While being interviewed for the 14 Feb 1965 NYT, producer Martin Melcher announced the next film starring his wife, actress-singer Doris Day, as The Girl in the Glass Bottom Boat, for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (MGM). On 13 Apr 1965, LAT referred to the picture by its official title, The Glass Bottom Boat, noting that it would mark the screen debut of television actress Kathleen Nolan. Other casting notices include singer Jack Jones (9 Jun 1965 LAT), Maroum Hakim (17 Sep 1965 LAT), Mel Ericksen (24 Sep 1965 DV), restaurateur and reputed Russian aristocrat Mike Romanoff (25 Sep 1965 LAT), Ellen Atterbury (9 Oct 1965 LAT), Tony Regan, Shep Houghton , and Ray Lee (27 Sep 1965 DV), and the Pat Brady Trio (27 Feb 1966 LAT). The Glass Bottom Boat also marked the feature film debuts of comedian Dom De Luise and broadcast personality Arthur Godfrey, and the final film for character actress Alice Pearce, who died of cancer on 4 Mar 1966. Pearce and actor George Tobias played a married couple modeled on their characters, “Mr. and Mrs. Kravitz,” from the television series, Bewitched (ABC, 1964 – 1972). Actor Robert Vaughn made a brief appearance as secret agent “Napoleon Solo,” from his television series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (NBC, 1964 – 1968). The 24 Dec 1965 DV noted that the belch uttered in the film by “a futuristic floor-cleaner” was recorded years earlier by the late actor, Wallace Beery.
       According to the 6 Oct 1965 DV, Arthur Godfrey credited Warner Bros. president Jack L. Warner with convincing him to accept the role. Godfrey claimed to be uncomfortable playing Doris Day’s father, as his attraction to her would be apparent to audiences. Principal photography began 3 Aug 1965, as reported in the 3 Sep 1965 LAT. Godfrey took a brief hiatus to attend a horse show in Dayton, OH.
       The 6 Oct 1965 DV reported that comedian Dick Martin was commuting between Los Angeles, CA, and Lake Tahoe, NV, to fulfill his obligations to both the picture and to Harveys hotel, where he was currently performing with his stage partner, Dan Rowan.
       The 8 Oct 1965 DV noted that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) loaned its Apollo spacecraft to the production. The craft’s two-hour visit required a $200,000 insurance policy from MGM.
       An item in the 13 Oct 1965 DV stated that Doris Day performed her “Mata Hari” dance routine on a closed set with minimal crewmembers and three studio guards. The 26 Jul 1965 LAT credited dancer Frank “Killer Joe” Piro as her instructor. The 27 Oct 1965 DV reported Day’s “mermaid-like plunge” into MGM’s “Saucer Tank,” which was last used by actress Esther Williams in Jupiter’s Darling (1955, see entry). According to the 20 Jun 1966 LAT, actor Paul Lynde was required to wear an evening gown for his role as security guard “Homer Cripps.” When Lynde assumed the gown was intended for Doris Day, she insisted she would never wear anything “that feminine.”
       The 29 Oct 1965 DV announced the end of principal photography, followed by a party for the cast and crew, held 28 Oct 1965. Although he was unable to attend, Arthur Godfrey sent a six-foot-long “hero” sandwich from New York City at a cost of $168.00. Also in the package were orchids for the women, and a poem, which Doris Day read to the partygoers.
       On 13 Jan 1966, DV reported that MGM president Robert O’Brien “ordered a big exploitation campaign” after screening the film. Two weeks later, composer Frank DeVol, credited only as “DeVol,” began recording the score with a forty-seven piece orchestra, as stated in the 26 Jan 1966 DV.
       The Glass Bottom Boat opened 9 Jun 1966 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, 17 Aug 1966 in Los Angeles, and in nearly 300 other cities throughout the summer. Reviews were mixed, although several critics agreed that comedians Paul Lynde, Dom De Luise, John McGiver, and Edward Andrews were among the film’s greatest assets. According to an advertisement in the 3 Aug 1966 DV, audience response was generally positive, earning the picture nearly $250,000 in nine cities during its opening weeks.
       As reported in the 12 Feb 1967 LAT, the picture was the first to be screened by American Airlines, using the Bell & Howell Astrocolor system. It was also the third production in which Doris Day sang her signature song, “Que Sera, Sera.” A brief in the 5 Aug 1966 DV noted that the film was titled The Spy in Lace Panties for its Singapore release.