A la caza de marido

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!

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.

"Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding" is a sex comedy starring America's sweetheart, Sandra Dee. She's a talentless lady whose mother insists she'll be a singing star...but all she wants is a normal life. However, somewhere along the line she gets pregnant and a whole pack of guys are vying to marry her and care for the baby.

The big problem with this film is that it is a comedy and most of its 'laughs' consists of people yelling or behaving weirdly and loudly. In a word, the film is shrill. But, sadly, rarely is it actually funny...and I think the biggest laugh is supposed to see sweet, ever-virginal Dee playing spoiled goods. A waste of talent and a rather unfunny and loud film with little to recommend it.

By the way, if you do watch (and I don't recommend it), look for Nichelle Nichols in a tiny part as a secretary.

A very pregnant Heather Halloran (Sandra Dee) is rushed to the hospital. She is accompanied by her stage mom Louise Halloran (Celeste Holm), two cops, and three guys eager to marry her; next door neighbor ladies man Dick Bender (Bill Bixby), shoe salesman Hank Judson (Dwayne Hickman), and entertainment manager Pat Murad (Dick Kallman). The movie recounts how they got there. Louise has always pushed Heather to be a star. Heather is constantly pushing away the advances of lascivious men. She gets hired as a secretary to wealthy businessman Harlan Wycliff (George Hamilton) who warns her against flirting with him.

It's a single gal sex comedy. The morality is 50's. It's trying to push the envelope by having a pregnant single girl start the movie. It's a lot of grabby guys chasing Sandra Dee and she pushes them off. It's funnier to have a flustered guy failing to get into a girl's pants than to have a girl struggling against pawing lascivious guys. The point of view makes it less funny. Heather does try to be a party girl and that's a little off brand for Sandra Dee. It's all a little off.