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Summary: Post-WWII Shift in Journalism Ethos Lends Heft to an Expertly Played May-December Rom-Com
Comment: Directed by George Seaton (Miracle on 34th Street), this coyly titled 1958 romantic comedy has more on its mind than mistaken identities and the May-December relationship at its core. Running a bit too long at 120 minutes, it's actually an intriguing look at the shifting journalism ethos of the late 1950's when hardcore, Front Page-style newspapermen were begrudgingly making way for reporters with college degrees. It should come as no surprise that Clark Gable represents the former as Jim Gannon, the no-nonsense editor of the fictitious New York Evening Chronicle, at odds with journalism teacher Erica Kane played with sophisticated élan by Doris Day, who was just embarking on her most fruitful period as an actress with her near-classic pairings with Rock Hudson soon to follow.
Written by Fay and Michael Kanin, the plot has the self-made Gannon bristling at the thought of lecturing at Kane's night school journalism class. When his boss forces him, Gannon reconsiders when he sees that Kane is a pretty blonde but is soon forced to take on the identity of wallpaper salesman Jim Gallagher when she humiliates him by reading out loud to her class the nasty letter he wrote her. The ruse continues as Gannon decides to prove that journalism classes are a sham and that nothing replaces the first-hand experience of working in a newsroom. Things get complicated when he becomes her star pupil and sees his competition for Kane's affections, the dapper Dr. Hugo Pine, a self-effacing overachiever who happens to be a much-published psychologist, an expert mambo dancer, a polyglot, and a smooth bongo player. You can pretty much figure out the rest.
As Gannon/Gallagher, the 57-year-old Gable was near the end of his career, and he looks tired and paunchy here. Fortunately, he provides enough of his recognizable swagger and snap to get away with the hard-boiled aspects of the role. At this point in her career, Day had already moved securely away from the lightweight musical comedies that were her forte and into leading lady parts with surprising aplomb. Underneath the manicured schoolteacher veneer, she brings a wholesome yet mature sexiness to Kane that makes the age gap between her and Gable less of an issue than one would expect. Playing his standard role of third wheel, Gig Young does an agile turn as the too-good-to-be-true Dr. Pine. Nick Adams (who would attempt to seduce Day the following year as a carefree college boy in Pillow Talk) has a small part as Barney, the copy boy desperate to become a reporter, while Marilyn Monroe-wannabe Mamie Van Doren has a memorable bit as Gannon's showgirl squeeze. That is indeed a young Marion Ross (later Mrs. Cunningham of Happy Days) as Kane's secretary Katy. There are no extras with the 2005 DVD.
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Summary: Romantic Comedy
Comment: If you are a Doris Day or Clark Gable fan then you are in for a real treat. I thought this was a terrific movie that I remember watching years ago, and Amazon sells this at such a reasonable price.
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Summary: They Didn't Call Him the KING for Nothing!
Comment: Gable is a gruff, battle scarred, school of hard knocks Lion of journalism, running his pride of employees with as much feeling as the time he has to get out a deadline, which is to say, hardly any. But you can tell he's well liked so there's a soft spot there, proven by the two young journalist cubs he's keeping his very critical eye on. By orders from the top, he is forced to attend Doris Day's night class of journalism, where he had sent a very sarcastic response to her request to have him give a lecture. He gets one look at Doris Day and decides to sit in and listen. His reactions to her starting off the class by reading his letter are just priceless and had me laughing out loud. And then the fun begins. Bring in an over-educated yet extremely modest and self-deprecating, hilarious Gig Young as a rival for Doris Day and you've got yourself one big cat with his fur up! The cocktail lounge scene of Gig Young being able to outdance, outdrink and outbongo Gable, and Gables reactions to them, are absolutely priceless! Gable was truly a world weary lion at this stage of his life, but his comedic timing, acting and bearing still spelled KING. While watching this movie, I found myself always looking at him, even when someone else was in the scene. Doris Day and Gig Young were in their prime and were gorgeous and sexy, yet, I could barely tear my eyes from Gable. Joan Crawford said of him in a book she wrote, that one time she was at a cocktail party and suddenly everything stopped and everyone felt compelled to look at the doorway. There stood Clark Gable. He was just standing there looking around, yet his presence stopped the room. Presence! You've either got it or you don't. Gable had it! Long Live the King's movies. Watch it if you get the chance.
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Summary: Teacher's Pet
Comment: This is a delightful movie -- and CLEAN! I was disappointed when I discovered it didn't fill my TV screen (guess you can get it both ways but I didn't notice that on the order blank.)
I've watched it a few times since receiving it. Gotta love Doris Day and Clark Gable.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Movie With Two Great Stars
Comment: Doris Day And Clark Gable Star In This Romantic Comedy With Gig Young Who Is Also Great In The Movie, A Very Funny, Fast Paced Ride Presented In Balck & White A Timeless Classic
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