John Chard
May 19, 2019
Look, you're dealing with your wife. You can forget the Constitution. Send Me No Flowers is directed by Norman Jewison and collectively written by Julius J. Epstein, Norman Barasch and Carroll Moore. It stars Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall, Clint Walker, Edward Andrews, Paul Lynde and Patricia Barry. Music is by Frank De Vol and cinematography by Danial Fapp. A hypochondriac believes he is dying and makes plans for his wife, which creates many misunderstandings for themselves and everyone around them... The pairing of Hudson and Day was an utter joy, producing romantic comedy escapism from the upper echelons of such genre stations. Send Me No Flowers is the last of their collaborations, so how wonderful to find it to be a grand way to bow out. In parts it's thunderously mirthful, even joyously tasteless in the process, in others it's mature and smart about the subjects to hand. Cast are on fire across the board, but this is undoubtedly Hudson's show all the way. He puts a gracefulness into what is a tricky role, while his sly comedic timing - both visually and vocally - is top dollar. This is a guaranteed bad mood lifter, a pic to blow away the black clouds for a while. The actors are great company to be in, the writing cunning with humorous intent. From some nifty animation at pic's start to introduce Hudson's character's hypochondria, to the sight of the hulking Clint Walker getting out of the world's smallest car! this never lets up on the passion to entertain us. 8/10
