'Teacher’s Pet' 1958

Both Clark Gable & Doris Day's characters have lessons to learn in "Teacher's Pet."

Teacher’s Pet was made in the midst of Doris Day’s 20 year movie career. Hollywood’s girl next door starred opposite almost all of the golden era’s leading man greats. Doris worked well with them all, and Clark Gable was no exception. In 1958’s Teacher’s Pet, as modern journalism teacher Erica Stone, Doris is warm and intelligent; Clark is playful but pragmatic as the old-style news editor. While both play to their very specific personas, Day and Gable are completely natural in front of the camera and totally believable as their journalist characters.

Doris Day's DA hairdo in "Teacher's Pet" would soon be DOA with "Pillow Talk!"

Clark is Jim Gannon, an old-school city desk editor. As an old-school Hollywood icon, Gable was perfect casting. Though a life of cigarettes and alcohol made him look older than 56, this was not unusual for classic Hollywood heroes. Sadly, Gable was dead less than two years after Teacher’s Pet was released. It was still common to cast much younger actresses as co-stars. Doris Day was 35 when this rom-com was filmed, and clean-living Day lived to be 97.

Doris Day & Clark Gable make a solid team in "Teacher's Pet."

I was a former newsroom journalist and there was some smart stuff in this film, issues that exist to this day. I came into news at the tail end of this movie’s depicted era. The whiff of old-school journalism, where some staff reeked of cigarette smoke and longed for the good old days of a bottle in their desk drawer. In Teacher’s Pet, papers were trying to stay in the black, losing space to the ads that kept the lights on. And the battle of opinions over whether to get a college education versus on-the-job training is still a relevant topic.

Clark Gable's city editor with hot news item Mamie Van Doren in "Teacher's Pet."

Teacher’s Pet was more of a comedy-drama than a flat-out farce; perhaps this was why it wasn’t filmed in color. This is one of the few Doris Day movies shot in B & W. Cinematographer Haskell Boggs (who worked mostly on TV) doesn’t do either star any favors in the glamour shots department, either.

The following year, Doris got the Ross Hunter glamour makeover and soft lenses in Pillow Talk, and the die was cast for “Doris Day lighting!” Ironically, despite the common perception that Pillow Talk was a big departure for Day, the basic plot mimics Teacher’s Pet: Career girl Doris fights off old-school wolf. She’s appalled by his lifestyle. Wolf then pretends to be someone else, to play Day. There’s a sidekick commenting on the action. Booze figures prominently, there’s a song or two. Day discovers the ruse, but a happy ending ensues. The big difference is Teacher’s Pet is far more realistic and both characters compromise by the end.

Gable's old-school in every way, especially when it comes to the chassis of Doris Day!

Though Gable plays Jim a bit broadly in the comic moments, he’s quite at ease in the serious scenes. Clark brings great authority as the voice of experience, who’s ill at ease under it all, for his lack of education. Perhaps it’s the smart Oscar-nominated script by Fay and Michael Kanin, but as the typical comedic battle is fought, eventually both Day and Gable’s characters learn, and to give a little.

A lovely scene in "Teacher's Pet," when editor Gable discovers who's the father
of journalism teacher, Doris Day.

As the journalism instructor, Doris Day plays it more straight than usual. Day loses the early ‘50s ingénue attitude and tones down the comedic squawks of indignation that came in later comedies. When Erica discovers the late bloomer in her journalism class is the newspaper jerk who wrote her an insulting letter, Day’s teacher is genuinely hurt. Both characters learn to appreciate the other, and this gives Teacher’s Pet more heft than the typical Day movie. Doris is natural in her dramatic moments, and gets to be playful when sparring with Gable.

Are Gig Young & Clark Gable vying for Doris Day's attention in "Teacher's Pet?"

One of Doris Day’s funniest moments is when mimics Mamie Van Doren, who plays Gable’s performer gal pal. After viewing Mamie sing and dance to “The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll,” she tweaks Gable with her own version later. And aside from Doris’ good humor, Day demonstrates that her figure is every bit as impressive as Mamie’s! In fact, the movie gives us several appreciative views of Day’s assets. BTW, Doris was tall at 5’7”, in an era of petite movie divas.

Doris Day's teacher proves she's got a few moves of her own in "Teacher's Pet!"

Gig Young got a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role as the psychiatric professor, Dr. Hugo Pine, who Gable first views as a threat. Young was an excellent dramatic actor, but a natural at romantic comedy. He’s quite charming and funny here, with some wonderful bits of business, and gets to play some “comic” drunk scenes once again.

Gig Young is charming & very funny as Doris Day's fellow professor, "Teacher's Pet."

Nick Adams is energetic and sincere as the young hot shot, Barney Kovac. He looks up to old-school Gable—literally. When Nick stands next to Clark, Hollywood’s “King” looks like he could snap the boy in half! Also, Vivian Nathan who plays Nick’s mama, who wants him to go back to school, stands out for her strong, believable performance. Mamie Van Doren spoofs her sex bomb image to amusing effect. Note Marion Ross of Happy Days as Day’s secretary!

Spark plug Nick Adams is dwarfed by Clark Gable in "Teacher's Pet."

A smart gimmick was to cast real-life show biz reporters in cameos in this film, thus assuring good publicity for Teacher’s Pet: Army Archerd, Vernon Scott, Sidney Skolsky, and Joe Hyams, to name a few.

There are as many touching moments as there are funny ones in Teacher’s Pet. Enjoy Doris Day in one of her strongest vehicles, starring opposite of “The King” of Hollywood!

Hollywood blondes, bombshell & girl next door, promoting "Teacher's Pet."

Here’s my tribute to Doris Day and how I belatedly became a fan: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/04/a-latter-day-doris-day-fan-fesses-up.html

My look at Doris Day in the lovely, lively musical, The Pajama Game: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-pajama-game-1957.html

FYI: I put all the movie overflow on my public FB  movie page. 

Check it out & join!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/178488909366865/

Clark Gable and Doris Day looking like the Hollywood royalty they are
at a premiere for "Teacher's Pet."