Pillow Talk is a
1959The year 1959 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* The Three Stooges make their 190th and last short film, Sappy Bullfighters.*September 18 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx marries his second wife, Barbara Blakely....
romantic comedy filmRomantic comedy films are movies with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as a true love able to surmount most obstacles...
directed by
Michael GordonMichael Gordon was an American stage actor and stage and film director.Born in Baltimore, he was a member of the Group Theatre , and was blacklisted as a Communist in the days of McCarthyism. He later joined the faculty of the UCLA Theatre Arts Department...
. It features
Rock HudsonRock Hudson was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1960s and 1970s, most notably in several romantic comedies with his most famous co-star, Doris Day...
,
Doris DayDoris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff , known by her stage name Doris Day, is an American singer and actress.With the versatility to sing, dance, and play comedy and dramatic roles, she became one of America's biggest box-office stars. Day has 39 movies to her credit, even though she retired from films in...
,
Tony RandallTony Randall was an American actor , comic, producer and director.-Early years :Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, who was an art and antiques dealer...
,
Thelma RitterThelma Ritter was an American supporting and character actress from the 1940s until her death in 1969.-Early life:...
and Nick Adams. The film was written by
Russell RouseRussell Rouse was an American screenwriter, director, and producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality"of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s....
,
Maurice RichlinMaurice Richlin was an American Academy Award-winning screenwriter....
,
Stanley ShapiroStanley Shapiro was an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter and producer responsible for three of Doris Day's most successful films....
and
Clarence GreeneClarence Greene was an American screenwriter and film producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s....
.
The film won the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay, and was nominated for
Best Actress in a Leading RolePerformance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
(Doris Day),
Best Actress in a Supporting RolePerformance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
(Thelma Ritter),
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, ColorThe Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999...
(
Richard H. RiedelRichard H. Riedel was an American art director. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film Pillow Talk.-External links:...
,
Russell A. GausmanRussell A. Gausman was an American set decorator. He was won two Academy Awards and was nominated for five more in the category Best Art Direction...
,
Ruby R. LevittRuby R. Levitt was an American set decorator. She was nominated for four Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.-Selected filmography:Levitt was nominated for four Academy Awards for Best Art Direction:...
) and
Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy PictureThe Academy Award for Original Music Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Winners with multiple nominations:...
.
This is the first of three movies in which Day, Hudson and Randall starred together, the other two being
Lover Come BackLover Come Back is a 1961 romantic comedy released by Universal Pictures. The film stars Doris Day and Rock Hudson in their second film together. The supporting cast includes Tony Randall, Edie Adams, Ann B. Davis, and Donna Douglas....
and
Send Me No FlowersSend Me No Flowers: a 1964 American comedy film, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Rock Hudson, Doris Day, and Tony Randall.The screenplay by Julius J...
.
Jan Morrow (
Doris DayDoris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff , known by her stage name Doris Day, is an American singer and actress.With the versatility to sing, dance, and play comedy and dramatic roles, she became one of America's biggest box-office stars. Day has 39 movies to her credit, even though she retired from films in...
) is a successful, content, self-reliant interior decorator who lives in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
.
Pillow Talk is a
1959The year 1959 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* The Three Stooges make their 190th and last short film, Sappy Bullfighters.*September 18 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx marries his second wife, Barbara Blakely....
romantic comedy filmRomantic comedy films are movies with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as a true love able to surmount most obstacles...
directed by
Michael GordonMichael Gordon was an American stage actor and stage and film director.Born in Baltimore, he was a member of the Group Theatre , and was blacklisted as a Communist in the days of McCarthyism. He later joined the faculty of the UCLA Theatre Arts Department...
. It features
Rock HudsonRock Hudson was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1960s and 1970s, most notably in several romantic comedies with his most famous co-star, Doris Day...
,
Doris DayDoris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff , known by her stage name Doris Day, is an American singer and actress.With the versatility to sing, dance, and play comedy and dramatic roles, she became one of America's biggest box-office stars. Day has 39 movies to her credit, even though she retired from films in...
,
Tony RandallTony Randall was an American actor , comic, producer and director.-Early years :Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, who was an art and antiques dealer...
,
Thelma RitterThelma Ritter was an American supporting and character actress from the 1940s until her death in 1969.-Early life:...
and Nick Adams. The film was written by
Russell RouseRussell Rouse was an American screenwriter, director, and producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality"of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s....
,
Maurice RichlinMaurice Richlin was an American Academy Award-winning screenwriter....
,
Stanley ShapiroStanley Shapiro was an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter and producer responsible for three of Doris Day's most successful films....
and
Clarence GreeneClarence Greene was an American screenwriter and film producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s....
.
The film won the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay, and was nominated for
Best Actress in a Leading RolePerformance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
(Doris Day),
Best Actress in a Supporting RolePerformance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
(Thelma Ritter),
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, ColorThe Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999...
(
Richard H. RiedelRichard H. Riedel was an American art director. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film Pillow Talk.-External links:...
,
Russell A. GausmanRussell A. Gausman was an American set decorator. He was won two Academy Awards and was nominated for five more in the category Best Art Direction...
,
Ruby R. LevittRuby R. Levitt was an American set decorator. She was nominated for four Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.-Selected filmography:Levitt was nominated for four Academy Awards for Best Art Direction:...
) and
Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy PictureThe Academy Award for Original Music Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Winners with multiple nominations:...
.
