Birds and the Bees, The (1956)

This Technicolor movie from Paramount Pictures – a re-make of Barbara Stanwyck’s The Lady Eve – starred George Gobel, Mitzi Gaynor and David Niven.

Gobel plays millionaire “Hotsy” Hamilton II, the hot dog king’s son who has just returned from three years “up the river” in darkest Africa in search of an extremely rare snake. On the ship home, he finds himself taken in by a card shark (Niven) and his equally tricky daughter, Jean (Gaynor).

Being an extremely susceptible young man, our hero tumbles for the lass who returns the favour, much to his chagrin. But George’s protective valet lets his employer in on the secret before Jean can tell all.

The fadeout finds the couple kissing at the door of their honeymoon stateroom.

Throughout it all, George sprinkles his Gobelisms, some new, some old. He is called upon to be uncommonly stupid but comes out with the audience’s sympathy.

George ‘Hotsy’ Hamilton II
George Gobel
Jean Harris
Mitzi Gaynor
Colonel Patrick Henry Harris
David Niven
Gerald
Reginald Gardiner
Horace Hamilton
Fred Clark
Marty Kennedy
Harry Bellaver
Duc Jacques de Montaigne
Hans Conried
Mrs Hamilton
Margery Maude
Purser
Clinton Sundberg
Assistant Butler
Milton Frome
Burrows the Butler
Rex Evans
Waiter
King Donovan
Mrs Burnside
Mary Treen
Charlie Jenkins (Bartender)
Charles Lane
Penny
Peggy Moffitt
Andre
James Scott Melville

Director
Norman Taurog