Pillow Talk (1959)
The most famous of the three Doris Day and Rock Hudson movies, Pillow Talk is a delightful escapism flick. If you try and take it too seriously, you’ll realize Rock Hudson is a world-class jerk and they’re terribly ill-suited for one another. If you just take it for what it is—a pretty piece of fluff—it’ll probably end up as one of your favorite old movies!
You youngsters out there had better get ready for a history lesson: in the olden days, people didn’t have cell phones and they didn’t even get their own landlines! They had to share on what was known as a “party line” and if the other half of the party line was on the phone, they couldn’t make or receive calls. Got it? Okay, because in Pillow Talk, Doris and Rock share a party line. He’s a playboy and she can’t stand listening to his escapades over the phone—but they’ve never met. They have a mutual friend, Tony Randall, who’s in love with Doris, but when Rock finally bumps into Doris, he makes it his mission to get her into bed. See what I mean about thinking he’s a pretty terrible person?
Anyway, the fluffy parts of the movie are cute and funny, and all the sex jokes that were scandalous at the time will probably still make you giggle. The classic line that’s oft repeated in classic movie montages is when Doris insists, “I have no bedroom problems! There’s nothing in my bedroom that bothers me,” and Rock quips back, “Oh, that’s too bad.” If you think that’s funny, you’ll probably like the rest of the movie.
Doris is given some beautiful dresses to wear in the film, showing off her beautiful figure and also showing the audience part of her character. She’s a successful, dedicated interior decorator, so it makes sense she’d give her own style the same consideration she gives to her clients. She was given her only Oscar nomination for the movie, which was ridiculous, but Thelma Ritter was also nominated for playing the same part she’d played for ten years, which was also ridiculous. If you just accept that Pillow Talk has a certain degree of ridiculousness about it, it’ll be extremely entertaining. Doris sings the song “Rolly Polly” about a fat man, and Rock laughs his head off and says, “Oh, I like that.” Just accept it, and make it your new favorite song to hate. Rock puts on a horrible Texas accent and Doris blindly accepts it because he’s handsome. Just go with it! Tony Randall is hilarious, devoted, rich, and showers her with presents, but she doesn’t want him. Just laugh along and appreciate Tony at his best.
With all the little faults, Pillow Talk is very cute. There are several of screenwriters Stanley Shapiro’s and Maurice Richlin’s hilarious lines that have made it as permanent phrases in my household, and I’m sure you’ll squeal with laughter and delight at many of them. And as a sweet bonus, Allen Jenkins has a small but memorable part; I love to see silver screen actors still employed even when they get old. Go out and buy a copy of all three Doris and Rock films and then have a marathon to see which one’s your favorite!
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Doris Day movies here!
More Thelma Ritter movies here!
You youngsters out there had better get ready for a history lesson: in the olden days, people didn’t have cell phones and they didn’t even get their own landlines! They had to share on what was known as a “party line” and if the other half of the party line was on the phone, they couldn’t make or receive calls. Got it? Okay, because in Pillow Talk, Doris and Rock share a party line. He’s a playboy and she can’t stand listening to his escapades over the phone—but they’ve never met. They have a mutual friend, Tony Randall, who’s in love with Doris, but when Rock finally bumps into Doris, he makes it his mission to get her into bed. See what I mean about thinking he’s a pretty terrible person?
Anyway, the fluffy parts of the movie are cute and funny, and all the sex jokes that were scandalous at the time will probably still make you giggle. The classic line that’s oft repeated in classic movie montages is when Doris insists, “I have no bedroom problems! There’s nothing in my bedroom that bothers me,” and Rock quips back, “Oh, that’s too bad.” If you think that’s funny, you’ll probably like the rest of the movie.
Doris is given some beautiful dresses to wear in the film, showing off her beautiful figure and also showing the audience part of her character. She’s a successful, dedicated interior decorator, so it makes sense she’d give her own style the same consideration she gives to her clients. She was given her only Oscar nomination for the movie, which was ridiculous, but Thelma Ritter was also nominated for playing the same part she’d played for ten years, which was also ridiculous. If you just accept that Pillow Talk has a certain degree of ridiculousness about it, it’ll be extremely entertaining. Doris sings the song “Rolly Polly” about a fat man, and Rock laughs his head off and says, “Oh, I like that.” Just accept it, and make it your new favorite song to hate. Rock puts on a horrible Texas accent and Doris blindly accepts it because he’s handsome. Just go with it! Tony Randall is hilarious, devoted, rich, and showers her with presents, but she doesn’t want him. Just laugh along and appreciate Tony at his best.
With all the little faults, Pillow Talk is very cute. There are several of screenwriters Stanley Shapiro’s and Maurice Richlin’s hilarious lines that have made it as permanent phrases in my household, and I’m sure you’ll squeal with laughter and delight at many of them. And as a sweet bonus, Allen Jenkins has a small but memorable part; I love to see silver screen actors still employed even when they get old. Go out and buy a copy of all three Doris and Rock films and then have a marathon to see which one’s your favorite!
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Doris Day movies here!
More Thelma Ritter movies here!