The Thrill of It All *** (1963, Doris Day, James Garner, Arlene Francis, Edward Andrews, Reginald Owen, Zasu Pitts) – Classic Movie Review 6,536

Doris Day and James Garner are attractively paired as the housewife star of TV adverts and the obstetrician husband she overlooks, in Norman Jewison’s funny 1963 romcom and media send-up The Thrill of It All.

Doris Day and James Garner are attractively paired as Beverly Boyer, the housewife spokesperson star of television adverts for the Happy Soap Company, and Dr Gerald Boyer, the obstetrician husband she overlooks, in director Norman Jewison’s funny 1963 romantic comedy and media send-up The Thrill of It All.

Bright support turns by Arlene Francis, Edward Andrews, Reginald Owen, Zasu Pitts, Elliot Reid and Alice Pearce, as well as hilarious playing in several bit parts by the film’s writer Carl Reiner (as a character actor appearing on TV as a Nazi officer, cad and cowboy), add to the thrill of it all.

Also in the cast are Kym Karath, Brian Nash, Lucy Landau, Paul Hartman, Hayden Rorke, Alex Gerry, Robert Gallagher, Ann Newman-Mantee, Burt Mustin, Hedley Mattingly, Robert Strauss, Maurice Gosfield, William Bramley, Pamela Curran, Herbie Faye, Lenny Kent, John Alderman, Lennie Weinrib and King Donovan.

The Thrill of It All is directed by Norman Jewison, is written by Carl Reiner from a story by Reiner and Larry Gelbart, shot by Russell Metty, produced by Ross Hunter and Martin Melcher, scored by Frank DeVol, and designed by Alexander Golitzen and Robert F Boyle, with music by Arnold Schwarzwald.

Day took over from an ailing Judy Holliday, who developed cancer, had to quit the film, and died of the disease in 1965 aged only 43. Edward Andrews replaced Walter Matthau, who had asked for a pay check of $100,000.

ZaSu Pitts (born Eliza Susan Pitts): 3 January 1894 – 7 June 1963.

Zasu Pitts made only brief appearances in her final two films, The Thrill of It All and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), both released posthumously. She died on 7 June 1963, aged 69.

The stars re-teamed immediately for Move Over Darling (1963), another project Doris Day inherited – this time from Marilyn Monroe.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6,536

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