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The Thrill of It All (film)

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The Thrill of It All
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNorman Jewison
Written byLarry Gelbart (story)
Carl Reiner
Produced byRoss Hunter
Martin Melcher
StarringDoris Day
James Garner
Arlene Francis
CinematographyRussell Metty
Edited byMilton Carruth
Music byFrank De Vol
Distributed byUniversal-International
Release date
  • July 17, 1963 (1963-07-17)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$11,779,093[1]

The Thrill of It All is a 1963 romantic comedy film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Doris Day, James Garner, Arlene Francis, and ZaSu Pitts. The screenplay was written by Larry Gelbart and Carl Reiner.

Reiner had originally conceived the project for Judy Holliday, who developed cancer and had to bow out of the project, according to Reiner's reminiscence during his videotaped "Archive of American Television" interview. (Holliday died of cancer in 1965 at the age of 43.)

Plot summary

The story centers around suburban housewife Beverly Boyer and her husband, a successful obstetrician and devoted family man, Gerald. Beverly is offered the opportunity to star in a television commercial advertising Happy Soap. After a shaky start, she gets a contract for nearly $80,000 per year (about $800,000 in 2023) to appear in weekly TV commercials.

Soon the soap company places greater and greater demands on the unlikely TV star. Gerald resents the fact that the appearances are taking up an increasing amount of her time, and becomes jealous of the level of attention that her new-found stardom has brought her. Their relationship slowly deteriorates, and Gerald leaves her after unintentionally driving his 1958 Chevrolet convertible into the surprise swimming pool the soap company built where their garage used to be. Gerald later returns, only to enact psychological warfare, making Beverly jealous by pretending that he is drinking and carousing with multiple women. Beverly decides to give up her lucrative career and return to her "philandering" husband and her life as a rich doctor's housewife.

Cast

Carl Reiner, one of the two screenwriters of the film, makes brief appearances as a character actor appearing on TV in various nasty roles (World War II German Officer / Cad / Cowboy).

Production

The film was announced in 1962. Hunter wanted to reunite Nelson Eddy and Janette MacDonald by having them play support parts.[2]

Reception

The Thrill of It All was the 16th biggest hit of the year, grossing $11,779,093 domestically.[1] It earned $6 million in US theatrical rentals.[3]

Garner wrote the film was "better than it should have been... because of Doris."[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Box Office Information for The Thrill of It All. The Numbers. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  2. ^ FILMMAKER TALKS ABOUT 5 PROJECTS: Hunter, Here in Visit, Tells of MacDonald-Eddy Plan 'Tammy Takes Over' Is Next Joanne Woodward to Star British Film Opens Today 7 Vie for Golden Laurel Albert Lamorisse Visits By HOWARD THOMPSON. New York Times 16 May 1962: 33.
  3. ^ "All-Time Top Grossers", Variety, 8 January 1964 p 69
  4. ^ Garner, James; Winokur, Jon (2011). The Garner Files: A Memoir. Simon & Schuster. p. 254.


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