Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? (1968) User Reviews

Doris betrayed

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 4 May 2013]

Although Where Were You When The Lights Went Out is based on a French sex farce I doubt the original play was anything like this film. Especially since there is no French equivalent for Doris Day, no such thing as a virgin, an all French version on their big screen.

I well remember the 1965 blackout on the East Coast, just settling down to dinner with my parents and everything electric went out. But we didn't have half the adventures this cast had.

Doris plays herself essentially, an actress with an All American virgin image locked into a long running play with neurotic director Terry-Thomas at the helm and married to Patrick O'Neal an architect. When the blackout strikes there's no evening performance and Doris returns home to find O'Neal with magazine writer Lola Albright who had been doing a feature interview with them before she left for the theater.

In the meantime a jealous Robert Morse being passed over for promotion by his boss Robert Emhardt's idiot son steals two million in cash, something he had been planning for a while. The blackout puts a real crimp into his getaway plan.

All the principle players manage to wind up at Doris and Pat's Connecticut home and the bedroom comedy begins.

It wasn't the Code that put a damper on this film, it was rather Doris Day and the studio's attempt to remain true to the virginal image that her public expected. This was one of those films toward the end of her career that her husband Marty Melcher put her in to recoup monies he had made bad investments with, her money.

Where Were You When The Lights Went Out has not worn well over the years. Doris was carrying a heavy load here.

Pants down farce

[dsewizzrd-1 · 7/10 · 7 April 2016]

Doris Day and Patrick O'Neal are husband and wife in this permissive comedy based on a stage play with Terry-Thomas as a stinker, playing a Hungarian but apparently with received pronunciation.

A young man is passed over for promotion by the bosses stupid son so he hatches a plan to steal the companies dividends. When there is a black out in New York, he has difficulty escaping and ends up sleeping with Doris Day.

Its a jolly and pretty well made film and I'm don't really understand all the negative comments. Perhaps because it's a foreign script, or because it's not dripping in gee-schucks All-American schmaltz like the other Doris Day films ?

Product placements - Kodak, The New York Times and Pan- Am. The Kaiser Group (Checker) provided the vehicles, an S series Valiant breaking down.

A Fairly Standard Comedy for This Particular Time Period

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 25 June 2021]

On November 9, 1965 much of the eastern seaboard suffered a power outage and this included huge sections of New York City. To that effect, this film involves several fictional characters who had their lives severely impacted by this development. The first character by the name of "Waldo Zane" (Robert Morse) who works as the treasurer for a large corporation and has just stolen $2 million from it. His escape plan, however, didn't factor in a massive blackout and because of that he winds up at a house in Connecticut trying to get transportation to Boston. In the meantime, an actress on Broadway named "Margaret Garrison" (Doris Day) has had her play cancelled due to the electric shortage and upon heading back to her apartment finds her husband "Peter Garrison" (Robert O'Neal) alone with an attractive journalist by the name of "Roberta Lane" (Lola Albright). Furious at his indiscretion she decides to cancel her planned retirement and heads to her house in Connecticut to consider a divorce. Delighted with this new development her manager "Ladislaus Walichek" (Terry-Thomas) immediately gets in his car and also heads to Connecticut in order to get her to sign a new contract before she changes her mind. Meanwhile, Peter--who is desperate to get back in good graces with his wife--decides to drive to Connecticut to beg for her forgiveness. What he isn't prepared for, however, is the turmoil created when all of the characters show up at his house at around the same time. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an okay film which had a fairly entertaining plot but was diminished somewhat by rather flat performances by everyone involved. It also didn't help to have the character of Peter Garrison being as unlikeable as he was either. In any case, those interested in a standard comedy from this particular time period might find it amusing to a certain extent and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

always a great day with doris day!

[atdtsaudtcom · 23 October 2003]

this movie was next to the very last movie that miss day made....it has been criticized as being a terrible movie....i disagree....this movie has some very funny moments, mostly because of miss day but the cast is not bad.....most of miss day`s movies around this time were being laughed off with doris being wrongfully accused of trying to hold on to her virginity which was groundless because really if they were to examine miss day`s films, she actually was married in most of her films including this movie " where were you when the lights went out?" so really all those tired jokes about her playing a virgin all the time were and are, erroneous...while this movie is not the best movie she ever made, she still gives it her all and it is indeed worth watching and so interesting to see miss day take a movie such as this and milk it into a pleasing comedy, which, is a tribute to her talent and professionalism...have a great day with doris day!!

