DO NOT DISTURB

US, 1966, 102 minutes, Colour.
Doris Day, Rod Taylor, Hermione Baddeley, Sergio Fantoni, Reginald Gardiner, Maura Mc Giveney, Leon Askin.
Directed by Ralph Levy.

Do Not Disturb is one of the many romantic comedies that Doris Day made during the 1960s. This trend in her career began with the celebrated Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson. She teamed with him in Lover Come Back. She also teamed with Cary Grant in That Touch of Mink and Richard Harris later in Caprice. She made several films with Rod Taylor including Send Me No Flowers, The Glass Bottom Boat and this film. She is at her chirpy best, a drunk scene, some pratfalls and slapstick, singing the title song. She is always bright and breezy. Rod Taylor is a solid leading man.

The film is set in Europe, the husband and wife bickering over the phone, the wife going off to a wool convention in Paris, a mild flirtation – and some jealousy.

The film was directed by Ralph Levy who directed Bedtime Story with Marlon Brando and David Niven at this time. However, his career was in television, directing such stalwarts as Lucille Ball, Ed Wynn, Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen.

1. A good American comedy: Day vehicle? Rod Taylor film? The risque farce? Did the film try to have its cake and eat it?

2. The significance of the title, the credits, colour, London and Paris, Panavision? How enjoyable in terms of frothy comedy situations, ambiguity, satisfactory resolution?

3. How plausible was the plot? American farce? The farce of mistaken identities? The skill with which this was portrayed? Audience enjoyment by anticipation of difficulties? And the hope of resolution?
4. The theme of wife versus husband? initiative in house versus initiative in work? Clashes between husband and wife? Were these convincing?

5. The presentation of marriage, jealousy and suspicions, the lengths to which husband and wife should go to test the other? The consequences of this kind of suspicion?

6. The relationship between Paul and Janet? Her fascination by him? The husband and his secretary? Her final comments on him?

7. The role of Janet's friend and her contriving the situation for suspicion?

8, Was the Paris sequence enjoyable? A drunk scene for Doris Day and her handling of this kind of comedy? The ambiguity of the night in Paris?

9. The presentation of the party, big business, ambiguity of values, comment on the loose morals of this kind of world? Ambiguity of identity leading to chase?

10. How good is this kind of comedy, of what value? A healthy approach to the ambiguities of sexual morality?