hoping to get a break on Broadway. Along comes Barbara Wyngate (Martha Vickers), a wealthy young woman who hopes to make it on her own in the Big Apple. Hiding her true identity, Barbara helps the boys behind the scenes without their knowing it. Inevitably, Jingles and Bob clash over Barbara's affections, a problem that isn't resolved until the last possible moment. Craig Stevens, TV's future Peter Gunn, is featured in another of those "stuffed shirt" characterizations in which he was then specializing at Warners. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Carson, Robert Hutton, (more)
- 1986
A lingerie designer (Janis Paige) finds herself falling for her competition, the son-in-law of her boss. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The "new" Misison:Impossible moved from Sunday to Saturday evenings with the January 28, 1989 episode "The Haunting." The IMF's target is an elusive serial killer whose latest murder may cancel a crucial oil-trade agreement. To stop the villain in his tracks, the IMF agents play a dangerous series of mind games, with Phelps posing as a mentalist and Max Hart impersonating a lunatic. Janis Paige and Parker Stevenson guest-star as Victoria and Champ Foster. "The Haunting" was written by Michael Fisher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, (more)
- 1951
Yes, that's Vincent Edwards under that lavish blonde hairpiece in Eagle-Lion's Mr. Universe. An unsubtle lampoon of professional wrestling, the film top-bills Jack Carson as manager Jeff Clayton, who convinces bodybuilding contest winner Tommy Tomkins (Edwards) that "you gotta have a gimmick." Tommy rises to fame in the wrestling ring as a Gorgeous George clone, while Clayton tries to pay equal attention to his faithful girlfriend Lorraine (Janis Paige) and to extortion-prone gangster Fingers Maroni (Robert Alda). After several fixed bouts, Tommy shows he's really got what it takes in an honest grappling match. Just in case anyone might take this thing seriously, Bert Lahr shows up as wrestling promoter Joe Pulaski. Also on hand are famed ringside announcer Dennis James ("Okay, mother!"), former boxing champ Maxie Rosenbloom, and radio tenor Donald Novis. Something for everybody! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Carson, Janis Paige, (more)
- 1994
In this political thriller set in Bangkok, a young woman finds herself drawn into a scheme designed to assassinate Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State. The film offers wonderful views of the Thai city. The film opens with the death of American Rachel McCarthy, who is murdered in her limo as she travels to the airport to meet her daughter Jessie whom she has not seen in over a decade. Jessie, a bit of an innocent, goes to her mother's estate and discovers that her mother had been part of an international plot. Vietnamese refugees were involved. The point of the conspiracy is to sabotage a treaty between the U.S. and Vietnam. Along the way she encounters many fascinating characters. The most important are U.S state Dept official, Fran Jakes, agent Michael Murphy with the CIA, and Major Somchai, Thai detective. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, (more)
- 1984
Janis Paige appears as Eleanor Brandon, a lonely woman who seems to know all the intimate details in the life of Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson). Is it possible that Eleanor is Harry's long-lost mother, as she claims to be? And in another case, the shifty promoter of a phony beauty contest is brought to court by a disgruntled would-be prize winner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1946
This second film version of Somerset Maugham's classic novel stars Paul Henreid as a clubfooted, introverted medical student--an Englishman in the novel, but not in the hands of the mittel-European Mr. Henried. Eleanor Parker is featured as Mildred, the vulgar, brassy cockney waitress in whom Henreid is foolishly enamored. The role of Mildred had made Bette Davis a star in the 1934 version of Bondage; the magic didn't happen for poor Ms. Parker, who'd spend several years in variable parts before achieving full stardom. The subject matter of the original Maugham novel, which explored how sexual obsession can ruin an otherwise rational man, was missing in the 1946 version thanks to timorous studio censors. To quote Alexis Smith, who played the second female lead, "The remake of Of Human Bondage shouldn't have been made." This 1946 version would disappear completely from view upon the occasion of the third filmization of Of Human Bondage in 1964, wherein Kim Novak was pathetically miscast as Mildred. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eleanor Parker, Paul Henreid, (more)
- 1948
This third film version of James Hagan's stage play One Sunday Afternoon was directed by Raoul Walsh, who helmed the second adaptation (1941's Strawberry Blonde). This time around, songs have been added to accommodate the talents of Dennis Morgan and Janis Paige. Morgan stars as turn-of-the-century dentist Biff Grimes, who has spent the last ten years regretting that he hadn't married Amy Lind (Dorothy Malone), the girl of his dreams. Biff also harbors a grudge against Amy's husband Hugo Barnstead (Don DeFore), who was instrumental in getting Biff sent to prison on a fraud charge. Unbeknownst to his ever-loving wife Virginia (Janis Paige), who has stood by him through thick and thin, Biff schemes to exact an awful revenge on the two-faced Barnstead-only to discover in the nick of time that he's been better off all along because he didn't wed the avaricious Amy. Though consistently pretty to look at, One Sunday Afternoon pales in comparision to the earlier movie adaptations of the Hagan play, especially Strawberry Blonde, which had the added benefit of Jimmy Cagney in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Morgan, Janis Paige, (more)
In this entertaining comedy by Charles Walters, everyone seems to get in on the act, even the dog and especially the four overactive kids in a wildly challenging family. David Niven co-stars with Doris Day as Lawrence and Kate Mackay, distinctive parents struggling with home, life, and family. Lawrence opts for leaving his job teaching at Columbia University in New York for a post as a drama critic for a Gotham newspaper, bringing new problems to the pile the family already owns. First, they are forced to move out -- far out -- to the countryside with their brood and canine. And next, while Kate handles home, hearth, and hellions, Lawrence proceeds to alienate one of his best friends with a shattering review. That unhappy beginning to his new career also brings in one of the actresses damaged by his cutting remarks (Janis Paige), who wreaks her own form of havoc on poor Lawrence. In the meantime, Day gets to sing some songs which add to the light-hearted attitude of it all. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Doris Day, David Niven, (more)
