The Ballad of Josie

Unread post by **webmaster** » 09 Jan 2006, 18:57

What did you think of The Ballad of Josie?

Doris and Peter Graves clowing around on the set.

http://www.dorisday.net/ballad_of_josie.html

Debbi Austen · Unread post by **Debbi Austen** » 10 Jan 2006, 01:58

Josie isn't one of Doris's best films, but I think it is still worth watching. I thought everyone did a good job of acting, but the script was weak. Production quailitiy was low. It did seem like a TV western.

My favorite scene in the movie was when Peter Graves takes her to his former burned out cabin, and tells her not to give up, despite opposition He recalls the first time he saw her.

I think this film is average

Jas1 · Unread post by **Jas1** » 10 Jan 2006, 09:40

I gave this an 'average' rating although rather unfairly as I have only seen it once - a looooong time ago! Doris looked good though in the bluejeans!

Ken · Unread post by **Ken** » 10 Jan 2006, 10:19

Not one of my favorites but I rate this as good.Entertaining movie with a good cast.

Vicki M · Unread post by **Vicki M** » 10 Jan 2006, 10:30

I rated this movie as "average" for a Doris Day movie. But I think the average Doris Day movie is better than most any other movie out today. I actually start to like this movie a little more each time I watch it.

Debbi Austen · Unread post by **Debbi Austen** » 28 Feb 2006, 10:20

I have to agree with you, Vicki. I have watched this movie three times now, and I have say I love Doris' performance in this. I think she is very convincing as a mother trying to regain custody of her little boy. She tries to get a job and confronts all kinds of problems Finally she tries her hand at raising sheep. When she realizes this is going to cause a war between cattlemen, she has real concern that someone will get killed.
I heard that Doris didn't care for this film, but it doesn't show in her performance. I have seen clips of Peter Graves talking about Doris, and I think that they must have become life long friends after this film.

This film deals with two popular topics of American films from the sixties: the western frontier and womens rights. It throws in a little history of the Wyoming territory becoming a state and the problems of grazing sheep and cattle in the same area.

One critic that I have little regard for, said that this was Doris Day's version of Cat Balou. There are no similarities in these two films except that they are both westerns. I wish Josie had as high production values as Cat...

I still don't like the opening music (not Doris) and the cue stick bludgoning trial.(just a little too silly). It might have made a good family film if Doris and company didn't say "damn" about four times, lol.

ray · Unread post by **ray** » 28 Feb 2006, 12:42

Lauren and Howard will remember that Michael Doyle who organized the 1987 convention with Doris, Loved the Ballard of Josie. He mentioned it so much at the convention Doris looked at him and said enought with Josie!LOL! Or somehting to that effect. But its true even the worst movie can be someone's favorite. Nothing is either good or bad and Doris said that she receives mail about a certain film she did not care for but brought joy to someone else.

Ralph · Unread post by **Ralph** » 28 Feb 2006, 20:29

If you read my review of The Ballad of Josie, you'll know that I sort of liked this picture. Day hated it, but enjoyed the camaraderie with her fellow actors. She felt guilty for getting them involved in this movie and felt that they and she deserved better.

Regardless, if you can ignore the critics and just look at the movie, it had continuity, good supporting players, nice scenery and a damned good performance by Doris Day, who gave 110% in a movie that she was reluctant to make. It wasn't the first time, remember Lucky Me? Many of Doris' fans loved it, she didn't.

In Josie, Doris didn't fall back into "Laurie Tuttle" or "Candy Williams." Her character was consistent and Doris never broke character. She had convinction and played it straight. Plus, didn't she look fantastic in those tight jeans?

I loved her scenes with George Kennedy and the give and take at Peter Graves' dinner party with the likes of Andy Devine, Paul Fix, David Hartman. I think Universal was wrong to release this movie as a twofer. It opened all over the country as a double feature along with a Charlton Heston flick, at least in New York.

I also loved the "feel good" ending, when Kennedy was forced to concede. Day looked genuinely moved.

It was also nice of Doris to welcome Diana Ross to the set. She was a big fan of Day's movie and singing career.

ray · Unread post by **ray** » 20 May 2007, 06:48

I remember how Mike Loved The Ballard Of Josie so much, he spoke of it much at the convention. Mike and you, Lauren did such a great job in organzing that magical first and only DD convention in June of 1987. To think it is twenty years ago, seems like yesterday we had that fantastci Day with Doris!

Debbi Austen · Unread post by **Debbi Austen** » 20 May 2007, 09:08

Love the pictures, Tanja,

I never liked the wig, but when her hair got caught in the fly paper, I'm glad she had it on, Ha, Ha!

dayniac · Unread post by **dayniac** » 20 May 2007, 15:33

Wow - that convention must have been wonderful. Sounds like a dream come true. You were lucky people to have attended and met with Doris. Thanks for sharing some of your memories with us.

