The Thrill of It All! (1963)
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86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(4,493 ratings)
This amusing romantic comedy concerns Dr. Gerald Boyer (James Garner), a successful gynecologist with a wife and two children. Wife Beverly (Doris Day) focuses on maintaining the household and watching the kids. One of Gerald's patients, Mrs. Fraleigh (Arlene Francis), overhears Beverly talking… More This amusing romantic comedy concerns Dr. Gerald Boyer (James Garner), a successful gynecologist with a wife and two children. Wife Beverly (Doris Day) focuses on maintaining the household and watching the kids. One of Gerald's patients, Mrs. Fraleigh (Arlene Francis), overhears Beverly talking up a new product she's discovered called 'Happy Soap' - whose manufacturer just happens to be Mrs. Fraleigh's father-in-law, Old Tom Fraleigh (Reginald Owen). She introduces Beverly to him; hugely impressed, the old man offers her $80,000 a year to pitch a new product called "Happy Soap." Beverly's career takes her away from her family responsibilities and causes a series of comedic commotions for Gerald and the kids. He comes home from work one morning and accidentally drives his convertible into a freshly dug swimming pool ordered by Beverly without his knowledge. The furious physician throws a bevy of boxes of Happy Soap into the pool, causing the house to be engulfed in suds by morning (which the kids mistake for snow). The family maid Olivia (Zasu Pitts) is nearly driven crazy with the events and has many harried scenes of comedic frustration. Directed by Norman Jewison, this thouroughly engaging comedy was written by Larry Gelbart and Carl Reiner. Reiner provides the screenplay for the feature which turned out to be the last film appearance of Zasu Pitts. With her passing marked the end of a long and successful career as a comedic and well respected actress that began in 1917. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Directed By
- Norman Jewison
- Genres
- Romance, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jul 17, 1963 Wide
- On DVD
- Feb 4, 2003
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Ultimately it is in the design and engineering of cumulative sight gag situations that Thrill of It All excels.
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, Time Out
Frothy romantic comedy with Garner taking over from Rock Hudson as Day's foil.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
I don't want to give you the impression that The Thrill of It All is a great film. I just want to tell you it is loaded with good, clean American laughs.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Another in a surprisingly good series of romantic comedies starring Doris Day from producers Ross Hunter and Martin Melcher.
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, Film4
Not exactly the most biting satire on gender roles/the power of advertising, but mildy amusing all the same.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Doris Day
as Beverly Boyer
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James Garner
as Dr. Gerald Boyer
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Arlene Francis
as Mrs. Fraleigh
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Edward Andrews
as Gardiner Fraleigh
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Zasu Pitts
as Olivia maid
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Reginald Owen
as Old Tom Fraleigh
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Elliott Reid
as Mike Palmer
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Alice Pearce
as Woman in Car
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Kym Karath
as Maggie Boyer
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Brian Nash
as Andy Boyer
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Lucy Landau
as Mrs. Goethe
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Paul Hartman
as Dr. Taylor
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Hayden Rorke
as Billings yes man
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Alex Gerry
as Stokely
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Robert Gallaer
as Van Camp
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Anne Newman
as Miss Thompson
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Burt Mustin
as Butler
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Hedley Mattingly
as Chauffeur
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Robert Strauss
as 1st Truck Driver
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Maurice Gosfield
as Truck Driver
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William Bramley
as Driver
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Pamela Curran
as Starlet
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Herbie Faye
as Man
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Lenny Kent
as Cabbie
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John Alderman
as Mr. Caputo
- Carl Reiner
- Lennie Weinrib
