Review of Send Me No Flowers

The 3rd and last of the Hudson & Day romantic comedies, with a different writer and director. It's plot device is quite different from that of the first two: "Pillow Talk" and "Lover, Come Back", which were variations on the same plot device, in which Rock and Doris are initially unknown to each other, living in apartments. Here, they are a stable couple, living in a suburban house. Here, we miss the fun of seeing Rock, whom Doris despises, despite having never seen him, pretend to be someone else, whom Doris comes to love, until she discovers the truth. Unlike the other films, Doris is not a career woman, just a housewife, and virtually nothing is said about Rock's job. Thus, emphasis is on their home and social lives, in particular, Rock's struggle as a hypochondriac. In a sense, Rock does exhibit a dual personality: before and after mistakenly thinking he overheard his doctor imply that he likely has only a short time to live. He doesn't tell Doris, but buys a cemetery plot, not only for him, but for her and her anticipated replacement husband! Also, he goes out of his way to try to match Doris with an anticipated good man to take care of her after he is gone. Tony Randal suggests Clint Walker, who rescues Doris from a runaway golf cart. He's good looking , single, and a Texas oil baron. Doris think's it strange that Rock and Tony are pushing other men at her. Eventually, she is told that he's not expected to live more than a few weeks. Thereafter, she pitches in to pamper him, even putting him in a wheelchair. Then, she is told by his doctor that his health is fine. She gets the idea that he made up this story to divert attention from an affair. He even confesses to an affair, at the advice of Tony(who is sent to the doghouse, after the result). The remainder of the climax has Doris going back and forth whether she will leave and divorce him. You can assume that things eventually work out for the best. I liked the restoration of love scene much better than the unconvincing scenes in the first 2 R & D films....Paul Lynde makes an amusing cemetery plot salesman, and plays a critical role in changing Doris's mind about Rock. Hal March looks for lonely recent divorcees or pending divorcees, including Doris, to romance for a spell,