MovieChat Forums > Pillow Talk (1959) Discussion > Doris Day's best movie

Doris Day's best movie

posted 12 years ago by waldenpond88
21 replies | jump to latest

I never cared for "Lover Come Back" or "Love me or Leave me" (I thoroughly enjoyed "The Man who knew too much" and "Julie" though!), but always loved "Pillow Talk" best. When it was re-released in German movie theaters I watched it 3 times in 2 weeks.
Doris Day looked more beautiful than in her previous movies and I thought her evening gown was gorgeous (was this by Edith Head?).

DD was also unforgettable in "Send me no Flowers", "The Thrill of it all" and "It happened to Jane". But my favorite DD film will always be "Pillow Talk". Definitely 10 stars and no matter how often I watch it, I enjoy every minute of it (particularly the scene where Tony Randall picks her up in that love nest in CT and brings her back to NYC and she can't stop crying during the entire scene in the car while the camera shows the mileage...she is so cute in that scene)!
Also Thelma Ritter was never funnier than in this one!

[–] mimimeme 11 years ago

It's so hard to choose a 'best' Doris Day movie. She's made so many and with such varied themes. As far as comedies, my two favorites are The Thrill of it All and With Six You Get Egg Roll. I can't decide between the two, but I think 'Egg Roll' has a slight advantage. Both are great, though!

LONG LIVE DORIS DAY!!!!!!!!!!

[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

I like "Move Over Darling" the best. I also like "Young At Heart".

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] waldenpond88 10 years ago

"Move over Darling" has quite a history.
It was done first as a silent movie in the 1920's, but with a different title. Unfortunately the imdb doesn't mention the first title, but it was mentioned in the MM documentary on her last unfinished film.

Then in the 1940 the first remake with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne called "My Favorite Wife" was released. You can catch it at least once a year on TCM and also the other cute movie with Grant & Dunne called "The Awful Truth" with terrier Mr. Asta who played the dog of Myrna Loy & William Powell in the 6 "Thin Man" movies.

The 2nd remake was attempted with Marilyn Monroe and Dean Martin, title was "Something's gotta give". This was in the summer of 1962, before MM died:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217055/combined

Two years after MM's death the studio realized it with DD and Garner (Dean Martin refused to do it) under a different title, this time it was called "Move Over Darling".

Does anybody know if there was another remake after 1964?

The movie "Something's got to give" with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson has a different plot.

[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

I didn't know about the silent film. And I had read the plot had a different spin with MM. In the MM production, the wife may have slept with the guy. Or maybe it was portrayed that she's so beautiful that no one would believe she didn't. While in the DD film, how could you believe that the wife would sleep with someone else. I haven't seen the MM movie, so I don't know if that is what I would come away with.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] waldenpond88 10 years ago

The MM version was never finished as the studio fired her (she only showed up for work on 8 days out of 35 days of filming), but they had lots of scenes filmed and you can see them all in this 2 hours documentary:

http://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Monroe-Final-James-Coburn/dp/B000LRH302/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1410959554&sr=1-1&keywords=Marilyn+Monroe+%2B+Something%27s+gotta+give+%2B+documentary

It's a wonderful MM docu. I can recommend it very much.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

Of all the Doris Day films I've seen, I'm convinced that this is by far the best one. I thought that Midnight Lace was good as well, but predictable.

I loved Thelma Ritter both in this movie and in All About Eve...

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen

[–] waldenpond88 10 years ago

I feel the same. "Pillow Talk" is my favorite DD movie, 2nd favorite is "Midnight Lace" followed by "Julie" and Hitch's "The Man who knew too much".
"Send me no Flowers" still makes me laugh.
"It happened to Jane" which was filmed in Connecticut (not in Maine) is cute, too.

And I like Jim Hutton & Paula Prentiss. Thought they made a great couple on the big screen.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

Oh yes, I enjoyed The Man Who Knew Too Much (to some extent), but I barely remember anything about it (other than Doris Day's singing). I was quite touched by the way she sang the one song in order to get her son to know that she was nearby.

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen

[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

I may have seen the entire movie a long time ago. Today, I only catch bits and pieces, it's a bit slow in the middle. But the beginning and end are very good.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

Which movie do you mean? Pillow Talk or The Man Who Knew Too Much?

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen

[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

I meant "The Man Who Knew Too Much".

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

Not one of Hitchcock's best, but better than many films which I've seen IMHO.

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen

[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

I was thinking that it could have been better if Hitch had directed. And I agree about the film in comparison to a lot of other films.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] Paris55 9 years ago

I never cared for Doris Day movies until I saw her with Cagney in "Love Me or Leave Me" - the movie she should have been Oscar nominated for according to many. Because of this oversight, she was nominated for "Pillow Talk". Now, my favorite Doris Day movies are "Love Me or Leave Me"; "Pillow Talk"; and "Please Don't Eat the Daisies". I am a classic movie buff but when it comes to Day's movies, I like her in color which shows her great fashion taste with a real woman's figure; and the fantastic interior designs of the late 1950s-1960s.

[–] stacy0912 9 years ago

"Jan: Mr. Allen, this may come as a surprise to you, but there are some men who don't end every sentence with a proposition."

This is my favorite Doris Day movie too. In fact it's my favorite old movie of all time. When it comes on, I smile like a lunatic the entire time. Love Thelma Ritter as Alma, the alcoholic housekeeper...

Brad: "I know a bar."

Alma: "I know a better one."

~Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable~

[–] rck1 9 years ago

I love this movie. I can't count how many times I have watched it, including last night! Doris Day's fabulous gowns were not by Edith Head. They were by Jean Louis. Her costumes are one of the elements that make this film great. Her acting, the whole cast, the script, everything about it is perfect.

[–] talisencrw 9 years ago

I loved this, though I prefer her in The Man Who Knew Too Much and Love Me or Leave Me. Such an underrated actress--and I believe simply because she was so cute and could sing so well. She could have been a top jazz singer in a heartbeat, had she chose that route, though perhaps the lifestyle would have changed her too much, like Anita O'Day.

[–] howard-green-1 8 years ago

"Love Me or Leave Me" gets my vote. It's a wonderful showcase for her many talents - singing, acting, dancing. I love it!
"The Man Who Knew Too Much" is also a wonderful film, and I enjoy "Teacher's Pet."

[–] Blueghost 8 years ago

Talented and beautiful, she fit the role for what the producers wanted.

[–] Helpfan65 8 years ago

One of my favorites is Calamity Jane. I think she's a hoot plus she looks great in her buckskin outfit. She has such a great figure. She would've been wonderful in Annie Get Your Gun and South Pacific