Pillow Talk is a 1959 romantic comedy film directed by Michael Gordon (you've heard of his grandson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt). It was the first of three films to pair Doris Day with Rock Hudson; also in the cast are Tony Randall and Thelma Ritter.
The plot concerns Jan Morrow (Day), a career woman, and Brad Allen (Hudson), a playboy songwriter. Much to her chagrin, her telephone line is connected to his through a party line, and his multiple romances make it near impossible for her to make a decent work-related call. When he meets her in person, he disguises his voice and adopts the name Rex Stetson. The charade works, since she's never seen him, but can it last?
A huge commercial and critical success when it came out (earning five Academy Award nominations, and winning for Best Original Screenplay), Pillow Talk is often considered the Trope Codifier for the Romantic Comedy all the way up to today, solidifying many of the staples of the genre throughout the years: a serious career gal who's too busy for love, a dashing playboy who falls in love with one of his attempted conquests, a masquerade made to deceive a love interest, Belligerent Sexual Tension, slapstick comedy, Double Entendre up the ying-yang, etc etc. For many scholars of the genre, this is the Romantic Comedy.
Down with Love (2003) is an Affectionate Parody of this film and the tropes it popularized, complete with having Tony Randall in it (in his final film role).
Not to be confused with Talking in Bed, for when heads are on pillows and talking happens.
This work features examples of:
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Brad Allen lied about who he was to seduce Jan, and then gets her to go away with him for the weekend. After Jan finds out and the Jonathan shows up to rescue her, she tells him off, claiming him his sexual problems could never be cured, and storms out with Jonathan. Then Jonathan comes back in and chastises Brad for not bringing his own champagne.
- Brick Joke: In an early scene, one of Peirot's clients is admiring an African-looking sculpture until Jan informs her that it's a fertility goddess. Towards the end, Jan uses it as a finishing touch when decorating Brad's apartment. (Judging by the final scene and end credits, it must've been effective!)
- A visual example: Brad (as Rex) tells Jan he gets a warm feeling around her "like a potbelly stove on a frosty morning". Later we see a potbelly stove in Brad's apartment after Jan redecorates it.
- Chekhov's Gun: In an early scene, The African-looking sculpture that one of Peirot's clients is admiring; Jan informs her that it's a fertility goddess. Towards the end, Jan uses it as a finishing touch when decorating Brad's apartment. (Judging by the final scene and end credits, it must've been effective!)
- Cool Car: Jonathan tries to give Jan a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster as a present. Tony Walters' MG TF 1500 counts also.
- Creative Closing Credits: "The End" appears written on some pillows, then pink and blue pillows stack on top of them, each reading, "not quite..."
- Diegetic Soundtrack Usage: Doris Day hums a few bars of the theme song to herself as the opening music fades.
- Driving a Desk: The effect appears when driving to and from Connecticut.
- Hangover Sensitivity: Brad, after he gets drunk from his excursion with Alma.
- Ladykiller in Love: After his deceit is found out and Jan wants nothing to do with him, Brad realizes he's fallen in love with her.
- Living with the Villain: Jan's unaware that her new boyfriend is also her arch-rival.
- Mister Seahorse: Oddly enough...Brad ducks into an obstetrician's office to avoid Jan and Jonathan and ah, claims to need an appointment for himself. Becomes a Running Gag because the doctor really wants to see him just in case a miracle of science has occurred.
- Oh, Crap!: Brad, when Jan finds out the truth about who he is.
- Pretty in Mink: Jan has a white mink jacket and a lynx-trimmed coat.
- Pull the Thread: Jan deduces Rex's real identity when she finds the sheet music of the song she kept hearing on Brad's calls.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Jan to Brad (after finding out his ruse), where she states that at least her "bedroom problems" can be solved in one bedroom, his couldn't be solved in a thousand!
- Split-Screen Phone Call: Used for Jan and Brad's phone calls as a gag to create the illusion that they're doing certain activities together.
- Suspiciously Apropos Music: "You Lied". The singer even looks at Rex while singing it.
- Stylistic Suck: Jan's redecorating of Brad's apartment.
- Title Theme Tune: Sung by Doris Day.
