Producer: Ross Hunter. Copyright 1957 by Universal International. New York opening at the Palace (as a support to a vaudeville bill): 14 June 1957. U.S. release: August 1957. U.K. release: 15 April 1957 (sic). Australian release: 9 May 1957. 8,025 feet. 89 minutes. U.K., Australian and New Zealand title: Tammy.
SYNOPSIS: Tammy Tyree lives with her grandfather on a houseboat on the Lower Mississippi. They rescue a downed pilot from the river and nurse him back to health. When her grandfather is imprisoned for distilling and selling corn whiskey, Tammy and her pet goat hike to the stately mansion of Brentwood Hall, the home of the grateful flyer.
NOTES: If Universal had sold "Tammy" a bit more confidently, the film would easily have broken into the topmost ranks of 1957's money-spinners. It was certainly one of the studio's top grosses and — thanks to a hit record of the title song — was equally if not more successful in Australia and New Zealand.
COMMENT: By the humble standards of director Joseph Pevney, "Tammy" is superior entertainment. True, Pevney has done little to embellish the drama. Aside from a confrontation scene between Nielsen and Hill, with Reynolds caught in the middle, Pevney has used CinemaScope so sparingly one wonders why Universal took the trouble. And even discounting this omission, Pevney has hardly handled proceedings with anything like style.
If we look at the ultra-glossy efforts of producer Ross Hunter, "Tammy" is definitely in the minor league. Yes, the sets, costumes and color are moderately attractive but hardly "All That Heaven Allows".
What makes "Tammy" special is the script and the players. Especially the players. The plot is a variation of that old chestnut Abraham Lincoln was laughing at, but the players, especially Miss Debbie Reynolds, make it all seem reasonably fresh, tolerably amusing and even engaging.
OTHER VIEWS: Blessed with a catchy title song and the appealing presence of Debbie Reynolds, "Tammy" is an entertaining rustic versus urban conflict, with lots of biblical, cracker-barrel philosophy doing battle with genteel impoverishment. That the old formula can still strike more than a few sparks is a tribute to the players generally, Debbie Reynolds and Mildred Natwick in particular.
That "Tammy" struck a sympathetic chord in 1957 picture-goers is evidenced by the fact that it inspired not only three sequels, but a TV series (1965-66) as well. Unfortunately, Debbie Reynolds had moved further towards super-stardom when "Tammy Tell Me True" was released in 1961 and "Tammy and the Doctor" in 1963, so Sandra Dee took her place in both these entries. Debbie Watson starred in the TV series where the character was called Tammy Tarleton (doubtless because "Tyree" was too difficult to pronounce in time-pressed television set-ups). In 1967, Universal released a movie, "Tammy and the Millionaire", culled from three of the TV episodes. — JHR writing as Tom Howard.
SYNOPSIS: Tammy Tyree lives with her grandfather on a houseboat on the Lower Mississippi. They rescue a downed pilot from the river and nurse him back to health. When her grandfather is imprisoned for distilling and selling corn whiskey, Tammy and her pet goat hike to the stately mansion of Brentwood Hall, the home of the grateful flyer.
NOTES: If Universal had sold "Tammy" a bit more confidently, the film would easily have broken into the topmost ranks of 1957's money-spinners. It was certainly one of the studio's top grosses and — thanks to a hit record of the title song — was equally if not more successful in Australia and New Zealand.
COMMENT: By the humble standards of director Joseph Pevney, "Tammy" is superior entertainment. True, Pevney has done little to embellish the drama. Aside from a confrontation scene between Nielsen and Hill, with Reynolds caught in the middle, Pevney has used CinemaScope so sparingly one wonders why Universal took the trouble. And even discounting this omission, Pevney has hardly handled proceedings with anything like style.
If we look at the ultra-glossy efforts of producer Ross Hunter, "Tammy" is definitely in the minor league. Yes, the sets, costumes and color are moderately attractive but hardly "All That Heaven Allows".
What makes "Tammy" special is the script and the players. Especially the players. The plot is a variation of that old chestnut Abraham Lincoln was laughing at, but the players, especially Miss Debbie Reynolds, make it all seem reasonably fresh, tolerably amusing and even engaging.
OTHER VIEWS: Blessed with a catchy title song and the appealing presence of Debbie Reynolds, "Tammy" is an entertaining rustic versus urban conflict, with lots of biblical, cracker-barrel philosophy doing battle with genteel impoverishment. That the old formula can still strike more than a few sparks is a tribute to the players generally, Debbie Reynolds and Mildred Natwick in particular.
That "Tammy" struck a sympathetic chord in 1957 picture-goers is evidenced by the fact that it inspired not only three sequels, but a TV series (1965-66) as well. Unfortunately, Debbie Reynolds had moved further towards super-stardom when "Tammy Tell Me True" was released in 1961 and "Tammy and the Doctor" in 1963, so Sandra Dee took her place in both these entries. Debbie Watson starred in the TV series where the character was called Tammy Tarleton (doubtless because "Tyree" was too difficult to pronounce in time-pressed television set-ups). In 1967, Universal released a movie, "Tammy and the Millionaire", culled from three of the TV episodes. — JHR writing as Tom Howard.