The Tunnel of Love (1958)

Director:

Gene Kelly

Writers (WGA):

Peter De Vries (novel)
Joseph Fields (play) ...

Release Date:

20 April 1959 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

FROM THE BOLD BLUSHING STAGE HIT OF SEX IN THE SUBURBS! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

The Pooles are unable to have a baby after years of trying. They apply to the Rock-A-Bye Adoption Agency...

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Adoption Agency | Adoption | Pregnant | Parenthood

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins

Cast

Doris Day	...	Isolde Poole
Richard Widmark	...	August 'Augie' Poole
Gig Young	...	Dick Pepper
Gia Scala	...	Estelle Novick
Elisabeth Fraser	...	Alice Pepper
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Miss MacCracken
Vikki Dougan	...	Gladys Dunne, actress
Doodles Weaver	...	Escort
Charles Wagenheim	...	Day Motel Man
Robert Williams	...	Night Motel Man
Esquire Trio	...	Themselves, Party Musicians (as The Esquire Trio)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Perspecta Stereo | 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #19000) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Arwin Productions

Trivia:

Doris Day wrote that her manager/husband Martin Melcher was terribly concerned over the box-office failure of this film and It Happened to Jane (1959). Their failures caused Day to drop out of the Top Ten Box Office Stars. Day and Melcher had words about him hustling her into almost any film for the money instead of waiting to find good scripts that would have produced better results.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the scene when the women are on their bikes discussing the $1000 you can see leaves falling from the trees. However when the guys are inside, reference is made that the month is March.

Soundtrack:

Run Away, Skidaddle, Skidoo

Positive comments for an unusual piece of work.

I hadn't seen this film since it was first released, and had forgotten most of its content. I received a copy of it recently as a belated birthday gift (I'm between 30 and death-closer to death!) and, unlike the writer from Washington, I found this film to be a rather adult and mature approach to a sensitive topic, interspersed with moments of gentle and/or imagined calamity. I feel that there is a touch of the "film noir" here. By the way, what's wrong with a "stagy" effort? It works for this ol' English and Dramatic Arts Teacher! I feel that this was a rather good piece of work for Doris at that time, and stands well after all these years. That was one of the good things about Doris; give her a role and it became uniquely hers. I hope she will delight us all and involve herself in some new film work!