best movie i've ever seen.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Not easy to make comedy about the imminent death of one of the main characters but Send Me No Flowers succeeds wonderfully. In no small measure due to stars' rapport that 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 hears 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, unraveling himself as he emerges from a cramped sports car. Perhaps all the loose ends could have been tied up 10 minutes sooner. Is this the first Hollywood movie to show a married couple sharing the same bed? What is more interesting is 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.

Believing that he has only a few weeks to live, a hypochondriac tries to find a suitable second husband for his wife in the third teaming of Hudson, Day, and Randall. Hudson is hilarious as the hypochondriac with a full medicine cabinet who, through a misunderstanding, thinks his days are numbered. Day is his understanding wife. Randall is Hudson's neighbor, who takes to drinking and writing a eulogy upon learning that his good buddy is dying. Arnold plays Hudson's doctor and Walker is the beefcake that Hudson decides should succeed him. After a funny beginning, the film loses some of its steam but manages to stay entertaining for the most part.

Send Me No Flowers is a very entertaining film, and a real treat for fans of Doris Day and Rock Hudson. I marginally prefer Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back, but Send Me No Flowers is still very good. It is a touch too long however, and it lags a tad on occasions. Even with these very minor criticisms, it is very sophisticated and funny. The script has many witty lines delivered with panache by all involved, and the story although the subject matter is somewhat morbid manages to be beautifully constructed and sophisticated. The production values are beautiful especially in the cinematography and Doris Day's clothes, while the music is lovely with an irresistible title song. The acting is great, Rock Hudson in particular is brilliant in a difficult role, while Paul Lynde really stands out being hysterical as the cemetery plot salesman and Doris Day still has that fresh and endearing approach that I love her for. Also Norman Jewison does do a stellar job directing. Overall, very nice film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

It's probably films like this that made me wish I lived in the American suburbia of the 50's and 60's. The sun shone, the little lady was at home, and life was just a bowl of cherries. For me, this is narrowly the best of the Day/Hudson films. Rock Hudson plays George Kimball, a hypochondriac who thinks he has just a few weeks to live and decides to fix his wife (Day) up with a new man. That's basically the plot, but there are so many off-shoots and crossed wires that it keeps us amused all the way through. Hudson hams it up, Day is her usual fluffy self and the underrated Tony Randall does his marvellous 'best buddy' routine. But then along comes Paul Lynde and almost steals the entire show with his camp, gossipy funeral director. With his "Oh, I could tear my tongue out!" and his "Don't worry, I'll just nip out the back way" after his flying dive over Doris' suitcases in the hall (which surely must have been a genuine accident that was left in) he creases me up every time I watch this funny, funny film. Even the music is funny, just listen to the over-dramatic piano chords whenever Hudson turns up the pity. I had given this a 7, but writing this little review has made me appreciate the film even more - now it's an 8!