Doctor, Youve Got to Be Kidding!

Plot

Heather Halloran is about to give birth to a baby, chased after by three men who want to marry her. Before the birth happens, we flashback to the events that led to her becoming pregnant. Her mother wants Heather to be a singing star. She goes to work as a secretary for a rich man, Harlan Wycliff, and falls in love with him, but he does not want her to sing.

Cast

Production

The film was based on the debut novel by Los Angeles writer Patte Lee Mahan, Three for the Wedding, published in 1965. The Los Angeles Times called it "a highly entertaining and amusing book." Film rights were bought by Trident Productions, a company established by director Delbert Mann, producer Douglas Laurence and writer Dale Wasserman. Mahan signed to do the screenplay and originally Charles Walters was to direct.

The film was originally entitled Three for the Wedding, then This Way Out, Please before settling on Doctor, You've Got to be Kidding.

Sandra Dee decided to do the film instead of one in London with Warren Beatty. Her co-star was George Hamilton, who at the time was having a highly publicised romance with Lynda Bird, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson.

It was Celeste Holm's first film since Bachelor Flat (1961). "It's kind of an Italian comedy set in Glendale," said Holm. "Like most Italian comedies, it's based on a tragic truth. When the film opens, a young girl is unmarried and pregnant."

It was the first film Sandra Dee made after leaving Universal Studios, where she been under exclusive contract for ten years. She hoped the role would be a transitional one for her, leading to more grown up parts.

Proposed Sequel

After the film was previewed, MGM commissioned Phillip Shuken to start writing a sequel to star Hamilton and Dee. However no sequel resulted.