Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

Okay, 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' is not as awful as the review summary implies but it is not a good representation of Doris Day's (nor the rest of the talented cast's) talents. Seriously the amount of talent here is enormous but sadly it is not used well.

Saw 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' as somebody who loves Day and as part of my completest quest seeing the rest of her not yet seen. While there are a couple more to go, 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' to me is definitely one of Day's worst films (apparently even Day herself thought so) in a career that did see some wonderful films and near-classics, 'Calamity Jane' and 'Pillow Talk' are my two favourites of hers. It is really a film only to be seen if like me you like Day and want to see all her films.

While she has given better performances Day is the best thing about the film, even though she spent most of its production in traction following a back injury (what the film is most notable for). There is the sense that she knew that the script was not good and that the film, writing and character she plays were beneath her (also think that she did this against her will, then again that's probably just me), but Day was always an effervescent and conscientious performer who always gave her all regardless of the quality of the material or the genre, and she does show charm and decent comic timing here.

The film is hardly cheap-looking, not lavish but there is a simple elegance. 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' does boast a few very funny moments, though these moments are too far and between.

However, Hy Averback directs unimaginatively and, despite being talented performers, the supporting cast are not worthy of Day and struggle with very poorly written characters and an insipid script with a bad mix of overplaying and blandness. Patrick O'Neal is a vacuous and wooden leading man, sharing very little genuine chemistry with Day. Robert Morse goes through the motions and looks truly uninterested, on the other side of the spectrum Terry-Thomas tries to play it for laughs but this is one painfully hammy performance from him.

Despite a few moments, the script as said is insipid and borderline dumb. Nothing is hilarious here and hardly any of it is sophisticated or insightful. The story is horribly contrived and muddled and also suffers from a turgid pace and a staginess. The ending feels tacked on and doesn't feel right with the rest of the film.

Overall, a disappointment as a Doris Day vehicle and as an overall film. 4/10 Bethany Cox

this movie was next to the very last movie that miss day made....it has been criticized as being a terrible movie....i disagree....this movie has some very funny moments, mostly because of miss day but the cast is not bad.....most of miss day`s movies around this time were being laughed off with doris being wrongfully accused of trying to hold on to her virginity which was groundless because really if they were to examine miss day`s films, she actually was married in most of her films including this movie " where were you when the lights went out?" so really all those tired jokes about her playing a virgin all the time were and are, erroneous...while this movie is not the best movie she ever made, she still gives it her all and it is indeed worth watching and so interesting to see miss day take a movie such as this and milk it into a pleasing comedy, which, is a tribute to her talent and professionalism...have a great day with doris day!!

On November 9, 1965 much of the eastern seaboard suffered a power outage and this included huge sections of New York City. To that effect, this film involves several fictional characters who had their lives severely impacted by this development. The first character by the name of "Waldo Zane" (Robert Morse) who works as the treasurer for a large corporation and has just stolen $2 million from it. His escape plan, however, didn't factor in a massive blackout and because of that he winds up at a house in Connecticut trying to get transportation to Boston. In the meantime, an actress on Broadway named "Margaret Garrison" (Doris Day) has had her play cancelled due to the electric shortage and upon heading back to her apartment finds her husband "Peter Garrison" (Robert O'Neal) alone with an attractive journalist by the name of "Roberta Lane" (Lola Albright). Furious at his indiscretion she decides to cancel her planned retirement and heads to her house in Connecticut to consider a divorce. Delighted with this new development her manager "Ladislaus Walichek" (Terry-Thomas) immediately gets in his car and also heads to Connecticut in order to get her to sign a new contract before she changes her mind. Meanwhile, Peter--who is desperate to get back in good graces with his wife--decides to drive to Connecticut to beg for her forgiveness. What he isn't prepared for, however, is the turmoil created when all of the characters show up at his house at around the same time. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an okay film which had a fairly entertaining plot but was diminished somewhat by rather flat performances by everyone involved. It also didn't help to have the character of Peter Garrison being as unlikeable as he was either. In any case, those interested in a standard comedy from this particular time period might find it amusing to a certain extent and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

There was a time when you could send $25 to Doris Day's animal foundation, and she'd send you an autographed picture. Well, my dog was a cute shelter terrier that I named Griffin, and since this was one of my favorite films, I asked and she agreed to sign her picture "Where Were You and Griffin When the Lights Went Out?"

I like this movie. I even found the movie poster for this film at an antique shop in Myrtle Beach. It's rather cool with Ms. Day posing as if she is the Statue of Liberty.

I paid only $8 for it. It's the only thing I remember from that specific beach trip. I also own the video. I don't think the film can air right now due to legal stuff.

I have watched it a dozen times. It's a feel good movie. It has a lot of nice, fun people in it, even in the minor roles. This includes Steve Allen, Pat Paulson, Jim Backus, Ben Blue, Robert Emhardt and Morgan Freeman in an uncredited role.

About Doris Day.....she was gifted, versatile, and very underrated. Groucho Marx once said he knew Doris before she was a virgin. He was referring to her sunny, innocent girl next door image--which gets the one-two punch in this film, to great effect. Day plays a Broadway actress starring in the Constant Virgin, and most of the film discusses whether she sullied her marriage and herself by sleeping with Robert Morse during the NYC blackout from 1965.

This movie isn't Shakespeare. Just relax and enjoy the goings on. Turn back your mental clock to 1968. It's a well remembered time when people drove big Chrysler convertibles. Plus, Lola Albright wears a dark wig and seduces Patrick O Neal with the line "I like big buildings." The Letterman sing the catchy title tune, I wish they would have put it on their LPs from that period. Terry-Thomas and Robert Morse comment on the space between their teeth. Discussing failed dental work between these two actors was entirely unexpected.

Some of the reviews in this group suggest the movie is terrible and Day's star was in decline. They are not being fair. I believe people stay away from terrible movies and terrible movies lose money. This movie was actually a big earner in 1968. Yes, It's true that this is Day's next to last film before she went to TV. However, her last film "With Six You Get Eggroll" was released later in the same year AND was more profitable than this one.

In defense of Ms. Day's star power, the business did not leave Day. She left the business. All good things eventually end. The world is now less bright without Day.

The story of this movie seems to be a set up for Doris Day's last film ( she actually had one after it ). Doris plays Margaret Garrison a stage actress who constantly gets type cast as a virgin ( hmmmm any similarity to what happened to Doris in real life??). While giving an interview for playboy magazine Margaret spills the beans that she would like to have a baby.... Well her hubby does something naughty and Doris goes running for the home in the country. Doris Day's performance is engaging.. especially when she is medicated !! Although Doris was forced into this movie by her manager husband ( her husband had lost all of her money in bad investments ) it is a delightful 60's film. So set a Sunday afternoon aside and hope that the lights wont go out when you put in the video!!