Hollywood Comedy with Doris DAY

[ZeddaZogenau · 6/10 · 15 February 2024]

Doris DAY and the New York City blackout

What a pitty! Due to a gigantic power outage in NYC, the play by Broadway star Maggie Garrison (Doris Day), who despite her advanced age is still marketed as a "maid of honor" in Hollywood, unfortunately has to be canceled. It's just a shame that Maggie catches her husband (Patrick O'' Neal) at home in the act with a gossip journalist (Lola Albright) who had interviewed her just a few hours before. Full of anger, Maggie rushes off to her own country house. Through unfortunate coincidences, she meets the sleazy Waldo (Robert Morse), who has just relieved his employer of a bunch of money. As is the case with Doris Day (1922-2019), hair-raising complications now arise that slightly skirt the taste barrier. At some point her Broadway director (Terry-Thomas) shows up, who has a cute little peeping Tom peephole in Maggie's dressing room. There are things!

This comedy, which was somewhat too disfigured by the 1968 zeitgeist, was to be Doris Day's penultimate feature film. Unfortunately, she didn't dare to really restart her career as Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate". Time had probably simply passed over this great comedienne a bit.

In general, Doris Day, who could have celebrated her 100th birthday in just a few weeks, had a lot to look forward to in the following years. Her husband Martin Melcher (1915-1968) had died before the premiere of "When the Light Goed Out" and had paid off her entire film fees for the last two decades. In addition, without her knowledge, he had signed a contract with CBS for a television show (Doris Day Show), which then ran successfully for several years.

This MGM production is certainly not Doris Day's best film, but her appearance ennobles every joke!

Where was Doris when her manager approved this script?

[moonspinner55 · 3/10 · 23 June 2007]

Stagy adaptation of Claude Magnier's 1956 French play of the same name incorporates the New York City blackout of 1965 into a stagnant roundelay involving an actress, her husband, an agent plus a young embezzler. Dim comedy doesn't even utilize the central calamity for pointed jokes about life in the Big Apple, instead becoming a strained sitcom plunked down in suburbia. Doris Day never lets a bad script get the best of her; even under the most trying of circumstances, the star gives 100% and usually comes out unscathed. Spoofing her own goody-two-shoes image, Doris gets some laughs later in the picture when she's meant to be (comically) sedated; however, Day's male co-stars (Patrick O'Neal, Robert Morse and Terry-Thomas) are not well-suited to her, and neither is the shapeless hairdo she's sporting. For her part, Doris was quick to dismiss the film as "an alleged comedy", noting it was one of several pictures her husband-manager signed her to without her consent. *1/2 from ****

I thoroughly agree with you, Doris!

[JohnHowardReid · 3/10 · 7 June 2017]

An utterly uncharming and witless comedy built upon what should have been a very promising idea. The producers probably realized what a turkey they had on their hands because they have obviously added in a few scenes (all those with Ben Blue for sure) after the film was finished. But unfortunately they're just as bad if not worse than the rest of the film. The script was strained and uninspired to start off with, but in the hands of the flat-fisted, ham-footed Mr Hy Averback, it becomes a monster of boredom, embarrassment and wasted talent. Not that some of the players display much talent in this pic. Terry Thomas is incredibly hammy and energetically unfunny, Mr. Morse goes through his part like a sleepwalker and Mr. O'Neal acts like a petulant vacuum cleaner salesman. Miss Day, observed through Ellsworth Fredricks soft-focused camera, is much the same as usual though she doesn't get to sing a note. Even a sometimes reliable actor like Robert Emhardt overacts atrociously. His "son" is not bad though, and we get a glimpse of columnist Earl Wilson too.

OTHER VIEWS: This alleged "comedy" was the worst film I ever made. — Doris Day.

Where were Doris Day's senses when she agreed to be in this film?

[TheLittleSongbird · 4/10 · 30 July 2017]

Okay, 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' is not as awful as the review summary implies but it is not a good representation of Doris Day's (nor the rest of the talented cast's) talents. Seriously the amount of talent here is enormous but sadly it is not used well.

Saw 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' as somebody who loves Day and as part of my completest quest seeing the rest of her not yet seen. While there are a couple more to go, 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' to me is definitely one of Day's worst films (apparently even Day herself thought so) in a career that did see some wonderful films and near-classics, 'Calamity Jane' and 'Pillow Talk' are my two favourites of hers. It is really a film only to be seen if like me you like Day and want to see all her films.

