Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!

Sandra Dee plays a pregnant and unmarried "singer" involved with three different suitors--so who's the father? Would-be modern comedy has the same leftover faces from those early-'60s bedroom comedies: Bill Bixby, George Hamilton, Dwayne Hickman (was Richard Crenna busy that month?). Dee, at this point in her career struggling for roles which might extract her from her Gidget persona, gives this scenario a try and has a nice rapport with Celeste Holm as her mother. The men, however, are each lackluster, as is Phillip Shuken's screenplay, adapted from a novel by Patte Wheat Mahan. Peter Tewksbury directed, substituting wit with leering stupidity. * from ****

"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.

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.

If you are a Sandra Dee fan 1967's "Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!" is arguably her best performance and a must have for any fan. Although the movie itself is lousy she is confident and alluring in the challenging starring role, its really a mega role as she is in every scene.

Like Debbie Watson in "The Cool Ones" (also 1967) Hollywood was trying to remake Dee into a star they could continue to take to the bank as changing tastes were taking a toll on their traditional type of material. Neither movie had much going for it in the script department and both were a couple beats behind the times even though the whole idea had been to showcase Dee and Watson in more with-in screenplays.

In the long run the failure of the two pictures probably did not make that much difference as the roles for those in this wave of actresses were getting scarce and often bizarre. Jane Fonda did "Cat Ballou" in 1965 and Barbarella in 1968. Tuesday Weld turned down Bonnie & Clyde in 1967 and did "Pretty Poison" in 1968, "I Walk the Line" in 1970, and "A Safe Place" in 1971. Decent enough parts but few and far between.

The hot players in town in the late 60's were Bob Rafelson, Bert Schneider, and Steve Blauner - BBS, who knew Hollywood needed new audiences of young people-and who were cultivating new talent and new ideas. Weld was able to crash their party even though she was not a new face. I can see them adding Dee to the cast of 1968's "Head" which could have been a game changer for her. The story was fluid enough to create a part, after all they used Annette in a spot and Dee would have offered a similar campy appeal. But as a game changer that is grasping at straws.

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.