Send Me No Flowers
At one of his many visits to his doctor, hypochondriac George Kimball mistakes a dying man's diagnosis for his own and believes he only has about two more weeks to live. Wanting to take care of his wife Judy, he doesn't tell her and tries to find her a new husband. When he finally does tell her, she quickly finds out he's not dying at all (while he doesn't) and she believes it's just a lame excuse to hide an affair, so she decides to leave him.
The film earned $9.1M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Send Me No Flowers (1964) exhibits carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Norman Jewison's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
George Kimball
Judy Kimball
Arnold Nash
Bert Power
Bud Bullard
Dr. Ralph Morrissey
Winston Burr
Main Cast & Characters
George Kimball
Played by Rock Hudson
A hypochondriac businessman who mistakenly believes he's dying and sets out to find his wife a new husband.
Judy Kimball
Played by Doris Day
George's intelligent and patient wife who becomes increasingly suspicious of his strange behavior.
Arnold Nash
Played by Tony Randall
George's loyal best friend who reluctantly helps with the misguided matchmaking scheme.
Bert Power
Played by Hal March
The Kimballs' friendly neighbor who eagerly pursues Judy when given apparent permission.
Bud Bullard
Played by Clint Walker
A wealthy, handsome bachelor that George considers the ideal replacement husband for Judy.
Dr. Ralph Morrissey
Played by Edward Andrews
George's exasperated physician whose overheard conversation triggers the entire misunderstanding.
Winston Burr
Played by Paul Lynde
A flamboyant undertaker who enthusiastically helps George plan his funeral arrangements.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes George Kimball lives a comfortable suburban life with his wife Judy. He's a hypochondriac who visits his doctor regularly but is fundamentally happy and secure in his marriage.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when George overhears his doctor discussing a terminal patient and mistakenly believes he's dying. This misheard conversation shatters his sense of security and launches the central conflict.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to George makes the active choice to find a new husband for Judy before he "dies." This decision commits him to Act 2's complications and deceptions, entering a world of lies and misunderstandings., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False defeat: Judy becomes suspicious of George's strange behavior and begins to believe he's having an affair or wants to leave her. The stakes raise as the misunderstanding deepens, and what was comic becomes painful., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Judy believes George wants to end their marriage, or George's deception reaches its breaking point. The marriage itself - the "life" at the center of the story - appears to die. George faces losing everything that matters., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The truth comes out: George learns he's not dying, or Judy discovers the real reason for his behavior. New information allows both characters to see clearly, synthesizing the lesson about trust and honest communication., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Send Me No Flowers's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Send Me No Flowers against these established plot points, we can identify how Norman Jewison utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Send Me No Flowers within the comedy genre.
Norman Jewison's Structural Approach
Among the 13 Norman Jewison films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Send Me No Flowers represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Norman Jewison filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Norman Jewison analyses, see A Soldier's Story, ...And Justice for All and F.I.S.T..
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
George Kimball lives a comfortable suburban life with his wife Judy. He's a hypochondriac who visits his doctor regularly but is fundamentally happy and secure in his marriage.
Theme
George's neighbor or friend makes a comment about marriage, trust, and not taking your spouse for granted - establishing the film's exploration of how fear and miscommunication can damage even the strongest relationships.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to George and Judy's happy suburban marriage, George's hypochondria, his friendship with Arnold, and the comfortable routine of their lives. We see George's neurotic tendencies and Judy's patient tolerance.
Disruption
George overhears his doctor discussing a terminal patient and mistakenly believes he's dying. This misheard conversation shatters his sense of security and launches the central conflict.
Resistance
George grapples with his supposed terminal diagnosis, debates whether to tell Judy, and resists accepting his "fate." He consults with his friend Arnold and begins to formulate a plan for Judy's future without him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
George makes the active choice to find a new husband for Judy before he "dies." This decision commits him to Act 2's complications and deceptions, entering a world of lies and misunderstandings.
Mirror World
Introduction or deepening of George's relationship with Arnold as confidant, and the beginning of George's interference in Judy's social life as he tries to set her up with potential suitors, creating the romantic subplot that will teach him about trust.
Premise
The "fun and games" of George trying to find Judy a replacement husband. Comic sequences of him vetting candidates, engineering social situations, and becoming increasingly jealous as Judy innocently interacts with other men. The promise of a romantic comedy about misunderstanding.
Midpoint
False defeat: Judy becomes suspicious of George's strange behavior and begins to believe he's having an affair or wants to leave her. The stakes raise as the misunderstanding deepens, and what was comic becomes painful.
Opposition
The situation deteriorates as Judy's suspicions grow, George's attempts to "help" backfire, and the marriage comes under real strain. Other characters get involved, compounding the confusion. George's machinations close in on him.
Collapse
All is lost: Judy believes George wants to end their marriage, or George's deception reaches its breaking point. The marriage itself - the "life" at the center of the story - appears to die. George faces losing everything that matters.
Crisis
George's dark night as he contemplates the ruins of his marriage and realizes his mistakes. The emotional low point where he must process what his fear and deception have cost him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The truth comes out: George learns he's not dying, or Judy discovers the real reason for his behavior. New information allows both characters to see clearly, synthesizing the lesson about trust and honest communication.
Synthesis
George and Judy reconcile. He must prove his love and commitment, she must forgive his foolishness. They resolve the external complications (other suitors, misunderstandings with friends/neighbors) and reaffirm their marriage.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but with transformation: George and Judy together, but now George has learned not to let fear and neurosis undermine their relationship. The hypochondriac has learned that some things - like love - are worth trusting.