Move Over, Darling (1963)

After five years lost at sea, a missing wife thought long dead returns just after her husband remarries.

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

Three years into their loving marriage, with two infant daughters at home in Los Angeles, Nicholas Arden and Ellen Wagstaff Arden are on a plane that goes down in the South Pacific. Although most passengers manage to survive the incident, Ellen presumably perishes when swept off her lifeboat, her body never recovered. Fast forward five years. Nicky, wanting to move on with his life, has Ellen declared legally dead. Part of that moving on includes getting remarried, this time to a young woman named Bianca Steele, who, for their honeymoon, he plans to take to the same Monterey resort where he and Ellen spent their honeymoon. On that very same day, Ellen is dropped off in Los Angeles by the Navy, who rescued her from the South Pacific island where she was stranded for the past five years. She asks the Navy not to publicize her rescue nor notify Nicky as she wants to do so herself. Upon arrival back home, a shocked Grace Arden (Nicky's mother) informs Ellen that Nicky just got remarried ...

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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)

Gross USA:

$12,705,882, 31 December 1963

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

In bonus feature on the DVD release, Polly Bergen admitted she had misgivings about playing "second banana" to Doris Day. Day was the most popular actress in the world at the time and Bergen expected her to behave like a diva. However, Bergen admitted to "falling in love" with Day, finding her to be extremely charming, funny and generous.

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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

Nicholas Arden: You out of your mind?
Grace Arden: Just a little. I can't quite seem to adjust: two daughters-in-law for only one son.
Nicholas Arden: Well, as long as you had only one, why'd it have to be me?

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Connections

Referenced in The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter (2009)

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Soundtracks

Move Over, Darling
Music and Lyrics by Joe Lubin, Hal Kanter and Terry Melcher
Sung by Doris Day and chorus during the opening credits
Played as background music at the end

User Reviews

Doris Day lovers will love this one!

No, it's not the most hilarious movie you've ever seen. But there is something magical about Move Over, Darling. No one could ever get mad like Doris Day and boy does she shine in this movie as usual. It's a fun film that anyone can enjoy if they don't think too hard and just sit back and relax. The added bonus is seeing James Garner flashing that million dollar smile and of course, Thelma Ritter who was always a riot in any movie she was in. Doris Day lovers need to add this to their collection.