Ralph wrote:If you'll notice, Ray Walston and Doris played his char lady scene straight, with no comical elements at all.
Well the whole disguise is so comical and far-fetched that it becomes all the funnier that they play it straight. It's not like he's really made up like a woman to fool anybody. That's what makes the scene so funny.
As much as I get a kick out of watching this film, I must say that I don't agree it can't make up it's mind whether to be thriller or comedy, but rather that the spy parts aren't thrilling enough, and the comedic parts aren't all that funny. But somehow, I can watch it repeatedly and enjoy it. Unlike, April in Paris or Do Not Disturb which I just can't stand. (Although I do get a kick out of the party scene in DND.)
You're going to think I'm really stupid, but I just realized in the scene were they are on the bed (before he shoots her with a needle), Richard Harris does an imitation of Richard Burton. (It might be because I haven't seen very many movies with Richard Burton in them.)
She looked really beautiful, in bed, when Christopher stopped by to see how she was doing after the helecopter rescue. They have a great picture of that at IMDb under "Caprice."
Tanja, yes, there was a second unit who shot location shots of Paris for the title sequence. But that was not Doris; it was a double walking down the street and up to Eiffel Tower. The shots of her looking at her watch just before the titles start and at the ticket booth are shot in front of a rear projection.
I was just watching Caprice and I thought of the Bear Family CD Soundtrack of Frank DeVol's score for Pillow Talk, and I thought, I'd love to get one of his score for Caprice as well. I've always loved the music for this film, and hearing it in stereo on the dvd is really great. Especially the jazz piano version of the title song which plays during Patricia's & Chris' first dinner together at his house. Just beautiful.
Would anyone else buy one if they were to make it? (Not that they would, but I can dream...)
This is my take on this film. It's the same thing I wrote for my Amazon review.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
Awesome MOD Doris Day!, December 12, 2006
One thing you will notice with this very lush production is just that. IT's LUSH! Alot of money went into producing this film and it shows. Doris' favorite cinematographer, Leon Shamroy (Dr. Zivago, Glass Bottom Boat, etc) really did a great number on this film. Doris Day is one of a handfull of true film stars that did justice to the MOD look. Ray Agyahan (sp?) did the costumes as he did for Doris' Do Not Disturb and Glass Bottom Boat. They are awesome.
Just as a tidbit of info, Cher, not the singer actess, ownes many of Doris' costumes from Do Not Disturb such as the orange sequence gown, and some from Caprice. Debbie Reynolds owns many too. She owns the mermaid outfit from Glass Bottom Boat and hopefully they will display it in her new museum in Branson, MO when it gets going.
Another bit of info is that Caprice is Doris Day's last commercial recording. It was released in 1967 as a Columbia single and was backed with a nice song by Johnny Mercer called "Sorry". These are avail on different collection CD's. I guess Doris thought that her style of singing was over and she just didn't want to do it anymore. Her son, Terry Melcher said that "When she thought she was just one inch past her prime, she quit." But she wasn't past her prime, that's for sure. He tried to get her into a recording studio many times, finally succeding in 1985-6 for her "Animals Are My Best Friends" series on CBN. WOW, what a voice!
In 1966, my uncle who was an actor, took me to Twentieth Century Fox where I was able to tour the Caprice sets. They were all shut down because Doris had a pinched nerve in her back and was in the hospital in traction. The sets were somewhat dark, but sure was fun to sit on that swinging bed for a moment or two. I remember dust had formed on everything somewhat....also we went down to publicity and I was given a few stills from the film and one that was trashed, but he pulled it out for me to have....never ok'd for release. They were nearly at the point of scrapping the film because it was costing so much money while Doris Recouperated.
I believe this would have been an excellent vehicle for a second reunion with Carry Grant and Doris. This film had all the lush richness that this man would have fit into perfectly and would have given it a much more charismatic coupling than that of Richard Harris with Doris.
