1h 43min | Comedy, Romance | 25 December 1963 | Color, WS
Director: Michael Gordon
Stars: Doris Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen, Thelma Ritter, Don Knotts, Edgar Buchanan, Chuck Connors.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057329/
Remake of My Favorite Wife ('40), and reboot of Something's Got to Give ('62, unfinished). Cast comparison ('63 order):
Doris Day::Marilyn Monroe::Irene Dunne
James Garner::Dean Martin::Cary Grant
Polly Bergen::Cyd Charisse::Gail Patrick
Don Knotts::Wally Cox::Chester Clute
Chuck Connors::Tom Tryon::Randolph Scott
This really is the best of the 3 productions. Polly Bergen is just the right combination of beauty, elegance and hysteria for the second wife who's being thwarted from consummating her marriage. Then again, when we see PB & JG driving to their honeymoon, I had a moment when I wondered why JG would want this neurotic.
DD is perfect as the beautiful, elegant tomboy who could credibly fend off CC for 5 years, and survive on an otherwise uninhabited island.
And JG is perfect as conflicted husband who'd trying to juggle 2 wives in a terrific farce.
I also noticed how well the music punctuated the comedy.
Anyone for a drive through the carwash with the top down?
This is a Fox release from Jan'07, and the last 2 chapters and none of the special features played today. I was found a cheapish replacement where the vendor claims to have tested it. We'll see.
Fox, dir. Gordon; 8
