Customer Reviews

Move Over Darling

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a successful re-make of "My Favorite Wife", which starred Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. This is one of the few times where the re-make is better than the original. While the Grant/Dunne version is good, this one, to my complete surprise, is far better and far funnier.

Directed by Michael Gordon, who also directed Ms. Day in "Pillow Talk", the film has a deft, light touch. It plays well as the light-hearted, romantic comedy that it is. Doris Day is delightful as the long lost wife and mother, believed to have been lost at sea, who is rescued from a desert island five years later and returns to her husband and family. Upon her return, she discovers that just that very morning her husband (James Garner) has had her declared legally dead and married another woman (Polly Bergen).

The film focuses on the first wife's efforts to get her husband to tell his second wife that the first wife has returned. When the husband discovers, however, that his first wife spent those five years on the island with another man, Steve (Chuck Connors), and that they called each other Adam and Eve, jealousy rears its ugly head. Doris Day tries to defuse this by introducing a Casper Milquetoast type of guy (Don Knotts) as the Adam from the island, not knowing that her husband has already seen Steve and discovered him to be a hunk (Chuck Connors). There are a series of very funny scenes involving all of the parties in different conbinations. Doris Day's mother-in-law (Thelma Ritter), however, brings the nonsense to a head and its eventual, satisfactory conclusion.

Doris Day is terrific as the long lost wife. Her perky, light comedic touch is perfect, and when she plays the part of a Swedish masseuse, she will have you laughing uproariously. James Garner is funny as the husband who must make a definitive choice. Thelma Ritter is perfect as the practical, no nonsense mother-in-law who ensures that all is well that ends well. Polly Bergen is perfectly cast as the slightly neurotic, second wife. Don Knotts is hysterical as the substitute Steve. Moreover, those familiar with the original film will enjoy its inclusion in this film in the form of a sly allusion. All in all, this is a fine romantic comedy.

Move Over Darling starring Doris Day and James Garner is a very good movie, it is a remake of the classic 1940's comedy My Favorite wife, starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne and though I think the original is better I also like this remake and I think it is a very good movie that definitely should get a DVD release. Doris Day plays Ellen Wagstaff Arden a woman presumed drowned at sea in an accident, her husband Nicholas Arden played by James Garner has her declared legally dead after seven years and gets married to this woman named Bianca on the same day he has Ellen declared dead and it becomes very clear that Bianca is a spoiled, bitchy, high-strung, neurotic woman prone to temper tantrums if she doesn't get her way and boy is she in for a shock! Ellen it turns out isn't really dead but has been living on an island with a a man who also surrived the accident and they have been rescued from the island and on the same day she is declared legally dead and Nick marries Bianca, Ellen arrives at the house where she lived with Nick, sees their children who were very young when she disappeared so they don't know who she is, and she sees Nick's mother, who after recovering from the shock of seeing her tells her Nick has just remarried and you can tell she isn't too fond of her son's new wife, but since Ellen isn't really dead and she is sure Nick has never gotten over Ellen they come up with a plan for Ellen to reunite with Nick. This movie is hilarious, the combination of romantic-comedy and slapstick is perfect! Doris Day and James Garner are both wonderful as Ellen and Nick and Thelma Ritter is wonderful as Nick's mother Grace, and Polly Bergen who plays tempermental Bianca is also does a great acting job. I highly recommend this movie and I hope it gets on DVD and in widescreen I read somewhere that because of some legal battle it took a long time to get Move Over Darling on video and I hope that it doesn't take a long time to get this movie on DVD!

The 1963 remake of the 1940 hit "My Favorite Wife" turned out to be a blockbuster during the 1963-64 movie season for a number of reasons. Chief among them is Doris Day who brings her own inimitable brand of comic skill to what could have been a tired rehash of the earlier pic. The story may stretch credibility a bit but the fast pace and sterling cast keep the fun going smoothly and deftly. Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen, Thelma Ritter, Chuck Connors, and Edgar Buchanan, not to mention Don Knotts, create some true belly laughs amidst the opulent cinemascope settings. Comparisons are odious so this film should not be compared to the original. It stands on it's own as a lighthearted, sophisticated romp and will leave even the most dire indivudual with a smile on their face. It's success at the time of it's release, kept Doris Day the number one box-office attraction, male or female, for yet another year. You'll see why that ranking was justified.

