Move Over, Darling (1963) remake of the 1940 screwball comedy My Favorite Wife that starred Irene Dunne, Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. The remake stars Doris Day, James Garner, and Polly Bergen. I think this one of Doris Day's best comedic performances. Don Knotts makes a funny cameo as a shoe salesman and Edgar Buchanan is equally funny as the Court Judge. Thelma Ritter is always funny. James Garner, was very cute and sexy in this movie.
The story begins when Ellen Wagstaff Arden, a mother of two young children, believed to be lost at sea after an airplane crash. Her Husband Nick decides, after many years, to move on having her declared legally dead and marrying Bianca, all on the same day. Ellen is very much alive and well and is rescued by the navy and returns home the same day as her husbands wedding.
When she arrives home, she is relieved to learn that her husband's has not been on his honeymoon. One of my favorite scenes is when Ellen is standing in the middle of lobby of the hotel and Nick immediately catches a glimpse of her. After many other hilarious events. Nick finds a way to break the news to Bianca, but then he learns that Ellen was stranded on an island alone all those years with Stephen Burkett and that they called each other "Adam" and "Eve". The trouble really begins.
This was originally to be a comeback performance for Marilyn Monroe, under the name of Something's Got to Give. Dean Martin was cast as Nick Arden, and the director was George Cukor. Marilyn Monroe was fired for not showing up for work. Unable to complete the movie. 20th Century Fox decided to ahead with the project, under a new name, new director, and recast stars. At first, they tried Lee Remick in Monroe's place, but Martin did not want to work with anyone else and Monroe was re-hired but died before she could start filming. Doris Day and James Garner were cast in the roles originated by Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in, My Favorite Wife. Chuck Connors played the Randolph Scott role. The movie that Ellen describes to Bianca while giving her a massage is My Favorite Wife. James Garner accidentally broke Day's rib (during the massage scene, when he pulls her off of Bergen). Garner wasn't even aware of what had happened until the next day, when he felt the bandage while putting his arms around her. The producers scheduled the scene with Doris Day riding through a car wash for the last day of shooting because they were concerned that the detergents might affect her complexion.
Soundtracks:
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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
"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
"Beautiful Dreamer (1862)"
(uncredited)
Music by Stephen Foster
Played as background music as James Garner describes the memorial service for Doris Day
"Twinkle Lullaby"
Music and lyrics by Joe Lubin
Sung by Doris Day to her children
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