The 3 Jan 1962 Var announced the provisionally titled Tammy Takes Over as actress Sandra Dee’s next film in the “Tammy” series. Later that month, the 27 Jun 1962 Var stated the official title as Tammy and the Doctor.
       According to the 2 Aug 1962 DV, Universal-International Pictures constructed a hospital set for the film, modeled after a recently-built wing of Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, CA. The set, which “visiting doctors” deemed suitable for emergency surgery, included operating rooms, an admissions office, and patients’ quarters, along with a “washup room,” doctors’ offices, and a maternity ward. A separate set was built for nurses’ quarters. Principal photography began 9 Jul 1962, as stated in the 8 Aug 1962 Var.
       The 26 Jun 1962 LAT noted that producer Ross Hunter spent every night of the previous week visiting small theaters around the Los Angeles area, from which he cast twenty-three aspiring actors with no previous screen experience. Other cast members included Henry Hunter and Bob Biheller (30 Jul 1962 DV); Janice Carroll (3 Aug 1962 DV); Barbara Gayle and David Crawford (9 Aug 1962 DV); and Mimi Dillard (23 Apr 1964 Los Angeles Sentinel). The picture marked the screen debuts of Peter Fonda and Mitzi Hoag. Also featured was Dale Hogan, a former Universal Studios nurse who was type-cast in the picture, as noted in the 20 Jul 1962 DV. An item in the 11 Jul 1962 Var reported that composer Percy Faith was assigned to write the score; he was later replaced by Universal staff composer and arranger Frank Skinner.
       The 20 Aug 1962 DV estimated the final budget at $730,000. A summer 1963 release was planned. Six months later, the 20 Feb 1963 Var noted that the film was in the final stages of post-production.
       The 13 Feb 1963 Var reported that Sandra Dee and Peter Fonda were scheduled to appear the following month at the United Theater Owners (UTO) Show-a-Rama convention. In addition to a pre-release screening of Tammy and the Doctor, Dee would be cited as “Star of the Year,” and Fonda would be recognized as “most promising young actor.”
       The 15 May 1963 Var announced the 29 May 1963 world premiere at the Palace Theatre in Dallas, TX. A “Miss Tammy Student Nurse Personality Contest,” sponsored by the University of Dallas, solicited entries from fourteen neighboring cities. The winner was to be flown to Dallas for the premiere.
       An article in the 15 May 1963 Var listed Tammy and the Doctor among a group of Universal first-run releases to be screened on Trans World Airlines (TWA) flights throughout the month. The 22 May 1963 edition noted a cross-promotional agreement between the film and the Colgate-Palmolive Company. The 29 May 1963 Var mentioned another cross promotion, involving Sandra Dee’s sponsorship of a “1963 Miss Firefighter” trophy, to be presented at the Columbus, OH, Firefighters’ Ball.
       Tammy and the Doctor opened on 12 Jun 1963 in Los Angeles, and on 26 Jun 1963 in New York City. Reviews were lukewarm to negative, with the 6 May 1963 DV describing the picture as “flimsy.” Nevertheless, it was awarded the Parents magazine Family Medal for June 1963.
       Later that summer, the 18 Sep 1963 Var revealed that the film was a commercial disappointment. It also marked Sandra Dee’s final appearance as “Tammy.”