Pillow Talk

film by Gordon [1959]

Written by Lee Pfeiffer

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Article History

Pillow Talk, American romantic comedy film, released in 1959, that features the first on-screen pairing of actors Rock Hudson and Doris Day.

Day earned her sole Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Jan Morrow, a successful, self-reliant urban career woman whose quiet, secure life is turned upside down when she has to share a “party line” (shared phone line) with the talented composer and playboy Brad Allen (played by Rock Hudson). Problems arise when Allen ties up the line with calls to his many girlfriends—calls that Morrow is, of course, party to. Eventually Allen devises a way to seduce Morrow by posing as a naïve gentleman from Texas. She soon discovers the ruse, and Hudson’s character is forced to win her affections once again, this time as himself.

Though the scenario involving party lines is dated, Pillow Talk remains popular for the comedic chemistry between Day and Hudson and for the supporting role played by Tony Randall as Morrow’s possessive admirer. The trio reunited on two later films, Lover Come Back (1961) and Send Me No Flowers (1964). Thelma Ritter received an Academy Award nomination for her role as Morrow’s perpetually hungover housekeeper.