What is it that unites a movie star, a poet and various gay men? Love for dogs and their warm presence in our lives. This month, three outstanding new books which feature dogs are worth reading.

Considering Doris Day by gay writer Tom Santopietro (Thomas Dunne Books) brings fresh insight to the films, recordings and TV appearances of Hollywood icon Doris Day. As he did with his insightful previous book, The Importance of Being Barbra (who else, Barbara Streisand!), he looks at each film and recording of the major star and analyzes the development of her unique artistry.

 

Not only is this a useful approach for ardent fans, but it also reveals the author's own superior critical skills. A "career scorecard" at the back of the book gives letter ratings to each of Doris Day's films and recordings; this is a fun tool to use when selecting CDs or DVDs to rent or buy.

Santopietro obviously has great affection for the sunny, wholesome star. Looking at Day's extensive 39-film career, Santopietro finds both highs and lows. Day allowed her husband and manager, Marty Melcher, to choose the films she appeared in. Just as he bungled their financial investments (essentially losing the millions she earned over a lifetime), he also made some bad decisions for her dramatically.

Some of these films were merely silly, but Day made some true winners as well, such as the classic movie musical Love Me or Leave Me, Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much and the three Rock Hudson comedies that exemplified her stardom — stylish, funny, sophisticated — Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers.

Doris Day had an uncanny ability to act naturally in front of a camera, though like any actor, she also improved with experience. Her dramatic portrayals reveal a performer with far deeper abilities than many presume she possessed.

Day also held her own as a superb vocalist. In terms of her amazing, decades-long recording career — first as a singer with a band, later as a star of movie musicals — Santopietro gives a strong analysis of Day's best recordings, including the two successive records Day by Day and Day by Night, as well as her movie musical soundtracks, Love Me or Leave Me and The Pajama Game, and the superior studio recording of Annie Get Your Gun with Robert Goulet.

Her final album, The Love Album, which oddly wasn't released until 1994, is considered one of her best. Her gifts are clarity of tone, ease of expression and the ability to sound as though she is singing warmly and directly to the individual listener.

Santopietro credits Day with helping to make the general public sensitive to AIDS when Rock Hudson made his last TV appearance on her show on the Christian Broadcast Network at a time when he was seriously ill. She honored him with her complete acceptance and love.

The final portion of the book focuses on Day's famous love for animals and her tireless work in several organizations that she started herself, including the Doris Day Animal League. It is impressive to see someone who has achieved such success in the entertainment industry devoting herself to such a worthy cause, with a complete lack of vanity or self-aggrandizement. She even runs (with her son) a hotel in Carmel, Calif., where guests are encouraged to bring their pets.

At one time, there was talk of Day receiving an honorary Oscar for her work in film, although this has never happened. She seems not to care or need this kind of adulation. What one gets, after reading Santopietro's book, is a picture of the normalcy, decency and sheer talent of Doris Day. One has only to look askance at many of today's self-absorbed celebrities to see a sharp contrast. And one can see why, as a journalist is quoted as saying, "The whole world is in love with Doris Day."