Pillow Talk Parent Guide

One of the challenges in reviewing classic films is avoiding the trap of “presentism” – judging a movie based on current cultural norms and not on the values of the time. This is particularly challenging with Pillow Talk. A runaway hit in 1959, this story has not aged well and will likely make many 21^st century viewers highly uncomfortable.

Pillow Talk introduces us to Jan Morrow (Doris Day), who is living the career woman’s dream in New York City. A successful interior decorator, Jan lives in a comfortable apartment, has a full-time cleaning lady, a wardrobe to die for, and a persistent millionaire suitor (Tony Randall as Jonathan Forbes). But there is one cloud in Jan’s otherwise clear blue sky – her phone. The phone company can’t keep up with explosive population growth and the resulting demand for phone lines. Some clients – like Jan – are forced to use party lines – a line shared with one or more people. To make matters worse, the other party on Jan’s line is Brad Allen (Rock Hudson), a songwriter and lothario who spends hours every day on his phone, wooing his latest conquests. In a world without cellphones or computers, Jan’s landline is the only way she can reach clients. Angry and frustrated, she is sometimes driven to interrupt Brad’s romantic conversations with a request that he get off the phone. Furious about what he sees as Jan’s officiousness, Brad snaps back. The two continue to stew until Brad bumps into Jan at a nightclub. Then everything changes.

Attracted by the sophisticated blonde, Brad embarks on the planned seduction of his party line partner. Knowing Jan will shun him if she knows who he really is, Brad assumes a false identity (and cheesy accent to go with it) – Rex Stetson, visiting Texan businessman. But Jan’s wannabe suitor has figured out what is going on and is determined to bring Brad’s charade to a halt.

The plot isn’t going to cause any anxiety on the part of the audience, although it might produce a fair bit of cringing. The deception at the root of the relationship and the ease with which Jan is duped is unsettling. Sexist assumptions about the neediness of women will also make modern viewers squirm. Frequent smoking and excessive drinking are also problematic – especially when a main character gets very drunk and a secondary character’s alcoholism and hangovers are treated as comic fodder. Most disturbing is the sexual innuendo – Brad’s apartment is set up for seduction, which is supposed to be amusing. And an episode where Jan has to beat off a young man who is trying to force himself on her is treated in a matter of fact fashion. There is also a bitterly ironic moment where Brad makes mildly homophobic comments. Given Rock Hudson’s 1985 death from AIDS, this feels particularly sad.

It’s difficult to come up with any pluses for a movie which teaches that deceit will be rewarded and that women can’t be happy without a man. Frankly, I only hung in until the end to admire Doris Day’s wardrobe. Her mid-century fashions are a delight for anyone who loves clothes. If the rest of the film had the classic elegance of her wardrobe, it would stand the test of time.