While she has given better performances Day is the best thing about the film, even though she spent most of its production in traction following a back injury (what the film is most notable for). There is the sense that she knew that the script was not good and that the film, writing and character she plays were beneath her (also think that she did this against her will, then again that's probably just me), but Day was always an effervescent and conscientious performer who always gave her all regardless of the quality of the material or the genre, and she does show charm and decent comic timing here.

The film is hardly cheap-looking, not lavish but there is a simple elegance. 'Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?' does boast a few very funny moments, though these moments are too far and between.

However, Hy Averback directs unimaginatively and, despite being talented performers, the supporting cast are not worthy of Day and struggle with very poorly written characters and an insipid script with a bad mix of overplaying and blandness. Patrick O'Neal is a vacuous and wooden leading man, sharing very little genuine chemistry with Day. Robert Morse goes through the motions and looks truly uninterested, on the other side of the spectrum Terry-Thomas tries to play it for laughs but this is one painfully hammy performance from him.

Despite a few moments, the script as said is insipid and borderline dumb. Nothing is hilarious here and hardly any of it is sophisticated or insightful. The story is horribly contrived and muddled and also suffers from a turgid pace and a staginess. The ending feels tacked on and doesn't feel right with the rest of the film.

Overall, a disappointment as a Doris Day vehicle and as an overall film. 4/10 Bethany Cox

What an actress!

[mbang-1 · 8/10 · 24 August 2005]

Doris Day has always been fun to watch as she brings her characters to life on the screen. She can play such a broad scheme of emotions, often switching gears in a second. She was particularly delightful as Maggie Garrison, the very happily married wife of Peter Garrison. Then they hit a bump in their relationship--the same night that the the power goes off in New York and the NE part of the country. Maggie retreats to their country home and Peter follows. But this is made more challenging by the loss of power and all the people stranded everywhere. Doris Day is at her funniest when her husband finally does catch up with her and she's so sleepy she can't stay awake. Various coincidences and misunderstandings add up to an amusing and enjoyable film. Also of note is Steve Allen's performance as the Radio Announcer and it was fun to see Pat Paulsen as the Conductor. Both of these characters contributed to the atmosphere during the blackout. It's interesting to note how these New Yorkers in the 1960s handled the power outage, now that we've experienced 9/11.

One of Doris Day's worst comedies uses thin material...

[Doylenf · 4/10 · 1 October 2006]

Only the most ardent DORIS DAY fan could find this one even bearable to watch. When one thinks of the wealth of material available for a story about New York City's most famous blackout, a film that could have dealt with numerous real-life stories of what people had to cope with, this scrapes the bottom of the barrel for lack of story-telling originality.

Once again Doris is indignant because she suspects she may have been compromised on the night of the blackout when she returned to her Connecticut lodgings, took a sleeping potion and woke up in the morning with a man who had done the same, wandering into the house by mistake.

Nobody is able to salvage this mess--not Doris, not ROBERT MORSE, TERRY-THOMAS, PATRICK O'NEAL or LOLA ALBRIGHT. As directed by Hy Averback, it's the weakest vehicle Day found herself in, committed to do the film because of her husband's machinations and unable to get out of it. Too bad.

Well hello Peter.... so your here

[edluvsday · 8 May 2001]

The story of this movie seems to be a set up for Doris Day's last film ( she actually had one after it ). Doris plays Margaret Garrison a stage actress who constantly gets type cast as a virgin ( hmmmm any similarity to what happened to Doris in real life??). While giving an interview for playboy magazine Margaret spills the beans that she would like to have a baby.... Well her hubby does something naughty and Doris goes running for the home in the country. Doris Day's performance is engaging.. especially when she is medicated !! Although Doris was forced into this movie by her manager husband ( her husband had lost all of her money in bad investments ) it is a delightful 60's film. So set a Sunday afternoon aside and hope that the lights wont go out when you put in the video!!

Scraping the bottom of the barrel

[Ambak · 1/10 · 25 May 2014]

Doris Day made some pretty bad movies in the final years of her film career, but nothing comes close to this piece of garbage. It is no surprise to learn that Doris was forced to make it by Marty Melcher for the money, there could be no other incentive. Miscast actors made to behave in totally idiotic ways while mouthing inane dialogue may be some peoples idea of "comedy", but this truly is bottom of the barrel stuff. Terry-Thomas tries about one line of a Hungarian accent, then forgets about it for the rest of the movie, Patrick O'Neal looks as though he's walked on to the wrong set at the studio, the direction is virtually non existent, the music is awful and who knew you could get so much light from a couple of candles? This was the only DD movie not in my collection and it is by a large margin the absolute nadir of her career.

