Main Cast: Doris Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen, Chuck Connors, Thelma Ritter
Release Year: 1963
Country: US
Run Time: 110 minutes
Plot
A man makes the highly unexpected discovery that he has two wives in this romantic comedy. Widower Nick Arden (James Garner) has just set off on his honeymoon with his new wife Bianca (Polly Bergen) when his mother Grace (Thelma Ritter) receives a very unexpected guest -- Nick's late wife Ellen (Doris Day). While Ellen was proclaimed legally dead five years after her plane disappeared in a flight over the Pacific Ocean, in truth her flight crash-landed on a desert island where she was stranded with Stephen Burkett (Chuck Connors) and only now has managed to return to civilization. When Grace informs Ellen that Nick has just left town with his new wife, Ellen heads out to the resort where the newlyweds are staying, and comic confusion ensues. Move Over, Darling began life as a project called Something's Got to Give, which was the film that Marilyn Monroe was working on at the time of her death; besides Monroe, the original cast included Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse, and Phil Silvers. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Fred Clark - Mr. Codd; Don Knotts - Shoe Clerk; Elliott Reid - Dr. Schlick; Edgar Buchanan - Judge Bryson; John Astin - Clyde Prokey; Pat Harrington, Jr. - District Attorney; Eddie Quillan - Bellboy; Max Showalter - Desk clerk; Alvy Moore - Waiter; Christopher Connelly - Ranking Seaman; Med Flory - Seaman; Bess Flowers - Woman; Mary George - Maid; Billy Halop - Seaman; John Harmon - Taxi Driver; Ted Jacques - Pool Attendant; Ed McNally - Cmdr.; Joseph Mell - Stock Clerk; Emile G. Meyer - Process Server; Jack Orrison - Bartender; Stan Richards - Officer; Sheila Rogers - Secretary; Michael Romanoff - Floorwalker; Rachel Romen - Injured Man's Wife; Alan Sues - Court Clerk; Brad Trumbull - Process Servers; Rosa Turich - Maria; Pat Moran - Drunk; Sid Gould - Waiter at Pool; Kelton Garwood; Harold Goodwin - Bailiff
Credit
Hilyard M. Brown - Art Director, Jack Martin Smith - Art Director, Moss Mabry - Costume Designer, Michael Gordon - Director, Robert L. Simpson - Editor, Lionel Newman - Composer (Music Score), Ben Nye, Sr. - Makeup, Daniel L. Fapp - Cinematographer, Martin Melcher - Producer, Aaron Rosenberg - Producer, Paul S. Fox - Set Designer, Walter Scott - Set Designer, L.B. Abbott - Special Effects, Emil Kosa, Jr. - Special Effects, Hal Kanter - Screenwriter, Leo McCarey - Screenwriter, Jack Sher - Screenwriter, Bella Spewack - Screenwriter, Samuel Spewack - Screenwriter, Bella Spewack - Play Author, Samuel Spewack - Play Author
Ellen Wagstaff Arden (Doris Day), a mother of two young children, was believed to be lost at sea following an airplane accident. Her husband, Nick Arden (James Garner), was one of the survivors.
After years of searching for her, he decides to move on with his life by having her declared legally dead and marrying Bianca (Polly Bergen), all on the same day. However, Ellen is alive; she is rescued and returns home that particular day. At first crestfallen, she is relieved to discover from her mother-in-law Grace (Thelma Ritter) that her (ex-) husband's honeymoon hasn't started yet.
Nick eventually clears things up with Bianca, but then he learns that Ellen was stranded on an island alone all those years with Stephen Burkett (Chuck Connors) and that they called each other "Adam" and "Eve".
Background
This was originally to be a comeback vehicle for Marilyn Monroe, under the working title of Something's Got to Give. Dean Martin was cast as Nick Arden, and the director was George Cukor. Marilyn Monroe was fired for seldom showing up for shooting early in its production cycle, appearing in only about 30 minutes of usable film. Unable to complete the movie, and having already sunk a considerable amount of money into the production and sets, 20th Century Fox went ahead with the project, under a new title, new director, and recast stars. At first, they tried to continue with Lee Remick in Monroe's place, but Martin balked at working with anyone else and that version was never completed. Monroe was re-hired but died before she could resume filming. Doris Day and James Garner were eventually cast in the roles originated by Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in My Favorite Wife. Chuck Connors played the Randolph Scott role, replacing Tom Tryon, who'd been cast in the Monroe version.
The movie that Ellen describes to Bianca while giving her a massage is My Favorite Wife.
James Garner accidentally broke Day's rib (during the massage scene, when he pulls her off of Bergen). Garner wasn't even aware of what had happened until the next day, when he felt the bandage while putting his arms around her.
The producers scheduled the scene with Doris Day riding through a car wash for the last day of shooting because they were concerned that the detergents might affect her complexion. When the scene went off without a hitch, they admitted their ploy to Day, then used the story in promotional materials for the film.
"Move Over, Darling" - Music and lyrics by Joe Lubin, Hal Kanter and Terry Melcher (Day's son) arranged by Jack Nitzsche. Sung by Doris Day and chorus during the opening credits and played as background music at the end. Reached #8 in the British singles chart in 1964 for Day and in 1983 for Tracey Ullman.[1]
"Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)" from Lohengrin (1850) - Written by Richard Wagner. Played when Nick and Bianca arrive at their honeymoon hotel
"Beautiful Dreamer" - Music and lyrics by Stephen Foster. Played as background music during the memorial service for Ellen
"Twinkle Lullaby" - Music and lyrics by Joe Lubin. Sung by Ellen (Doris Day) to her children.
The film Cast Away has a plot similarity: the lead character is marooned on an island for several years; on his return he finds that his wife has given him up for dead and re-married.
