Tammy Tell Me True (1961)

How sad is this?

A Masterpiece!

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Back in 1957, Debbie Reynolds starred as the title character in "Tammy and the Bachelor", a sweet story about a backwoods girl who is a bit like a fish out of water when she comes in contact with citified folks.This story picks up after the first. Tammy's boyfriend is off at college but inexplicably hasn't contacted her in some time. This is pretty inconsistent with the last film, as he appeared ready to marry her when it ended. Regardless, instead of just sitting back and waiting, Tammy decides she needs some education about the English language, as her backwoods talk sets her apart from everyone. Oddly, instead of going to grade school or high school, she decides on college and is accepted there as a special student.One of the first persons she meets there is a young instructor. Tom Freeman (John Gavin) is quite taken by her and this handsome guy becomes more and more smitten by Tammy through the course of the film. It's obvious why, as although unschooled and unsophisticated, she is incredibly sweet and abounds with wisdom and charm. And, it's not only Tom who falls for her, but a very cranky old lady (Beulah Bondi) soon succumbs to her charms as well and they become friends AND roommates on Tammy's riverboat. What's next? See the film for yourself!This is a film that is utterly charming and simply fun to watch. Is it deep entertainment? Nope...but it is quite enjoyable and is a nice sequel even if Debbie Reynolds didn't star in this one (probably because she was a bit old for this role). And, if you, too, like the film, there is another Tammy movie starring Sandra Dee, "Tammy and the Doctor".

In this Tammy movie Sandra Dee takes over in the main role. This time we find Pete off to cow college and Tammy wants to get herself some learnin' as Grandpa is still in jail over the corn liquor. Tammy gets the Ellen B. houseboat towed downstream to be close to the Seminola College and then the calamities begin! This time Tammy falls for a speech professor and befriends an older woman with an overbearing niece. Some of the situations and phrases would never be uttered in today's age. But this is a snapshot in time. Definitely will make you laugh, just don't think too much about it. Worth a rental.

The first time I saw this movie, I was a very young girl. I loved it then and I own it now. I fell in love with the other two movies as well (Tammy and the Bachelor and Tammy and the Doctor). Sandra Dee slips easily into Debbie Reynolds shoes in the second installment, Tammy Tell me True, and adapts most convincingly into her bayou lass role. A truly entertaining classic that transports one into a more innocent and simpler time and reeks of nostalgia for anyone in the 50+ age group. Sandra Dee is disarming in her mix of innocence and simple wisdom, putting to shame the very people who initially mock her. Sandra shows a true range of acting skills that she proves in another vehicle of the time period: A Summer Place. For pure, fun, entertaining fare, this is it.

The Tammy movies are never going to be confused for high art. They were meant to be light hearted fun that you could take your kids to.The sequel continues the same corny story but the big difference is Sandra Dee replacing Debbie Reynolds. I love Sandra Dee and think she made the perfect Gidget bur she is not Debbie Reynolds. She deserves credit for taking the chance on following Reynolds because she knew there would be comparisons. Of course Sandra was head and shoulders better than Debbie Watson.The story has Tammy going to college and just as in the original she is responsible for others rediscovering their love or hooking up with their true mate. Beulah Bondi has the role Mildred Natwick had in the original of the wise old woman. Bondi, like Natwick, was one of the great supporting actresses in Hollywood and lends a touch of class to the movie.As for the rest of the cast, John Gavin is no Leslie Nielsen. Nielsen really was a good straight actor and Gavin is as stiff as a tree in comparison. The rest of the supporting cast is similarly a notch below the original.If you like Sandra Dee, check out Gidget. It's just as much fun but with a better story and cast.