Toni

dayniac · Unread post by **dayniac** » 20 May 2007, 15:48

Hi - forgot to mention... I know DD didn't like this movie. But - in a way it went along with her independent, self sufficient woman she played in so many movies. She tough - she can start her own sheep operation, wear pants, shoot guns, out drink the guys. Only at the end did she cave in and leave when the fighting was starting and then give it all up to marry. Not one of my favorite movies but its entertaining and really did show her usual independent persona.

John M · Unread post by **John M** » 23 May 2007, 10:14

Tanja, thanks for that poster. It gave me a good laugh. TBOJ had NOTHING to do with Texas. LOL!

Tanja · Unread post by **Tanja** » 23 May 2007, 12:54

Hi John,

I have to admit, that the film title is a little strange, but much better than the translation of "The Ballad of Josie". The German Translators had really bad taste, they gave most of her movies such silly names.

Tanja

dayniac · Unread post by **dayniac** » 23 May 2007, 18:02

Italian poster

poster from Argentina

poster from Spain

closeup from Italian insert poster

British quad poster

Here are some other posters from around the world. The British and Italian insert poster really have a different look.
Interesting !
Toni

John M · Unread post by **John M** » 23 May 2007, 19:28

Hmm, the Italian insert, and especially the British quad poster really enhances Doris' cleavage! LOL!

Debbi Austen · Unread post by **Debbi Austen** » 23 May 2007, 20:00

Love the posters, lol, and I love the cute picture with the poodles.

BabeWilliams · Unread post by **BabeWilliams** » 24 Feb 2008, 21:15

This is the first movie that I've only given a GOOD rating too, this is the first, and I hope last, Doris Day movie that I didn't imediatley fall in love with...

I just have 1 question...

Why did Josie marry the guy she was married to in the beginning in the first place??? Just wanted to know.. I was VERY disapointed that Doris did absolutley NO singing in this movie also

miss maxwell · Unread post by **miss maxwell** » 25 Feb 2008, 15:21

As much as I liked the older (Josie) version of Jumbo's Kitty Wonder, I can't rate this higher than poor. I may watch this sporadically but only for an aforementioned reason: because somehow I enjoy anything Doris is in - she can even make this bore of a movie, endurable.

I sense a "Barbarella goes west" feel to this psoter.

Jas1 · Unread post by **Jas1** » 25 Feb 2008, 17:38

The Poster is the best thing about the movie - Doris looks incredibly sexy in it!

BabeWilliams · Unread post by **BabeWilliams** » 25 Feb 2008, 17:45

Ya, I love the poster, and love Doris... just not the movie... lol

Haymarketaddict · Unread post by **Haymarketaddict** » 21 Jul 2008, 12:07

HEY I *just* finished watching this movie for the first time and I have to say I thought it was MUCH better than I thought it would be. I liked it very much! Wouldn't say its an excellent movie ... but I've seen a LOT worse of those westerns made during that period. I think Doris does a fine job (if you have in mind what roles she usually took) - I thought it was entertaining and funny. I don't neccesarily need Doris to sing in every movie either. YOU GO JOSIE - why SHOULDN'T SHE RAISE SHEEP as a woman!! *LOL*
As for why she married that husband of hers in the first place .... hmm....WELL this wouldn't be the first husband who completely changed and became violent and cruel during a marriage

Overall - GOOD movie - I rated it a very strong good ... kinda surprised myself really

Debbi Austen · Unread post by **Debbi Austen** » 21 Jul 2008, 21:32

It wouldn't be right to rate it as high as her top movies, but I like Doris' acting in the movie. I also like her co stars.

Jake Iverson · Unread post by **Jake Iverson** » 22 Jul 2008, 16:43

I didn't like this movie. Doris was good as usual, but after playing career women, stylish mothers, groovy spys and generally modern women, this was such a departure. I don't like westerns to begin with and to have Doris in a western at this point was odd. There were a few fun moments, but by and large the script was awful. And that wig!

Haymarketaddict · Unread post by **Haymarketaddict** » 22 Jul 2008, 17:39

Jake Iverson wrote:I didn't like this movie. Doris was good as usual, but after playing career women, stylish mothers, groovy spys and generally modern women, this was such a departure. I don't like westerns to begin with and to have Doris in a western at this point was odd. There were a few fun moments, but by and large the script was awful. And that wig!

ok the wig sucked!!! I'll agree to that!! WAY to much and way to much like a wig

BUT - maybe that was the point of the whole thing - that she did to many of those stylish career modern women - maybe she wanted to try somthing else for a change - must be kinda boring to always play the same kind of movie ... now western is not my favorite genre either - but there are some really great ones out there. I'm not saying BALL OF JOSIE is one of the great westerns .. aaaeehmm... NO .... I'm just saying that I enjoyed watching it - was fun to me *except for the wig* LOL

The Ballad of Josie

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