Move Over, Darling (1963)

After having been lost at sea for several years, a missing wife thought long dead returns just after her husband has remarried.

Director:

Michael Gordon

Writers:

Hal Kanter (screenplay), Jack Sher (screenplay)

Stars:

Doris Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Doris Day	...	Ellen Wagstaff Arden
James Garner	...	Nicholas Arden
Polly Bergen	...	Bianca Steele Arden
Thelma Ritter	...	Grace Arden
Fred Clark	...	Mr. Codd (Hotel Manager)
Don Knotts	...	Shoe Clerk
Elliott Reid	...	Dr. Herman Schlick
Edgar Buchanan	...	Judge Bryson
John Astin	...	Clyde Prokey
Pat Harrington Jr.	...	District Attorney
Eddie Quillan	...	Bellboy
Max Showalter	...	Hotel Desk Clerk
Alvy Moore	...	Room Service Waiter
Pami Lee	...	Jenny Arden
Leslie Farrell	...	Didi Arden

Storyline

A remake of My Favourite Wife, originally begin filming with Marilyn Monroe as Something's For To Give. After having not found his wife, Ellen, 7 years after a plane crash, lawyer, Nick Arden has Ellen declared legally dead; and also marries Bianca Steele. But Ellen is alive.

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Plot Keywords:

stranded | slapstick comedy | presumed dead | remake | woman | 

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Taglines:

It's sheer bedlam from morning 'til night ... !

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 December 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Something's Gotta Give

Filming Locations:

California Highway 1, Mugu Rock, Ventura County, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,350,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Melcher-Arcola Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 99 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As many people know, this film was made using a rewritten version of its predecessor - the unfinished, Something's Got to Give (1962), with its title taken from the main title song of the film, Daddy Long Legs (1955). One of the people who starred in that film, (and worked with Ms Monroe in her last completed film, The Misfits (1961)), and also costarred in this film was the terrific character actress, Thelma Ritter.

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Goofs

At the Monterrey hotel, the sun is coming from above, but the clouds in the background are lit from the sun setting behind them.

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Quotes

Judge Bryson: Freud's dead. Probably from arthritis.

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Connections

Featured in IMDb Originals: Doris Day: In Memoriam (2019)

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Soundtracks

Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride)
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Music by Richard Wagner
Played as part of the score when James Garner and Polly Bergen arrive at the hotel

User Reviews

Doris Day at her zaniest!

I really like this Doris Day flick. Doris does more slapstick in this feature than all her other movies put together. James Garner thinks Doris has been dead for 5 years. He is now on his honeymoon with new wife Polly Bergen and guess who shows up after being rescued off a deserted island? You got it. Doris hilariously ruins the honeymoon (this was when couples waited until the honeymoon to make love, YEAH RIGHT!) Anyway, Polly is quite frustrated not getting any action from James Garner. Several scenes are classics. especially when Doris poses as a Swedish Masseur and practically beats Polly to a pulp. The best scene of all is watching Doris drive a brand new 1963 Imperial Conv. into a car wash and then accidentally putting the top down.

Don Knotts makes a funny cameo as a randy shoe salesman and Edgar Buchanan (Petticoat Junction) is funny as a surly Court Judge. Thelma Ritter is always funny and she is up to par here. This movie was apparently re-worked for Doris Day after the death of Marilyn Monroe who was essentially filming the same movie when she died. Even the sets were basically the same. I guess 20th Century Fox needed the money after the Liz Taylor fiasco "Cleopatra" almost put them in bankruptcy. Overall, a very cute, sexy (for the era) funny movie. They don't make cute movies like this anymore. Too bad.