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

Director: Hy Averback

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From Time Out Film Guide

A sprightly comedy, set during the great American East Coast power failure of 1965, which mercifully doesn't get all sniggery about the aftermath of the unexpected blackout (an unprecedented rise in the birthdate nine months later). Instead, it has Doris Day, gently satirising her own image, playing an actress tired of being known as 'The Constant Virgin', especially after catching her husband (O'Neal) almost in the act with a voluptuous journalist (Albright) sent to interview her. She runs off to sulk, a young business executive (Morse) runs off with his company's funds, the lights go out, and a perfectly logical series of circumstances finds the pair in bed together, happily unaware of each other's existence, when O'Neal arrives on the scene. A brilliantly funny sequence ensues as the enraged O'Neal threatens to run riot with a gun, but all the dazed 'guilty couple' want (since both are heavily sedated) is to be allowed to go back to bed. Not all of the film is as good, but the performances are superb (Morse, O'Neal and Albright, especially), and Averback's comic timing is spot on.

Author: TM 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Hy Averback

Producer: Everett Freeman, Martin Melcher

Cast: Doris Day, Robert Morse, Patrick O'Neal, Terry-Thomas, Lola Albright, Steve Allen, Jim Backus, Ben Blue, Robert Emhardt full cast

Genre(s): Comedy

Duration: 94 mins


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