Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (1960)

An overworked theatre critic decides to quit the rat race and takes his wife and family to live in the country – a move fraught with problems.

This brash, colourful and fast-moving MGM comedy is based on Jean Kerr’s episodic reminiscences about life with hubby, ace Broadway drama critic Walter Kerr.

The couple are delightfully played by Doris Day, whose company produced this movie for Metro, and the ever-urbane David Niven, who is hilarious in the scenes where he’s pursued by panned Broadway actress Janis Paige.

Director Charles Walters maintains a fast pace and the stylish use of CinemaScope is exemplary, providing a clever cinematic contrast as Day and Niven decamp from Manhattan to a country abode.

This was one of a series of generally underrated MGM comedies, invariably directed by Walters, that included such gems as The Tender Trap (1955) and Don’t Go Near the Water.

Kate Robinson Mackay
Doris Day
Laurence Mackay
David Niven
Deborah Vaughn
Janis Paige
Suzie Robinson
Spring Byington
Alfred North
Richard Haydn
Maggie
Patsy Kelly
Joe Positano
Jack Weston
Reverend Norman McQuarry
John Harding
Mona James
Margaret Lindsay
Mary Smith
Carmen Phillips
Mrs Hunter
Mary Patton
David Mackay
Charles Herbert
Gabriel Mackay
Stanley Livingston
George Mackay
Flip Mark
Adam Mackay
Baby Gellert

Director
Charles Walters

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