Today’s classic song of the day is “Move Over Darling” and it was the theme song from the 1963 movie of the same name. Move Over Darling, the movie, starred James Garner, Polly Bergen, and Doris Day, and the song was sung by Ms. Day in the movie and on record.
“Move Over Darling,” the song, was written by Doris Day’s son Terry Melcher, along with Hal Kanter (co-writer of the film’s screenplay) and English songwriter Joe Lubin. The great Jack Nitzsche did the arrangement. It kind of has an early-60s Girl Group sound, with somewhat suggestive lyrics for the time—which got it banned from some squeamish radio stations back then. Unfortunately, the song failed to chart in the U.S. but peaked at #8 on the UK charts—and was #1 in Hong Kong.
Move Over Darling, the movie, was a romantic comedy directed by Michael Gordon, with a screenplay by Hal Kanter and Jack Sher. The movie is about a woman (Doris Day) who is thought lost when her plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Five years later, her husband (James Garner) seeks to declare her legally dead so he can remarry (to Polly Bergen). Turns out Doris is still alive and recently rescued from the deserted island where she spent the intervening years (with hunk Chuck Connors). The plot, quite naturally, involves Doris trying to annul the new marriage and regain her rightful place as James’ wife. (Interestingly, the film was originally to be a vehicle for Marilyn Monroe and Dean Martin, titled Something’s Got to Give, but that all changed when the iconic actress was fired for never showing up for work.)
“Move Over Darling,” the song, had a bit of a renaissance in 1983 when British singer/comedian Tracey Ullman included it on her debut album, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places. Tracey’s version leans even more into the Girl Group vibe and was a highlight on the album of covers. (You probably know the album for its big hit, a rousing cover of Kirsty MacColl’s “They Don’t Know.”)
