Pillow Talk 4K 1959

I’ve been wanting to see a movie like this for a long time! Although at first I wasn’t really in the mood to watch it. One review of the movie caught my attention with the phrase “battle of the sexes” (not the kind you walk on, of course). At first, I didn’t like the movie poster itself, and the title wasn’t exactly straightforward either. And finally, while researching the movie, I kept coming across “chit-chat,” so I assumed the whole movie would consist of nothing but that. I started watching it only because I’d decided to continue exploring the best American romantic films, according to a list compiled by the American Film Institute. I hadn’t even realized that the film had won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and received four nominations for Best Actress (Doris Day), Best Supporting Actress (Thelma Ritter), Best Art Direction (color films), and Best Music for a Drama or Comedy. But the film exceeded all my expectations.

The central plot point of this romantic comedy is a shared phone number that becomes a source of conflict between designer Jen Morrow and composer Brad Allen. The thing is, Brad is constantly on the phone with his numerous girlfriends, declaring his love for them, and because of this, Jen can’t make her work calls. Jen and Brad have never met, but they absolutely hate each other. And that’s when things really get interesting. Millionaire Jonathan Forbes tries to woo Jen, but she’s as cold as ice and perfectly content living alone without a man. Then we find out that Brad knows Jonathan, too—he writes songs for his show, and they’re actually friends. Well, from there on, it’s just like in classic situational comedies (trying to retell the twists and turns of the plot lines would just leave your head spinning), so I’ll just say that love gets in the way of everything.

After watching this movie, I realized where the inspiration came from for *There’s No Such Thing as a Perfect Date* (starring Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor), a film I absolutely adore—70% of the plot and atmosphere were clearly drawn from *Intimate Conversation*, and the remaining 25% from similar films. These are exactly the kinds of movies I simply adore. They’re so kind, sweet, and beautiful that words can’t do justice to these emotions. And that ’50s style—it’s just something else. And the lead actors—the unforgettable Doris Day and Rock Hudson, who were sex symbols of their time. You can feel a “chemistry” between them that you believe in, despite all the over-the-top acting (as one of my friends calls it, “stage theater”). But that’s exactly what’s appealing about films like this—that’s where you really feel the magic of cinema. And after a string of heavy dramas and “tearjerkers,” a movie like this is a breath of fresh air, though I’m sure many won’t share my opinion. And speaking of “chemistry,” credit must be given to Rock Hudson, who on screen embodies the image of a dashing ladies’ man—and you readily believe in the character he creates, even though in real life the actor preferred boys to girls. Doris Day also gave a magnificent performance, not only looking lovely on screen (and it’s worth acknowledging that she is very beautiful), but also showcasing excellent comedic talent. And of course, one cannot fail to mention the excellent supporting characters, especially Thelma Ritter’s portrayal.

I could go on and on praising this movie, but I won’t, since I’d just start repeating myself. As for my rating of the film, I personally give it a 10 out of 10, and I won’t hide the fact that this is my most subjective rating yet—but the burst of positivity I got from watching it makes it worth it.