PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES

US, 1960, 112 minutes, Colour.
Doris Day, David Niven
Directed by Charles Walters.

This comedy has a strange tone and indicates some family exasperation. Based on a play by author and critic Jean Kerr (Mary Mary), wife of Broadway critic, Walter Kerr, the film shows a piece of Americana. It is a family film, the ups and downs of a typical American family. Situations and characterisations are contrived, but the performances of David Niven and Doris Day give more strength than might be expected. The film is light, enjoyable. It was directed by Charles Waters who usually has the light touch and has directed many musicals and domestic comedies like Lili, High Society, Ask Any Girl.

1. The tone of the title? Indications of comedy?

2. The glossy nature of the film, colour, widescreen, New York and countryside, themes, parties, the theatre?

3. The attractiveness of Doris Day and David Niven?

4. How realistic was the film? Did it have overtones of real life? Or merely a fantasy-comedy?

5. What were the best qualities of the comedy? The conventions of domestic comedies, families, farce, humorous dialogue, families and dogs and children and houses?

6. How did the film satirize families? New York apartments and all the problems, ambitions for bigger houses, home styles? The impact of the reviews, parties on family life? The contrast of life in the country, setting up big old houses, meeting the locals, settling in?

7. How interesting a character was Larry Mc Kay? The background of his professorship, the list of his reviews, his believing his own propaganda and wit, the change when he was caught up in this world, his ambitions? How did all this contrast with the ordinariness of his life? What happened
to him in his relationship with family? Wife? What did he learn by the humiliation? The sequence of the play?

8. How attractive was Kate? The ordinary housewife, supporting her husband, getting flustered with the children, with her mother? A happy personality running a home? Her enthusiasm about the new house? Fitting in with the locals, producing the play, the quality of her revenge? Her reaction to Larry becoming a celebrity? What had she learnt about herself, family, her husband by the end?

9. The comic irony about the relationships between men and women?

10. The comedy and satire via the character of Deborah and her type? The slap on the face, the publicity, the satire on celebrities?

11. The character of North, his meanness and revenge, yet his friendship?

12. What did the film have to say about being a celebrity? How typical a fifties film of family man was Chris? Is this a typical kind of American comedy?