Doris Day was signed to do this film by her husbund Marty Melcher without her knowing. He had power of atty and frequently did this to her. She was never madder at him! A terrible verbal fight between them ensued. You will never detect this in seeing this film. That's the ultimate professionalism of this superstar.....DORIS DAY. Instead of rebelling further, she simply did nothing to promote it at all beyond what was required by the studio. One example is she did NOT attend the premire.
Also during the filming of Caprice, Richard Harris consulted Doris about singing because he intended to start a singing career at that time, and he did. She coached him! What a girl!! We will NEVER see the likes of Doris Day again. Very few people, in fact no one has all that talent in one individual...NOT LIKE THAT! And those looks! Shew.......!
Doris Day lives in Carmel, CA on a gorgeous 11 acre estate full of dogs, cats, birds, and who knows what else! She has outlived most all of her family and friends from the movie days, and is a beautiful woman in her early to mid 80's.
I declare that Doris Day is one of America's MOST PRECIOUS TREASURES. If you don't believe me, just watch her; listen to her; you'll see. Watch children discover her for the first time....or anyone. The look in their eyes and the uncontrolled smile on their faces hearing her voice. She literally touches your soul....you'll see.
"Hello. I'm Beverly Boyer, and I'm a pig."
Doris Day "The Thrill Of IT All" 1963
I do like this movie because it like a James Bond spy movie. I do like the scene when Doris is with Richard Harris in his bedroom and she injects the needle into him and she asked questions that was funny
Jboy - that is really nice. I really like Caprice. One thing no one ever asks Doris [and I would love to know] is how it was decided who would do her costumes which, post 'PillowTalk' were a big thing. Jean-Louis did great stuff for her and as noted in her book; she loved Irene - who did indeed do magnificent stuff in the likes of Lover come Back and especially in Midnight Lace - so great in those days for contempory films/ designers to get oscar nominated as Irene was for Midnight lace.
What i want to know is how much Doris had to say about the wonderful clothes - I would say quite a bit! How she found the likes of Ray Aghagan [who really took her to a new hipper look mid 1960s] etc - so many questions - and the same goes for her albums. We know 'Day by Day' were songs she [and the public] chose, however, how did the Andre Previn album come about, what did Doris think? What did he think? They were both in the compnay of genuis on this one - I am rambling - AGAIN!
Wow - I've just been reading all of your comments. I think I'm going to watch this movie again. It's been several years since I watched it and I had the opinion that its wasn't very good. As always, Doris gave her all -- but the movie was maybe so so. I'm going to give it another look.
Toni
We cannot change the cards we are dealt - just how we play the hand --- Randy Pausch
Whenever Pete and I...and the family went camping, he wore a tee shirt we gave him, with the logo " Spiderman" on the front of it! Guess who was the one that took care of the spiders.....thank goodness !
Well, Ralph -- I have not watced it again -- yet. My husband just gave me Caprice and Do Not Disturb on dvd. SOOOO -- I guess I'll have to sit down and watch them. I remember I didn't like either one of them too much when I saw them before. One of my problems with Caprice is -- I cannot stand Richard Harris ! But - I'm going into it with an open mind.
If I had to kiss him, I'd feel the same way, Doris !
We cannot change the cards we are dealt - just how we play the hand --- Randy Pausch
Toni's third picture, the 'handy man' at the movies reminds me of my experience.
When I was young, no one ever told me about inappropriate touch or what to do about it. The only thing I was taught, was to be quiet in the movie theater. One time at the movies, a man next to me started putting his hand up and down my leg. I didn't know what to do. I went and bought an ice cream bar, hoping he would leave. When I returned, he started putting his hand on my leg again. I took my ice cream bar and slammed it in his hand and told him in a whisper through my teeth to stop it. I never did tell my parents, I thought I'd get in trouble for making a disturbance or wasting money on food I didn't eat. Now whenever I see that scene from Caprice, I can laugh about it.
Barb
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