"Send Me No Flowers" has been described as a "dark comedy" probably because of its subject matter, hypochondria...
Ralph McKnight
After delivering three expert comedic performances in the trio of Doris Day/Rock Hudson/Tony Randall pictures, Mr. Randall was ignored once again by the Academy Awards. He never received a nomination, not even for "Pillow Talk", in which he was superb, followed by a hilarious turn in "Lover Come Back" and now just as funny in "Send Me No Flowers" the last film in which he starred with the two box-office champs.
“Do you suffer from splitting headaches? Is your stomach upset? Are you rundown? Does your husband complain of heart flutters and recurring dizzy spells? If so, before seeing a doctor, go to see Send Me No Flowers, the new Doris Day - Rock Hudson movie.” - New York Times
In "Send Me No Flowers" his performance was certainly as good as Stanley Holloway's in "My Fair Lady" that same year, 1964. This proves that comedy acting hadn't at the time and doesn't today, get the respect it so richly deserves. Similarly, Janis Paige was certainly nominee-worthy for her 'Deborah Vaughn' in "Please Don't Eat the Daisies". Instead, the Academy gives awards to people like first time nominee, Laugh-In's "sock-it-to-me girl", Goldie Hawn for "Cactus Flower", which was certainly not Oscar-calibre acting. Even Miss Hawn commented that she "appreciated the award" but wishes that she had "gotten it for something else". After six nominations, the legendary Thelma Ritter ("All About Eve" and "Pillow Talk") was still Oscar-less.
"Send Me No Flowers" has been described as a "dark comedy" probably because of its subject matter, hypochondria. Why George Kimball (Rock Hudson) has developed this condition is not explained. We know from his doctor, Ralph Morrissey (Edward Andrews) that he has complained about everything since he became his doctor. His medicine cabinet is filled with prescription bottles and he pops pills like a dope fiend. His wife, Judy (Doris Day), seems to be a happy housewife living in "the burbs" who takes her husband's "health problems" with a grain of salt. She seems to find it amusing.
Always feeling that he "has something", George visits the doctor for a check-up. While he is taking a pill in the rest room, he overhears the doctor discussing another patient, one who is terminally ill and about to die. This being a screwball comedy, George immediately believes the doctor is talking about him. Distraught, he confides in his best friend and next door neighbour, Arnold (Tony Randall) who falls completely apart and starts drinking to deal with the impending "tragedy". The whole thing is a bunch of nonsense.
The mix-up comes when Judy suspects that her husband is cheating on her with a recently divorced woman, Linda Bullard (Patricia Barry) who is actually being chased by the town wolf, Winston Burr (Hal March). You see, at a dance, George warns Linda that Winston is attempting to take advantage of her during her difficult marital problems. In thanking him, she embraces George just at the moment that Judy arrives on the scene. Angry, she leaves the party followed by George who tries to explain to her that he didn't want what was happening to Linda to happen to Judy "when he was gone". He poignantly tells her that he only has "six months to live". Crushed, Judy believes him and later seeks to find the best doctors to treat George. Later, when Dr. Morrissey returns from a fishing expedition, Judy finds out the truth that "George is healthy as a horse". Flabbergasted, Judy assumes that her husband told the lie about dying just to cover his "affair with Linda". Isn't this inane?
There are some funny moments in the picture. Doris Day proves her mettle in slapstick when she accidentally locks herself out of the house with milk, newspaper, eggs and yoghurt in her arms as her robe is caught in the door. Tony Randall was as brilliant as ever in his scenes with Rock Hudson, who was not as good in this as he had been in "Lover Come Back". Hal March played his role well and was fun to watch. As always, Paul Lynde gave a hilarious turn. This time, as a funeral director who loves his work. Tall and handsome Clint Walker of TV's "Cheyenne" fame was just right as one of the men chosen by George to "replace" him after his demise.
Reviews were mixed on "Send Me No Flowers". The Christian Science Monitor said "It is kept upright, mostly by the film's comedic footwork...and Miss Day, like a well-willed windup toy, does her reliable bit." The New York Herald Tribune said of Miss Day, "Miss Day looks just like a tow-headed little Pekinese when she yips in anger or cuddles in devotion and when she goes in for really high comedy she looks like Carol Burnett doing an imitation of Shirley Temple." Time Magazine suggested that "...at 40, she should maybe stop trying to play Goldilocks..." while CUE magazine reported, "Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randall team smoothly for a reasonably amusing, breezy comedy ...it's mostly quite affable, if non-cerebral.
"Miss Day looks just like a tow-headed little Pekinese when she yips in anger
or cuddles in devotion." - New York Herald Tribune
The film was a box-office winner and solidified Day and Hudson in the top ten, she being Number 1. This movie was not worthy of its stars. It was as trivial as "That Touch of Mink". You would think that at this level, much better scripts would have been offered Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Cary Grant. Why they agreed to do these pictures is beyond me. It seemed, at the time, that anything with Miss Day's name on it spelled great box-office and Mr. Grant hadn't had a hit in several years. It seems he just jumped on the Day bandwagon. Marty Melcher, the man with dollar signs in his eyes, just wanted to make money.
I couldn't tell that Norman Jewison directed this, especially with the great pictures he did later on. He should have put a reign on Doris' "cute" behaviour and insisted that she play it straight as she had done in "Lover Come Back". It's always funnier when a good comedian plays a funny situation straight. When Day did it that way, she was much more convincing.
Ralph McKnight, New York, March, 2002
Their best comedy to date...
Two of the nation’s top three money-makers of the past five years, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, costar for the third time in their best comedy to date, again under the guidance of executive producer Martin Melcher. It’s a fast-paced tongue-in-cheek spoof on hypochondria. Hudson is the beguiling victim who will draw sympathy and empathy as well as vast amusement from audiences.
His ever-loving wife who remains cool and objectively detached through somewhat devastating circumstances - as only Doris Day can - should gain approval by her characterization of an efficient, fairly well-to-do homemaker who acts and dresses the part, despite ramifications of the plot and temptations obviously imposed by famed dress designer Jean Louis.
Funnyman Tony Randall once again is their good and kind friend who helps Hudson find a future husband for Miss Day. Huge and handsome television player Clint Walker, of the “Cheyenne” series, portrays a temporary romantic menace with great aplomb. Paul Lynde, another popular TV actor, steals a memorable scene about cemeteries and burial plots, a high spot in the Jules Epstien adaptation of the Broadway play of the same name. Norman Jewison directed for producer Henry Keller.
Doris’ third and final film with Rock Hudson and Tony Randall was a popular vehicle for all three stars. However, as the above review clearly shows the reviews were mixed. Boxoffice Magazine states that it was the best outing of the trilogy. When viewed by itself and with such supporting stars as Paul Lyne, Hal March and Clint Walker, the film it is just as entertaining as the previous two films.
BoxOffice Magazine
Variety takes a different view:
“Send Me No Flowers doesn’t carry the same voltage,
either in laughs or originality, as Doris Day and Rock Hudson’s
two previous entries, Pillow Talk (1959) and Lover Come Back (1961)… Day
is quite up to the demands of her part, indulging in a bit of slapstick
in the opening sequence as she’s locked out of the house
in her nightgown, arms loaded with eggs and milk bottles. Hudson
plays his character nobly.”
Variety Magazine
