Teacher's Pet (1958)

A hard-nosed newspaper editor poses as a night school student in order to woo a journalism teacher who cannot stand him.

Director:

George Seaton

Writers:

Fay Kanin, Michael Kanin

Stars:

Clark Gable, Doris Day, Gig Young

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Clark Gable	...	James Gannon
Doris Day	...	Erica Stone
Gig Young	...	Dr. Hugo Pine
Mamie Van Doren	...	Peggy DeFore
Nick Adams	...	Barney Kovac
Peter Baldwin	...	Harold Miller
Marion Ross	...	Katy Fuller
Charles Lane	...	Roy
Jack Albertson	...	Guide
Florenz Ames	...	J.R. Ballantyne
Harry Antrim	...	Lloyd Crowley
Vivian Nathan	...	Edna Kovac

Storyline

James Gannon, the hardboiled city editor of a newspaper, believes that the only way to learn the business is by way of the School of Hard Knocks, and has a very low regard for college-taught journalism, so he's not pleased when his managing editor orders him to help Erica Stone, a college professor, with her journalism class. Finding himself attracted to her, he pretends to be a student in her class, not revealing he's Gannon, whom she despises. As they bob and weave around their mutual growing attraction, they both begin to gain respect for each other's approaches to reporting news, but how will Erica react when she finds out who he really is?

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Plot Keywords:

journalism | editor | night school | professor | psychotronic film | 

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Taglines:

Music: Latin rhythms have strange effects on blondes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Florenz Ames.

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Goofs

When Gannon is in Dr. Pine's kitchen getting a drink, a cabinet is opened with the open door located right behind Gannon's head. When the scene cuts to a shot showing the kitchen from the living room, the open cabinet door is nowhere in sight.

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Quotes

Erica Stone: Newspapers can't compete in reporting what happened any more, but they can and should tell the public why it happened.

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Connections

Referenced in Waiting for Guffman (1996)

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Soundtracks

Teacher's Pet Mambo
Words and Music by Joe Lubin

User Reviews

Loved the dialogue!

I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this movie. I wasn't sure I would like Gable & Day together - that their age difference would be too awkward (she looked even younger than her 34 years and he was 58). But their chemistry worked. I like Doris much better when she isn't singing all the time - you get to really appreciate her acting skills!

I especially liked the smart dialogue in places. The ongoing debate of experience vs. education. I thought the analogy of the conductor was beautiful (see quotes page). Also, the comparison that "Experience is the jockey - Education is the horse." The screenwriters certainly deserved their Oscar nod for this gem!

I also was pleasantly surprised to see a young Marion Ross (Mrs. Cunningham on "Happy Days") in the role as Ms. Day's assistant.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 April 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Teacher's Pet

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Perlberg-Seaton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1