this film remind me more of star 80 than a star be bear . i do not have any idea how close doris day and james cagney come and in their portrayal and to the real character . however and their performance be wonderful . i be especially take with ms. day portrayal . when she sing a song and she stay exactly in character she sing the song precisely how her character would sing the song . cagney performance be less remarkable than day and because he have less road to travel . he be certainly fun to watch and though . grant and i do not know ruth etting a a performer while however and i do know day be portray someone quite unlike her standard screen persona . cagney portrayal depend more on our and a viewer and knowledge of a gangster past ( particularly cagney gangster character ) . it would have be interest to explore more about how day character be ( or and be not . ) attract to this type of man . the song do not intrude on the drama . instead and the etting song punctuate and enhance different chapter in the film . a dramatic musical be somewhat more complicated than a musical comedy . this film succeed a a musical drama . the flaw be that the film do not tell enough . there be a hint of a sexual attack of etting by snyder and which be follow by the wedding of the day or cagney character . her drinking and and his sordid back story and be as not a well develop a they should have be . these thing make the character less heroic and but more interesting and vulnerable . i think subtlety be great while we do not need to see everything and but love me or leave me should have unturned a few more stone . i do not need to see every piece of a puzzle and but need to see enough piece for a full picture . love me or leave me ( 5/26/55 ) charles vidor ~ doris day and james cagney and cameron mitchell .