Review of Send Me No Flowers (1964) by Greg W — 10 Mar 2016

SPOILER ALERT.

To make a comedy involving the possible imminent death of one of the cast is not easy but Send Me No Flowers succeeds wonderfully. In no small measure due to its three stars whose obvious rapport comes right through the screen.

OK, so Doris' part becomes a bit tedious as she becomes the victim of a misunderstanding (when she sees another woman kissing Rock), but Rock's misunderstanding (after he overhears his doctor on the phone) has led him into a close friendship with neighbour Tony Randall and THAT partnership is the real comedy duo of the film. Doris is almost supplanted by Tony as Rock backs out of his marriage in order to find a new partner for her. And because Tony's wife and child are never seen, the field is left wide open for him to develop his relationship with Rock.

I didn't realise Rock was such a giant until you see him beside his male co-star. And he is a delight playing comedy, as he proved in Pillow Talk.

There isn't a weak member of this beautiful ensemble, though Clint Walker (who is even bigger than Rock!) doesn't get much of a look-in. It is he this time who does Rock's "trick" from Pillow Talk, unravelling himself as he emerges from a cramped sports car.

Perhaps all the loose ends could have been tied up 10 minutes sooner.

BTW, is this one of the first American movies to show a married couple sharing the same bed? Even though they are both fully clothed in pyjamas and there is no activity of course going on, I think Hollywood was still at this time showing couples in single beds only.

What was more interesting was showing Rock and TONY sharing the same bed! I loved the gay overtones to their relationship, especially as we know Rock was gay in real life.