Move Over Darling starring Doris Day and James Garner is a very good movie, it is a remake of the classic 1940's comedy My Favorite wife, starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne and though I think the original is better I also like this remake and I think it is a very good movie that definitely should get a DVD release. Doris Day plays Ellen Wagstaff Arden a woman presumed drowned at sea in an accident, her husband Nicholas Arden played by James Garner has her declared legally dead after seven years and gets married to this woman named Bianca on the same day he has Ellen declared dead and it becomes very clear that Bianca is a spoiled, bitchy, high-strung, neurotic woman prone to temper tantrums if she doesn't get her way and boy is she in for a shock! Ellen it turns out isn't really dead but has been living on an island with a a man who also surrived the accident and they have been rescued from the island and on the same day she is declared legally dead and Nick marries Bianca, Ellen arrives at the house where she lived with Nick, sees their children who were very young when she disappeared so they don't know who she is, and she sees Nick's mother, who after recovering from the shock of seeing her tells her Nick has just remarried and you can tell she isn't too fond of her son's new wife, but since Ellen isn't really dead and she is sure Nick has never gotten over Ellen they come up with a plan for Ellen to reunite with Nick. This movie is hilarious, the combination of romantic-comedy and slapstick is perfect! Doris Day and James Garner are both wonderful as Ellen and Nick and Thelma Ritter is wonderful as Nick's mother Grace, and Polly Bergen who plays tempermental Bianca is also does a great acting job. I highly recommend this movie and I hope it gets on DVD and in widescreen I read somewhere that because of some legal battle it took a long time to get Move Over Darling on video and I hope that it doesn't take a long time to get this movie on DVD!

I don't know what all of the legal issues involved with releasing this movie on DVD are, but I truly believe that if they knew how in demand this DVD was they would place a greater priority on resolving any isdsueds involved in getting this to DVD. I wonder if Amazon has a petition area?

In 1962, Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse and Marilyn Monroe were filming "Something's Got To Give". It was going to be a comedy hit. The most memorable scenes were of Marilyn Monroe swimming completly naked. All were happy and swell on the set. Then all of a sudden, Marilyn became ill and either showed up late on the set or called in sick too often. This cost the production to much expense. Ultimatly, Marilyn Monroe was fired and production of the film was shut down. They were going to hire Lee Remick. In a surprise turn of events, the frustrated Dean Martin had a change of heart and said that he would finish the film and then agreed he would do it only if Marilyn returned. All agreed to return to the project. But as bad fate would have it, Marilyn Monroe passed away from an accidental overdose. Only 37 minutes of footage was useful. The project was over.
However, in 2001, American Movie Classics cable network aired a documentary, "Marilyn Monore: The Final Days" for the first time ever. The 37 minutes of footage was professionally put together to make a mini-movie. It was broadcast for the first time on American Movie Classics and it included the nude swimming scenes so beautifully and tastfully done.
Now this "Something's Got To Give" film was brought back together again, but with a new cast and a new title, Move Over, Darling (1963). Some of the original sets were used.
The cast chosen: Doris Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark, Don Knotts with John Astin, Pat Harington Jr and Chuck Connors. Doris Day plays the former marilyn Monroe part.
James must go to court to declare his wife legally dead. it has been five years since she has been missing. They assumed she drowned in the ocean. Granted so, Jamesalso gets married the same day to Polly bergen. But on this day, the military brings in a woman. It is Doris day his first wife and she is very much alive. With the help of Thelma Ritter, she surprises her husband at his new honeymoon.

Classic Doris Day comedy with a supporting cast of the best character actors in the business in the 1960'. These include Thelma Ritter, Edgar Buchanan, John Astin, and Don Knotts. Minor stars Chuck Connors and Polly Bergin also put in great performances as a himbo and and bimbo who have attached themselves to Doris Day and James Garner, respectively. The original movie, Something's Got to Give, was supposed to star Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe, also with a great supporting cast which included Wally Cox in the Don Knotts role. Fox has restored most of the remaining footage of the original film and this can be seen on Fox's DVD about the last days of Marilyn Monroe, available in a multidisc Marilyn Monroe set. It is very interesting to compare these two films, expecially the different styles of playing the female lead between Doris and Marilyn. Marilyn was clearly not doing well at the time of the filming, but Doris is in top form as she portrays Ellen Wagstaff Arden, the wife and mother who is presumed drown at sea but returns to discover her husband has just remarried and she turns everyone's life upside down.

This wonderful 5 STAR movie needs to be shown in it's OAR on DVD. On the present VHS version, the start and ending are shown in widescreen letterbox. What a wonderful treat it would be to see this movie the way we saw it the movies.

UPDATE! 27.Nov.06

January 30, 2007! Yes that's the day it finally makes it to DVD! We can only hope that we get bonus interviews with Doris Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen and anyone else whom wishes to contribute. I'm just giddy over this!

This is one of my all time favorites along with The Glass Bottom Boat! Great movie for the whole family. Clean for the kids, funny and entertaining for everyone. A laugh a minute. This is a remake of My favorite Wife starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunn. I love both. They are not completely the same story line. The changes are fun the watch. Another version was being made starring Marilyn Monroe, when she died and the film had to be shelved. This movie is a must see for everyone who appreciates a good story, a good comedy, and wonderful acting! I want it on DVD!

I just voted for this movie to be released out to DVD. I hope the studio will put it on DVD.

Doris Day is at her best and James Garner is good too.

Highly recommended but please vote for this movie to get on DVD!