Review of Pillow Talk (1959) by James G — 23 Dec 2007

Superior romantic comedy which stands the test of time well, although its sexual politics could be described as questionable in the post-feminist era. On the other hand, for the most part Doris Day's character is an assertive, strong-willed independant career woman who gives as good as she gets, so it's redeemable.

It is a product of a more innocent time, yes, but somehow the humour here seems more mature and truly adult than in brain candy like Words & Lyrics or base yet corny fare like the Farelly Brothers' output - there's lots of fun to be had at the expense of psychoanalysis (the feng shui of the 1950s), 'exotica' kitsch and interior design, boozing, and the eternal battle of the sexes - it's knowing, but not overstated in vulgar terms.

The biggest self-aware joke seems to be when Rock Hudson, in order to continue his particular deception, fakes being gay (for those unfamiliar with Hollywood legend, Hudson was one of the film's most bankable leading men, but very actively gay behind the scenes).

In other words, you have a gay man playing straight faking gay - metatextualism gone wild! Look out for the late Mark Adams, one of James Dean and Elvis Presley's biking buddies, as Day's young (and very inebriated) date, and Thelma Ritter (of All About Eve fame) as Day's permanently hungover cleaning lady - now I come to think of it, there is a lot of drinking in this film! Day & Hudson made several romcoms together (and both appeared in several separately but with other actors deputising as their opposite), but this is by far the best, and is ripe and cute, and goes down like a rich, fruity red wine.