She should have been at her divorce attorney's!

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 27 June 2020]

This really has little to do with the infamous blackout of 1965 than a ridiculous story where a famous Broadway actress (Doris Day, who never appeared on Broadway), known as "the eternal virgin", questions her chastity when she goes on a drunken bender at her Connecticut home after believing that her husband Patrick O'Neal was cheating on her. It just so happens that a corporate head accountant Robert Morse happens to pop into her house to borrow the phone while she's having drunken hallucinations, and when her husband shows up, he believes the worst. The arrival of Day's sleazy agent (Terry-Thomas) makes things worse when he convinces Morse to lie on his behalf because he wants to have a fling with Doo-Dah himself!

A tacky story starts off pretty funny with some interesting ideas of how regular New Yorkers and those stranded there dealt with the 12 hour blackout, but they really should have come up with a better script. Morse has a very funny pre-credit sequence where he manages to somehow avoid accidents along the busy sidewalks and streets of New York where his inabiity to pay attention nearly gets him killed, but instead creates chaos for everyone else around him. (An interesting visual considering how big city streets are navigated 50 years later....) What starts off promising (in spite of that dreadful title song) turns ridiculous and eye rolling as the situations just go from absolutely ridiculous to cringe worthy.

In spite of the way Doris was forced to do this charmless comedy, she comes off unscathed, gaining laughs and sympathy, the first for her over-the-top drunken sequence, and the second for the wretched script that she has been handed. The men in the story are not so lucky with Morse's character an obvious embezzler who somehow gets away with it, and O'Neal a complete cheat. Terry-Thomas is the unluckiest of all, his character amoral and creepy beyond reproach. Poor Thomas had to deal with cracks about his dental work in addition to playing a character who was probably disowned by his parents. This is not Doris's worst film (that would be "Caprice"), but I do rank it as her number two, in more ways than one.

Nothing was Brighter than Doris Day

[Natswanson · 8/10 · 8 May 2021]

There was a time when you could send $25 to Doris Day's animal foundation, and she'd send you an autographed picture. Well, my dog was a cute shelter terrier that I named Griffin, and since this was one of my favorite films, I asked and she agreed to sign her picture "Where Were You and Griffin When the Lights Went Out?"

I like this movie. I even found the movie poster for this film at an antique shop in Myrtle Beach. It's rather cool with Ms. Day posing as if she is the Statue of Liberty.

I paid only $8 for it. It's the only thing I remember from that specific beach trip. I also own the video. I don't think the film can air right now due to legal stuff.

I have watched it a dozen times. It's a feel good movie. It has a lot of nice, fun people in it, even in the minor roles. This includes Steve Allen, Pat Paulson, Jim Backus, Ben Blue, Robert Emhardt and Morgan Freeman in an uncredited role.

About Doris Day.....she was gifted, versatile, and very underrated. Groucho Marx once said he knew Doris before she was a virgin. He was referring to her sunny, innocent girl next door image--which gets the one-two punch in this film, to great effect. Day plays a Broadway actress starring in the Constant Virgin, and most of the film discusses whether she sullied her marriage and herself by sleeping with Robert Morse during the NYC blackout from 1965.

This movie isn't Shakespeare. Just relax and enjoy the goings on. Turn back your mental clock to 1968. It's a well remembered time when people drove big Chrysler convertibles. Plus, Lola Albright wears a dark wig and seduces Patrick O Neal with the line "I like big buildings." The Letterman sing the catchy title tune, I wish they would have put it on their LPs from that period. Terry-Thomas and Robert Morse comment on the space between their teeth. Discussing failed dental work between these two actors was entirely unexpected.

Some of the reviews in this group suggest the movie is terrible and Day's star was in decline. They are not being fair. I believe people stay away from terrible movies and terrible movies lose money. This movie was actually a big earner in 1968. Yes, It's true that this is Day's next to last film before she went to TV. However, her last film "With Six You Get Eggroll" was released later in the same year AND was more profitable than this one.

In defense of Ms. Day's star power, the business did not leave Day. She left the business. All good things eventually end. The world is now less bright without Day.

Formulaic

[MrDeWinter · 10/10 · 9 November 2021]

The only funny scenes are the ones with Doris Day and Robert Morse. Patrick O'Neal is miscast and stiff like a stick. Terry-Thomas on the other hand is a joy to watch trying to manipulate everyone. Shame that Doris Day was still playing the forgiving wife in 1968. Wasn't even addressed. All of a sudden we see her on the way to the hospital expecting.