Gig Young
Paramount
1958
Available on video
City Editor of the New York Evening Chronicle, Jim Gannon, is asked to be a guest speaker for a college journalism course. Believing that good reporting can only be learned from experience and not taught in school, he sends a rude letter to the instructor declining the offer. When his boss finds out what he's done he insists Jim go to the university to apologize. Reluctantly, Jim agrees. There he discovers Erica Stone, the leggy, blond instructor who appears quite knowledgeable about writing. Intrigued and bent on revenge, Jim enrolls in her class under a false name. Before he knows it, he becomes the TEACHER'S PET, her prized pupil. And she's actually teaching him a thing or two, not only about writing, but about love.
I'm thirty years old and admittedly I've watched very few black and white movies. TEACHER'S PET makes me wonder what I've been missing. This movie is delightful! It combines witty dialogue, great sexual chemistry, and brilliant stars. In fact, it was the actors I found most appealing.
Clark Gable, while not what you would call classically handsome like his co-star Gig Young, is a rapscallion with his own brand of devilish charm. His raised eyebrows, wide eyes, deep scowl. His cockiness, smugness, and unapologetic swagger. All of these things create a man who knows how to work the camera...and the women. He was a real pleasure to watch.
Doris Day is incandescent. She lights the screen with her shining smile and twinkling eyes. Whether she's belting out a saucy tune, giving a secretive, naughty grin, or throwing back her head to laugh, you can't take your eyes off her.
I'd also like to mention Gig Young who played the seemingly perfect Dr. Pine. He goes from flawless to frayed in a way that will have you laughing out loud.
I give TEACHER'S PET four stars. If the romance had been turned up a notch it would've earned five. This movie has me looking forward to reviewing more classics in the future. I hope it will have you renting them as well.
Best lines:
"In short, he's a perfect example of that dying race, the
unpressed gentlemen of the press." Erica
"Education teaches a man how to spell experience." Erica
"College is amateurs teaching amateurs how to be amateurs." Jim
"How do you feel about sex?"
"Well, I'm all for it." Jim and Erica
"Well, that's one way to end the cold war." Garner referring to the curvaceous cartoon Jim drew of Erica.
"What do I have to do to get kept after school again?"
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