Pillow Talk (film)

Infobox Film
name = Pillow Talk


image_size =
caption = Theatrical poster
director = Michael Gordon
producer = producer = Ross Hunter
Martin Melcher
writer = Russell Rouse
Maurice Richlin
Stanley Shapiro
Clarence Greene
starring = Doris Day
Rock Hudson
music = Frank De Vol
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Universal International Pictures
released = October 7, 1959
runtime = 98 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:38140
imdb_id = 0053172

"Pillow Talk" is a 1959 romantic comedy film directed by Michael Gordon. It features Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter and Nick Adams. The film was written by Russell Rouse, Maurice Richlin, Stanley Shapiro and Clarence Greene.

The film won the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Doris Day), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Thelma Ritter), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

This is the first of three movies in which Day, Hudson and Randall starred together, the other two being "Lover Come Back" and "Send Me No Flowers".

ynopsis

Jan Morrow (Doris Day) is a successful, content, self-reliant interior decorator who lives in New York City. She lives alone and claims to be quite happy, when questioned on that subject by her drunken housekeeper, Alma (Thelma Ritter). Due to the state of the telephone company's development, she has to use a party line, which she shares with Brad Allen (Rock Hudson), a talented, creative Broadway composer and playboy.

Jan and Brad, who have never met, develop a feud over the use of the party line, as Brad is constantly using the phone to chat with one young woman after another, singing to each of them an "original" love song supposedly written just for them, though he only changes the name or language he sings in. Jan and Brad bicker over the party line, with Brad suggesting that the single Jan is jealous of his popularity.

One of Jan's clients is millionaire Jonathan Forbes (Tony Randall), who repeatedly throws himself at her but to no avail. Unknown to Jan, Jonathan is Brad's old college buddy and current Broadway benefactor.

One evening in a nightclub, Brad finally sees Jan in person. Attracted to her, he fakes a Texan accent and invents a new persona: Rex Stetson, wealthy rancher from Texas. He succeeds in wooing Jan, and the pair begin seeing each other regularly. Jan cannot resist bragging about new beau on the phone to Brad Allen, while Brad teases Jan by suggesting that "Rex" is not all he appears to be.

When Jonathan finds out what Brad has done, he forces Brad to leave New York and go to Jonathan's cabin in Connecticut to finish his work writing new songs. Brad uses the opportunity to secretly ask Jan to go away with him, and she does. Once there, romance is in the air until Jan stumbles upon a copy of Rex's sheet music. She plays the melody on a piano and recognizes the tune. She confronts Brad angrily and ignores his attempts at explanation, leaving with Jonathan who has arrived just in time to take her back to New York.

Once Brad returns to New York, Jonathan is pleased to learn that he has truly fallen in love with Jan. Brad turns to Alma for advice, and she suggests he hire Jan to decorate his apartment. Brad does, and Jan redecorates his apartment in the most gaudy and obscenely cheesy manner possible. Seeing the results, Brad storms over to Jan's apartment and carries her back to his place, claiming that it's customary to carry the bride over the threshold. When Jan realizes that he had meant to propose to her, she locks the door and the pair embrace.

Cast

* Doris Day as Jan Morrow
* Rock Hudson as Brad Allen
* Tony Randall as Jonathan Forbes
* Thelma Ritter as Alma
* Nick Adams as Tony Walters
* Julia Meade as Marie
* Allen Jenkins as Harry
* Marcel Dalio as Mr. Pierot

Trivia

When Brad is carrying Jan out of her apartment, a board is visible on which she is supported. After many takes, Hudson's arms were hurting, so they created a sling which held Day in a crate-like device and hooked over Hudson's shoulders to evenly distribute her weight.

ongs

Doris Day sings three songs in the film: "Pillow Talk" during the opening credits, "Roly Poly" in the piano bar with Hudson, and "Possess Me" on the drive up to Jonathan's cabin. Singer Perry Blackwell performs two songs in the piano bar: "I Need No Atmosphere," and "You Lied" -- a song directed at Hudson's character, Brad.

ee also

* Down With Love, a 2003 film that parodies elements of "Pillow Talk".

External links

*
* [http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/24/pillowtalk1.html Article on "Pillow Talk"] - Bright Lights Film Journal
* [http://www.dorisday.net/pillow_talk.html Article on "Pillow Talk"] - DorisDay.Net