Doutor, O Sr. Está Brincando!

I rate this movie this highly because it does extremely well exactly what it sets out to do--provide a couple of hours of entertaining fluff. In the wake of the news of the death of Sandra Dee, I was asked for my favorite Sandra Dee movie, and I realized this is it! The ever-delightful Celeste Holm and the protective stage mother, George Hamilton too perfect as the snotty boss, the late Bill Bixby, for whom I'll never stop mourning, the sweet friend wanting to help out, and an enjoyable appearance by Mort Sahl, a groundbreaking comedian of the time who now is, unjustly, almost completely forgotten.

A movie that does what it sets out to do and does it well deserves praise, and this one has mine.

Today, Sandra Dee joins my "eternal mourning" list.

OK, it's not quite that bad, but it sure gives a good example of qualified people turning in inferior performances. I blame the screenplay writer here. I suppose the idea of an unwed mother would have been handled much better in the 1970's or 80's, but the "powers that be" decided to do it with 1960's censors in place. The result is as seen here, with total ignorance of the topic. The issue of sex is steadfastly avoided. And don't look for any real controversy either. Actual sex was a thing not yet acknowledged in old folk's movies (like any movie with Rock Hudson/Doris Day). And this movie has a character named Dick Bender. I mean, c'mon!

The late 1960's to early 70's was kind of an awkward time for Hollywood. The country was changing a great deal and it took American movie makers a few years to get the pulse back. You got quite a few movies like this, which didn't know who its audience was. This wasn't going to please the older crowd, who were still pining for Hope & Crosby road pictures, and it wasn't going to please the rock & roll crowd, whose tastes in music had moved WAY beyond anything heard here. LSD was still legal when this film came out, and The Stones' and Hendrix were playing on the radio. Kids were not going to be impressed with George Hamilton in a suit and tie.

You can see B&W TV's with antennas, and knobs that had to be turned to change channels, and hear some rather bland, third rate rock and roll. It's little more than a light dusting of attitudes from people that were already old in the 60's. Oh, and look fast to see Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) in a full blown 60's 'Fro.

Brylcreem, and Vitalis, and Dippity Do, oh my!

Zany. Antic. Silly. That's what many comedies of the sixties were striving for, apparently. Unfortunately, many of them were not that funny. This film has the comedic subtlety of a Three Stooges film. Andrew Sarris in his June 1967 review for "The Village Voice" called Peter Tewksbury's direction "graceful" and said it contains "lovely things". Clearly he considered this film head and shoulders above "Barefoot in the Park", which he also reviewed that day. No wonder film makers were confused about what makes for good comedy.

Sandra Dee stars as Heather Halloran, a wannabe singer who becomes a secretary to the most intelligent man in the world, Harlan Wycliff (George Hamilton). Heather spends her off-time fighting off the advances of young men. Dwayne Hickman is a shoe salesman, and would-be actor, who specializes in hammy death scenes. Bill Bixby is the bachelor next door whose life is a turnstile for sexy women. Dick Kallman is a musical coach who hones Heather's vocal stylings.

Miss Dee is the only one who (somehow) emerges from this unfunny farce unscathed. Even amid the carnage that is "Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!" she remains likable and even somewhat believable. Otherwise, four stars would be too too generous.

I grew up with these shows...Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, Sandra Dee... And, no, they didn't earn kudos from critics. As John Wayne was to the Western, these ladies were to the romantic comedy. My wife and daughter love this movie -- not for the fact this girl got herself in 'trouble', but for the three lovable guys who want to rescue her from the shame (remember the time period) of having a baby out of wedlock. The people who are knocking this movie are probably not on Social Security and probably enjoy the trashy R rated movies or crass television shows that pass themselves off as Romantic comedies. This was a time when morality was embraced, not made fun of. If you enjoy the old fashion era, this won't disappoint.

Pretty blonde Sandra Dee (as Heather Halloran) is rushed to the hospital to give birth. With her are pushy mother Celeste Holm (as Louise) and three men claiming fatherhood. The prospective daddies are playboy neighbor Bill Bixby (as the nicely named Dick Bender), shoe salesman Dwayne Hickman (as Hank Judson) and blond musician Dick Kallman (as Pat Murad). The blessed event is put on hold while we flashback to discover who impregnated Ms. Dee… We learn Dee is an aspiring, but reluctantly so, singer. After years of struggle, she takes a job as secretary for brainy businessman George Hamilton (as Harlan W. Wycliff)...

We aren't certain why Dee was in college, but she went parking with a lot of guys she would not kiss...

In his office shaving mirror, Mr. Hamilton begins to stare at Dee's sexy legs. He quickly becomes another suspect in the pregnancy mystery. If you really think there is any mystery here, "Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!" This type of sex comedy - a little sex, a lot of sneering innuendo - peaked with the popular films made by Doris Day in the early 1960s. Dee was the teenage "box office" queen. By 1967, both Dee and the genre were out of style. She looks cute, has a great supporting cast and gets beautifully colorful sets. This film is, at least, pleasant for those reasons.

***** Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! (4/28/67) Peter Tewksbury ~ Sandra Dee, George Hamilton, Celeste Holm, Dwayne Hickman