It's a Great Feeling (1949) is a Warner Bros. feature film starring Doris Day, Jack Carson, and Dennis Morgan in a spoof of what goes on behind-the-scenes in Hollywood movie-making. The screenplay by Jack Rose and Melville Shavelson was based upon a story by I.A.L. Diamond. The film was directed by David Butler and produced by Alex Gottlieb. It's a Great Feeling was Day's third film (and her third pairing with Carson) and the first to bring her widespread notice. The film was a "Who's Who?" of Hollywood in its heyday and glorified the studio system at the peak of its golden age.

The film begins with a succession of real-life film directors - including Michael Curtiz, King Vidor, and Raoul Walsh - refusing to helm a new Warners flick, Mademoiselle Fifi, because Jack Carson has been signed to star in it. Frustrated, fictional studio head Arthur Trent (Bill Goodwin) finally decides to let Carson direct it. Seeking the perfect co-star for himself and fellow lead Dennis Morgan, Carson finds her in the person of studio commissary waitress Judy Adams (Doris Day), who he dresses in a number of different guises (such as an elevator operator and a cab driver) in the hope Trent will see her, appreciate her potential, and insist Carson cast the unknown. Unfortunately, all Trent keeps seeing is a pretty blonde with a goofy smile and blinking eyes. Carson and Morgan finally conspire to disguise her as a famous French film star with dark hair (and a bad accent), but Trent still manages to recognize her. Upset with all the backstage shenanigans she's been forced to endure, Judy returns home to Gurkee's Corner, Wisconsin to marry long-time sweetheart Jeffrey Bushdinkle.

Many of the studio's most popular stars make cameo appearances throughout the movie. Among them are Errol Flynn (as Judy's groom), Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Edward G. Robinson, Sydney Greenstreet, Ray Heindorf, Danny Kaye, Eleanor Parker, Patricia Neal, Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman, and even Bugs Bunny (voice of Mel Blanc) and Tweety Bird. Others in the cast include Lois Austin as Saleslady, Irving Bacon as Railroad Information Clerk, Frank Cady as Oculist, Sandra Gould as Train Passenger in Upper Berth, James Holden as Soda Jerk, William J. O'Brien as Reporter, Georges Renavent as Andre Bernet, and Olan Soule as Flack.

Billy Wilder's future partner I.A.L. Diamond concocted the storyline for this Dennis Morgan/Jack Carson/Doris Day tunefest. Morgan and Carson, Warner Bros.' answer to Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, appear as themselves. Attempting to line up a director for their next picture, the boys find themselves unable to do so due to Carson's gigantic ego. Carson decides to direct their next vehicle himself; the next problem is locating a leading lady who'll be willing to put up with Carson. The boys discover Doris Day, a waitress in the Warner Bros. commissary. Carson and Morgan spend their entire shooting schedule vying over Day's affections; she gets fed up with this, and heads back to her home town in Wisconsin, there to marry her childhood sweetheart Jeffrey Bushdinkel--who is revealed in the final shot to be none other than Errol Flynn! Other guest stars popping in and out of It's a Great Feeling include Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Sidney Greenstreet, Danny Kaye, Patricia Neal, Eleanor Parker, Ronald Reagan, Edward G. Robinson and Jane Wyman. Also appearing as themselves are such Warner Bros. directors as David Butler (the real director of It's a Great Feeling), Michael Curtiz, King Vidor and Raoul Walsh. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Dennis Morgan as Himself

Doris Day as Judy Adams

Jack Carson as Himself

Bill Goodwin as Arthur Trent

Irving Bacon as RR Information Clerk

Claire Carleton as Grace

Mazzone-Abbott Dancers as Dancers

Jean Andren as Headwaitress

Lois Austin as Saleslady

Shirley Ballard as Beautiful Girl on Bike

Janet Barrett as Michael Curtiz's Secretary

Eugene Beday as Frenchman

Al Billings as Wrestler on Television

Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny (voice)

Paul Bradley as Frenchman

Carol Brewster as Model

Jan Bryant as Redhead

David Butler as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Frank Cady as Oculist

George Calliga as Frenchman

Sue Casey as Model

Robert Cherry as Passenger

Edward Clark as Minister

Gary Cooper as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Joan Crawford as Herself, Cameo Appearance

Michael Curtiz as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Bunty Cutler as Reporter for Variety

Sayre Dearing as Studio Employee

Marcel De la Brosse as Frenchman

Jacqueline deWit as Trent's secretary

Dudley Dickerson as Porter

Tom Dugan as Wrestling Fan in Bar

Carli Elinor as Frenchman

Franklyn Farnum as Man at Train Station

Pat Flaherty as Charlie, Studio Gate Guard

Bess Flowers as Studio Party Guest

Errol Flynn as Jeffrey Bushdinkle, the Groom

Buddy Gorman as WB Messenger Boy

Sandra Gould as Train Passenger in Upper

Sydney Greenstreet as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Ray Heindorf as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Vic Holbrook as Wrestler on Television

James Holden as Soda Jerk

Danny Kaye as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Douglas Kennedy as Opening Off-Screen Narrator

Mike Lally as Ticket Salesman

Wendy Lee as Agnes the Manicurist

Ralph Littlefield as Hayseed

Mickey McMasters as Wrestling Referee on Television

Peter Meersman as Flack

Harold Miller as Studio Party Guest

Henry Mirelez as Pedro

Ray Montgomery as Raoul Walsh's Assistant

Forbes Murray as Distinguished Man

Patricia Neal as Herself, Cameo Appearance

Alfred Nunez as Pancho

William H. O'Brien as Saloon Waiter

William J. O'Brien as Saloon Waiter

Eleanor Parker as Herself, Cameo Appearance

Albert Petit as Frenchman

Albert Pollet as Frenchman

Maureen Reagan as Herself (child), Cameo Appearance

Ronald Reagan as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Waclaw Rekwart as Frenchman

Georges Renavent as Andre Bernet

Edward G. Robinson as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Rod Rogers as Flack

Cosmo Sardo as Studio Barber

Harry Seymour as Man in Upper Berth

George Sherwood as Reporter

Olan Soule as Flack

Mark Strong as Man with Cigar

Nita Talbot as Model

King Vidor as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Joan Vohs as Model

Raoul Walsh as Himself, Cameo Appearance

Harlan Warde as Publicity man

Eve Whitney as Model

Jack Wise as Train Passenger in Lower

Jane Wyman as Herself, Cameo Appearance