This is the first of three movies in which Day, Hudson and Randall starred together, the other two being
Lover Come BackLover Come Back is a 1961 romantic comedy released by Universal Pictures. The film stars Doris Day and Rock Hudson in their second film together. The supporting cast includes Tony Randall, Edie Adams, Ann B. Davis, and Donna Douglas....
and
Send Me No FlowersSend Me No Flowers: a 1964 American comedy film, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Rock Hudson, Doris Day, and Tony Randall.The screenplay by Julius J...
.
Synopsis
Jan Morrow (
Doris DayDoris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff , known by her stage name Doris Day, is an American singer and actress.With the versatility to sing, dance, and play comedy and dramatic roles, she became one of America's biggest box-office stars. Day has 39 movies to her credit, even though she retired from films in...
) is a successful, content, self-reliant interior decorator who lives in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
. She lives alone and claims to be quite happy, when questioned on that subject by her
drunkenAlcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions. In common and historic usage, alcoholism is any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, despite health problems and negative social consequences...
housekeeperA housekeeper is a person responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of premises.*Housekeeper –responsible for the cleaning of institutional premises...
, Alma (
Thelma RitterThelma Ritter was an American supporting and character actress from the 1940s until her death in 1969.-Early life:...
). Due to the state of the telephone company's development, she has to use a
party lineIn twentieth century telephone systems, a party line is an arrangement in which two or more customers are connected directly to the same local loop. Prior to World War II in the United States, party lines were the primary way residential subscribers acquired local phone service...
, which she shares with Brad Allen (
Rock HudsonRock Hudson was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1960s and 1970s, most notably in several romantic comedies with his most famous co-star, Doris Day...
), a talented, creative
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
composer and playboy.
Jan and Brad, who have never met, develop a
feudA feud is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often, through guilt by association, groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
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 RandallTony Randall was an American actor , comic, producer and director.-Early years :Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, who was an art and antiques dealer...
), who repeatedly throws himself at her 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 dancing. Attracted to her, he fakes a Texan accent and invents a new persona: Rex Stetson, wealthy rancher from
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
. 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 City and go to Jonathan's cabin in
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
to complete his 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 plunks the melody on the nearby piano and recognizes the tune as Brad's popular party line playboy serenade. She confronts Brad angrily and ignores his attempts at explanation, leaving with Jonathan who has arrived just in time to expose Rex as Brad and who takes her back to New York City.
Once Brad returns to New York, Jonathan is pleased to learn that the mighty oak of a playboy has finally fallen in love, while conversely Jan will have nothing to do with him for deceiving her. Not ready to give up, Brad turns to Jan's maid, Alma, for advice, who suggests he hire Jan to decorate his apartment so they will be forced to collaborate. Jan only concedes so that her employer will not lose the account. Little does she know her employer is also in on the scheme. Still quite angry however, Jan completely redoes Brad's apartment in the most gaudy, ghastly, hideous decor she can muster. Horrified by what he finds, Brad angrily storms into Jan's apartment and carries her through the street back to his apartment, where he asks her how it feels to return to the scene of the crime. In his frustration he tells her of all the changes he's made to end his bachelor lifestyle because he thought he was getting married. Her face lights up from his admission but he's so angry he attempts to leave. She quickly reaches for one of the tacky remote control switches he installed to accommodate his "purposes" which immediately locks the door. He turns around in defeat, their eyes meet, each smiles, and they lovingly embrace. There will be plenty of Pillow Talk in their future.
Cast
- Doris Day
Doris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff , known by her stage name Doris Day, is an American singer and actress.With the versatility to sing, dance, and play comedy and dramatic roles, she became one of America's biggest box-office stars. Day has 39 movies to her credit, even though she retired from films in...
as Jan Morrow
- Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1960s and 1970s, most notably in several romantic comedies with his most famous co-star, Doris Day...
as Brad Allen
- Tony Randall
Tony Randall was an American actor , comic, producer and director.-Early years :Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, who was an art and antiques dealer...
as Jonathan Forbes
- Thelma Ritter
Thelma Ritter was an American supporting and character actress from the 1940s until her death in 1969.-Early life:...
as Alma
- Nick Adams as Tony Walters
- Julia Meade as Marie
- Allen Jenkins
Allen Jenkins was an American character actor on stage, screen and television. He was born David Allen Curtis Jenkins in Staten Island, New York....
as Harry
- Marcel Dalio
Marcel Dalio was a French Jewish character actor. He had major roles in two of Jean Renoir's most famous films, Grand Illusion and The Rules of the Game.- Biography :...
as Mr. Pierot
- Lee Patrick
Lee Patrick may refer to:*Lee Patrick , American theater and film actress*Lee Patrick , American saxophonist and university music instructorSee also*Patrick Lee...
as Mrs. Walters
- Mary McCarty
Mary McCarty was a County Commissioner in Palm Beach County, Florida from November 1990 until her resignation - announced on January 8, 2009. Her statement included an apology and a statement that she expected to serve significant prison time...
as Nurse Resnick
- Alex Gerry as Dr. Maxwell
- Hayden Rorke
William Henry Rorke was an American actor best known for playing the psychiatrist Col. Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on the hit 60's sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Biography:...
as Mr. Conrad
- Valerie Allen as Eileen
- Jacqueline Beer
Jacqueline Vangramberg is a former Hollywood film and television actress and the present Chair of the Board of Directors of the Thor Heyerdahl Research Centre.-Personal life:...
as Yvette
- Arlen Stuart as Tilda
- Perry Blackwell as Lounge Singer
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.
Songs
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 three songs in the piano bar: "I Need No Atmosphere," "Roly Poly" [ in part], and "You Lied" -- a song directed at Hudson's character, Brad.
External links