Teacher's Pet (1958 film)

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Teacher's Pet
Teachers Pet 1958 Fr.jpg
Directed by George Seaton
Written by Fay Kanin
Michael Kanin
Produced by William Perlberg
George Seaton
Starring Clark Gable
Doris Day
Gig Young
Mamie Van Doren
Nick Adams
Cinematography Haskell B. Boggs
Edited by Alma Macrorie
Music by Roy Webb
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • March 19, 1958 (1958-03-19) [1]
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.7 million [2]

Teacher's Pet is a 1958 American romantic comedy film directed by George Seaton, and starring Clark Gable, Doris Day, Gig Young, and Mamie Van Doren.

Contents

Plot

Drive-in advertisement from 1958 Baseline Drive-in Ad - 14 May 1958, Highland, CA.jpg
Drive-in advertisement from 1958

Journalism instructor Erica Stone asks journalist James Gannon to speak to her night school class. He turns down the invitation via a nasty letter to her. His managing editor, however, orders him to accept the assignment. He arrives late to find Stone reading aloud his letter and mocking him in front of her class.

Humiliated, he decides to join the class as a student in order to show up Stone and poses as a wallpaper salesman. The instructor is somewhat intrigued by this charming older man, whom she finds an exceptional student. Gannon continues his ruse and becomes attracted to Stone. He finds he has to contend with Dr. Pine, as well as his own girlfriend, Peggy DeFore, a nightclub singer. When Stone discovers Gannon's deception, she immediately calls off their relationship. Dr. Pine convinces her to give Gannon another chance.

In the end, Jim and Erica have come to understand, and partially adopt, the other's point of view.

Cast

Release

The film opened in the United States on March 19, 1958 and finished fifth at the US box office in its opening week. [1] [3]

Critical response

A contemporary review of the film in Variety newspaper described it as having "rich new life and liveliness, and even a fresh approach with humor and heartiness," with "Gable particularly turning in one of his best performances in years." [4] The New York Times described the film as "not in line for a Pulitzer Prize but it is like a kiss or a well-written yarn, a pleasant experience," and that "all concerned have welded romance, ribbing and reality into a cheerful and charming entertainment." [5] Writing for Turner Classic Movies, Andrea Passafiume described the film as a "charming romantic comedy," and noted that "Van Doren belts out 'The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll' in one memorable scene." [6]

Awards and nominations

AwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Gig Young Nominated [7]
Best Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Fay Kanin and Michael Kanin Nominated
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures George Seaton Nominated [8]
Golden Globe Awards Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Clark Gable Nominated [9]
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Gig YoungNominated
Laurel Awards Top Comedy4th Place
Top Male Comedy PerformanceClark GableNominated
Gig Young4th Place
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Written American Comedy Fay Kanin and Michael KaninNominated [10]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Teacher's Pet at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  2. "Top Grossers of 1958". Variety . 7 January 1959. p. 48. Please note figures are for US and Canada only and are domestic rentals accruing to distributors as opposed to theatre gross
  3. "National Boxoffice Survey". Variety . March 26, 1958. p. 3.
  4. "Teacher's Pet". Variety . March 19, 1958. pp. 6, 16.
  5. "' Teacher's Pet,' Story of Fourth Estate, Opens at Capitol". The New York Times. The New York Times Company, Inc. 1958-03-20. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  6. Passafiume, Andrea. "Teacher's Pet (1958)". Turner Classic Movies. Turner Classic Movies Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  7. "The 31st Academy Awards (1959) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  8. "11th Annual DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  9. "Teacher's Pet". Golden Globe Awards . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. "Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America Awards. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2023.