Send Me No Flowers

"When he tells me he's dying and he doesn't DIE... wouldn't he know that I'd get SUSPICIOUS?"

Hypochondriac George Kimball (Hudson) is convinced that he is dying.  His wife, Judy (Day), best friend Arnold (Randall), and doctor, Dr. Ralph Morrissey (Andrews), put up with his neuroses.  At his latest doctor's appointment he overhears someone else's diagnosis and believes he only has a few days/weeks left to live.

He shares the diagnosis with Arnold, who decides to cope by drinking.  George accepts his fate, but is worried about Judy's future and asks Arnold help him find a replacement husband for Judy.  He does not tell Judy about his plans or that he is dying.  She is concerned by his behavior and believes he is having an affair.  Can their marriage survive?


This is the third and final collaboration between Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randall (following Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back).  The leads have incredible chemistry and are perfectly suited to their roles.  Pillow Talk is the best of their collaborations, but this has great physical comedy.  Tony Randall steals the show as Arnold.  He is hilarious every time he is drunk in the film.  His best scene is writing and rewriting George's eulogy.  Rock Hudson shows that he is adept at comedy with his reactions and the wheelchair scene (among others).  Doris Day once again gets to sing the title song, but she also gets a funny dance sequence with Clive Clerk (who was in the original cast of "A Chorus Line" on Broadway).

The rest of cast give stellar performances.  Paul Lynde is the gleeful funeral director, who delivers his lines with a gleam in his eyes.  Hal March is slimey as Winston Burr.

The story, written by Julius Epstein, is based on a play by Norman Barasch and Carroll Moore.  The play was on Broadway in 1960.  Everything works in this film, thanks to the smart script and strong performances.  An entertaining film.

Send Me No Flowers (1964) 100 minutes
Director: Norman Jewison
Starring: Rock Hudson as George Kimball
Doris Day as Judy Kimball
Tony Randall as Arnold Nash
Paul Lynde as Mr. Akins
Hal March as Winston Burr
Edward Andrews as Dr. Ralph Morrissey
Patricia Barry as Linda Bullard
Clint Walker as Bert Power
Clive Clerk as Vito