102 MinutesDirected By: Michael Gordon
Written By: Stanley Shapiro and Maurice Richlin
Staring: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter, and Nick Adams
If there’s anything worse than a woman living alone, it’s a woman saying she likes it. -Alma
Synopsis
A man and woman share a telephone line and despise each other, but then he has fun by romancing her with his voice disguised.
Review
Pillow Talk was the first of three Doris Day/Rock Hudson collaborations and it’s no surprise why two more films starred the two after Pillow Talk. In this quirky romantic comedy Day and Hudson easily create a genuine chemistry that new age cinema is lucky to capture once in an entire film. There is something so natural between the two of them it’s easy to sell just about any odd-ball situation they fall into.
In Pillow Talk Doris Day’s character, Jan, is an elegant and confident business woman who is immediately put off by the corny lady’s man she shares a party line with. In fact, he annoys her to the extent that she tells her friend about it. Her male friend relays this information to a friend of his, that happens to be the annoying womanizer on the phone. What follows may not be new and surprising events, but the light hearted fun way the wool is pulled over Jan’s eyes by Brad Allen is both funny and sweet. There is something far less sincere and much more intense about the ways these kind of movies are portrayed today. Even Jan’s heartache from the deception is funny, and more importantly the inevitable happy ending is conceivable because the character’s never truly fell into hate. The step away from realism and deep pool of fiction makes these ideals easy to accept.
The charm and delightful energy Hudson and Day have makes all the obvious and corny scenes worthwhile. The entertainment and joy of the two’s mesmerizing charisma make every second of the film worth watching. The supporting roles played by Tony Randall and Thelma Ritter add a great dynamic is the crazed storyline. Tony Randall somehow makes his neurotic role hysterical, and the maid played by Thelma Ritter delivers a memorable scene that inspired the following unforgettable quote:
I’ve had hangovers before, be never one that made my hair hurt. -Brad Allen
Pillow Talk is a classic, and just like a Tiffany’s diamonds becomes more priceless with time. It’s a beloved piece of film with two of cinemas most adorable onscreen couples ever. The timeless fun and comedy is well worth a few hours of your time. And p.s. who cares about Hudson’s sexuality, he is still one of the most handsome and sexy leading men ever. I adore Pillow Talk.
Popularity: 1% [?]
They just don’t make em like they used to, no matter what genre.