Pillow Talk (1959)

An interior decorator and a playboy songwriter share a telephone party line and size each other up.

Director:

Michael Gordon

Writers:

Stanley Shapiro (screenplay), Maurice Richlin (screenplay)

Stars:

Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rock Hudson	...	Brad Allen
Doris Day	...	Jan Morrow
Tony Randall	...	Jonathan Forbes
Thelma Ritter	...	Alma
Nick Adams	...	Tony Walters
Julia Meade	...	Marie
Allen Jenkins	...	Harry
Marcel Dalio	...	Pierot
Lee Patrick	...	Mrs. Walters
Mary McCarty	...	Nurse Resnick
Alex Gerry	...	Dr. A.C. Maxwell
Hayden Rorke	...	Mr. Conrad
Valerie Allen	...	Eileen
Jacqueline Beer	...	Yvette
Arlen Stuart	...	Tilda

Storyline

In New York, the interior decorator Jan Morrow and the wolf composer Brad Allen share a party line, but Brad keeps it busy most of the time flirting with his girlfriends. They do not know each other but Jan hates Brads since she needs the telephone for her business and can not use it. Coincidently Jan's wealthy client Jonathan Forbes that woos her is the best friend of Brad and he comments with him that he feels an unrequited love for Jan, who is a gorgeous woman. When Brad meets Jan by chance in a restaurant, he poses as a naive tourist from Texas named Rex Stetson and seduces her. But Jonathan hires a private eye to find who Rex Stetson is.

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Plot Keywords:

telephone party line | telephone | split screen | womanizer | split screen telephone call | 

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Taglines:

She made up her mind to resist...and resist...until her resistance met an irresistible force!!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Doris Day acknowledged that this movie transformed her image from "the girl next door" to classy, sophisticated sex symbol since the plot, for its time, was considered quite sexy.

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Goofs

When Brad sees his redecorated apartment, the cat continues to meow even though its mouth is closed.

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Quotes

Jan: [walks in after finishing a meeting with Jonathan and seeing Alma's on the kitchen extension] Hi, All, any calls?
Alma: [swooning, puts her hand over the receiver] It's him.
[Alma goes back to listening on the phone, and Jan smirks and looks at her watch]
Jan: [Jan walks over to Alma, and takes the phone out of her hand] Mr. Allen, you're on *my* half-hour.
[Jan hangs the phone up with a smirk]
Alma: Party pooper!
[Alma grabs her bag, and lumbers to the front door]
Jan: [...]

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Crazy Credits

As Doris Day sings 'Pillow Talk' over the closing credits, the film finishes with 'the end' on two horizontal pillows' followed by 'not quite' 'not quite' 'not quite' 'not quite' stacked vertically on four pillows.

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Connections

Referenced in Una familia de diez: Gaby y Plutarco enojados (2007)

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Soundtracks

I Need No Atmosphere
by Joe Lubin and I.J. Roth
Performed by Perry Blackwell (uncredited)

User Reviews

In spite of what we know now

In spite of what we know now, Rock Hudson still convinces as a woman-chaser!! He was never considered to be a great actor but he convinced the public for years- so what dom the critics know? This movie is brilliant in every respect-script, plot , performances and the look of the whole thing. How can Doris Day be so sexy and virginal at the same time? Rock Hudson showed a real flair for comedy in this film and it is no wonder that every romantic comedy has been judged against the "Rock Hudson/Doris Day" movies. Even the Doris Day movies NOT starring Rock Hudson were called "Rock Hudson/Doris Day" !!! Doris Day was/is one of the most underrated actresses of the last 50 years. She could play comedy with perfect timing, but convince totally in dramas (check out "Love Me or Leave Me"-fantastic performance.) I must have watched this movie dozens of times and it is still true entertainment. If you have never watched one of her movies then make a point of doing so-yes they have dated, but what has not? Real talent not hype is what true stars have. By the way the 9/10 is because of the dated plot.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

7 October 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pillow Talk

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$18,750,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arwin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastman Color)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1