Do Not Disturb (1965)

An American couple's relocation to the English countryside strains their marriage.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 30-JAN-2007
Media Type: DVD Product Description

Do Not Disturb

I love Doris Day and any movies that she is in! There are better ones than this one but it pleasantly entertains you for a couple of hours. July 5, 2008

Great stuff!!!

OK, I admit it, I'm a great Doris Day fan, and this one is one of my favorites! Don't get me wrong, I love all the other movies, especially the ones with the Day-Hudson combination, but this one is very funny and the English element adds a different humorous touch - the scene with the fox & dogs cracks me up every time. Not to mention the wardrobe in this one rocks! Also, Rod Taylor in his all American rugged-type husband is really a nice change to the clean-cut, smooth leading men of that era. Definately 5 stars from me, and about time it was released on dvd.... April 7, 2008

Not Bad, But Not Memorable

Doris Day was among Hollywood's few truly bankable stars during the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly noted for her comic talents in such frothy farces as PILLOW TALK, PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES, and THAT TOUCH OF MINK. Unfortunately, as the 1960s progressed her films did not, and although her films remained popular they were seen as increasingly out of touch with the tone of the times. The situation was not helped by Day's husband-manager Martin Melcher, who developed the habit of signing Day to film projects Day herself found uninspired. Such was the case with the 1965 flyweight comedy DO NOT DISTURB.

The play seems to be a grab-bag of ideas from previous Day films, the story of a pretty but slightly klutzy wife (Day) and a neglectful husband (Rod Taylor) who find themselves at romantic cross purposes courtesy of their landlady Vanessa (Hermione Baddeley), a sexy secretary (Maura McGiveney), and a handsome antiques dealer(Sergio Fantoni.) The roles are one-dimensional, the plot turns are predictable, and the dialogue trivial. Both Day and Taylor respond by overplaying, sometimes to the point of shrillness. Even so, they do manage to inject enough life into the film to make it mildly amusing--and the supporting cast is quite charming. When all is said and done, the film is most memorable for the sight of Doris Day in a brilliantly orange evening gown as she struggles on the dance floor to shake away an olive dropped down her back.

The DVD includes several bonus features, including an account of Day's early life and career, a brief biography of Michael Romanoff (who plays a cameo in the film), and a brief biography of composer Mort Garson (who is perhaps best remembered for the song "Our Day Will Come.) It offers a nice transfer and is present in its original widescreen format. Most Doris Day fans will find it amusing, but even so most will admit that DO NOT DISTURB is hardly among the first tier of her films: not bad, but in no way memorable.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer February 12, 2008

One of Day's lesser romantic comedies...but still worth a look

For the longest time, DO NOT DISTURB was one of the most hard-to-find Doris Day movies. This long-awaited DVD release corrects that problem, but watching the film for the first time the other night, it became all-too-clear why this comedy caper took it's time getting to home video.

It's just not that funny.

The charm of Doris Day could save even the most turgid movie ("Julie", "It's a Great Feeling"), so DO NOT DISTURB is watchable if only for her delightful screen presence. The plot reads as follows: Janet Harper (Day) suspects her business-minded husband Mike (Rod Taylor) of fooling around with his female assistant. In order to make him jealous, Janet's landlady Vanessa (Hermione Baddeley) invents a "lover" for Janet, but the plan spirals into farce when Janet is whisked off to Paris by handsome antique dealer Paul (Sergio Fantoni). When Mike learns of Janet's disappearance, he follows and later discovers Janet and Paul in a very compromising position!

Just your average sex farce storyline, that was played far more stylishly in "Lover Come Back" with Day and Rock Hudson 4 years earlier. Day and Rod Taylor share a solid chemistry, though, and would be paired again the following year in "The Glass Bottom Boat".

A highlight of the Doris Day romantic comedies from this period are Day's trendy wardrobe of clothes, but even those are very ordinary in DO NOT DISTURB. Day was dressed here by Ray Aghayan for the very first time (he later did her clothes for both "Move Over, Darling" and "Caprice"), but he costumes Day in some dreadful tweedy coats and a tangerine-coloured evening dress which is cut in a most unflattering way for Day's figure.

The DVD of DO NOT DISTURB is packaged very nicely with a smart assortment of bonus features. "The Rise of Doris Day" briefly touches on Day's rise in showbusiness and her early singing background; "Doris Day's Best Friends" explores the various animal awareness organizations in which Day still actively works. "The Extra Prince: Michael Romanoff" gives a fascinating look at the Hollywood bit-player and royal imposter who later founded Romanoff's Restaurant. "The Music Man: Mort Garson" explores the life and career of the composer who later broke new ground with Moog music. There are also restoration comparisons, trailers and photo galleries for DO NOT DISTURB plus ones for "Move Over, Darling" and "Caprice" (both sold separately).

(Single-sided, dual-layer disc). December 10, 2007

Accurate Title

Do Not Disturb is a frothy and light romance starring the lovely Doris Day and the charming Rod Taylor. There was one thing about this movie that prevented me from fully enjoying it, however, and it took me a while to pinpoint what is was. Surprisingly enough, it was Miss Day herself. She seems to be taking the dizzy blonde American character to an extreme here, and comes across as trying too hard (almost frenetic in the last half) throughout the entire film. Rod Taylor, on the other hand, appears as relaxed and effortless as ever. The chemistry the two demonstrate in The Glass Bottom Boat is sadly not in play here, and the movie suffers for it. Great Sixties fashion and snappy dialogue still need well-rounded characters to provide that special interplay that can draw in repeat viewers. Only for hard-core Day or Taylor fans, although perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon while flipping through magazines. August 31, 2007

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