ChikPapa Very disappointed :(

BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

TheLittleSongbird 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

mark.waltz It's Doris Day in Frank Capra territory where she goes up against the conglomerate that bought out the railroad that was shipping lobsters to her for her distribution company. A widow with young children, Day takes the head of the company (Ernie Kovacs) on with the help of small town lawyer Jack Lemmom and gets a fight that she refuses to back down from. Not one of her better known films, this is Doris in a rare dramatic part (with definite comic overtones) while Kovacs is a dark character completely unlikable. He's the type of silent movie villain that would kick the widow out into the snowy cold and not loose a night's sleep over it. Even in the sound era, he'd get silent era movie style hisses.Singing the title song over the credits and a ditty with a group of local kids, Doris does get best to make this lighter fare than it really is. Had this been cast with any other actress, it would not be as cutesy as it is, and that there within lies its weakness.Such familiar faces as Mary Wickes, Gene Rayburn, Gary Morton and Jayne Meadows appear in smaller parts, but this is a battle between down to earth Doris and cold, calculating Ernie as to who will steal the film. Jack Lemmom does his best in a rather wasted part that any handsome young actor could have played.

jjnxn-1 Doris is full of pluck and moxie fighting a big corporate jerk who actually seems unhinged in his singular quest to squash the hard working widow Jane. Jack is the earnest lawyer who has loved her since childhood. Together they make a wonderful pair as they go through no end of complications that drive them apart and united them again. Charming comedy was an inexplicable failure on its initial release probably in large part because of that atrocious title. It's re-release title of Twinkle and Shine was hardly an improvement, why they didn't stick with the initial title of That Jane from Maine which would have fit it perfectly is a mystery. Be that as it may this is a cute family comedy with wonderful location shooting and high production values as well as a super supporting cast.

MartinHafer This film was produced by Doris Day's husband at the time, Marty Melcher.The film is set in Maine. Doris Day is the owner of a tiny company that sells lobsters. When a shipment of hers is allowed by the railroad to sit for several days instead of sending it to the customers, the lobsters die and her company loses several important contracts. She contacts the railroad to have them pay damages and they agree to pay the going rate for the lobsters. However, Day isn't about to just accept this--her company reputation has been harmed and she is without customers. And, she hires her goofy friend (Jack Lemmon) to represent her in a lawsuit, as the railroad isn't about to budge. Normally, you'd think that the railroad would just pay her off, but the owner (Ernie Kovacs--who is very difficult to recognize under all the makeup) refuses. The case is decided in Day's favor, but the lawyers for the railroad mean business and promise to tie this up in appeals for years--even though the amount is only a couple thousand dollars. Fortunately, the judge must have really felt that the railroad was acting in bad faith, and so Day is awarded one of the railroad's engines to hold until they do pay. Soon, things escalate wildly out of proportion, as the story hits the national newspapers and the public support for this tiny company against an uncaring corporation is strong. So strong, in fact, that Day becomes an instant celebrity. As the case escalates further and further, where is all this going to lead?! The railroad is mean and nasty and they aren't about to give in--nor is Day.Despite losing money and being considered one of Day's 'lesser' films, I enjoyed this little civics lesson very much. Kovacs was quite enjoyable as the evil corporate giant and the script was fresh and amazingly original. If you like this film, try watching "Solid Gold Cadillac"--a film with a similar one lady versus corporate big-wigs script.