Customer Reviews

Lover Come Back

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Winter of 1961-62 was a lot warmer thanks to the delightful onscreen antics of Doris Day, Rock Hudson, and Tony Randall, the triumvirate who had made a blockbuster called "Pillow Talk" a couple of years earlier. Reteamed in "Lover Come Back", they scored an even greater success this time out. Thanks to a very funny and sharp script penned by Stanley Shapiro, who won an Oscar for "Talk", and aided by Delbart Mann's smooth direction, "Lover" was the third biggest moneymaking film of 1962, right behind "That Touch of Mink", another Day/Shapiro/Mann collaboration.

Seen today, "Lover Come Back" remains an uproarious comedy about the advertising trade in New York City. It's romantic, for sure, but it's also insightful, slightly satiric, and very sexy.

Doris and Rock play competing advertising agents. She's professional and dedicated, he's unscrupulous, if necessary, seemingly willing to do anything to land an account. When they finally meet, he pretends to be someone else and therefore she falls in love with him. When she realizes who he really is, the romance flounders, briefly, before a "bundle of joy" brings things to a happy conclusion.

Despite decades of crass comments from pundits purporting to know what they're talking about, Doris Day does not play a virgin. As in "Pillow Talk" and multiple other films, she plays a highly successful career woman who refuses to become a "notch" on some man's belt. There is never an indication that she is an "innocent", merely that she will not sleep with a man who has attempted to dupe, deceive, lie to or manipulate her. In "Lover", she offers to teach Hudson how to make love, clearly indicating that she is experienced. This fails to happen only when she realizes that Hudson, playing Jerry Webster, has been misleading her for two reels. Anyone who avoids seeing a Doris Day film for fear of being exposed to an overage girl scout should give this film a try. It may well change their preconceived notions. There is a reason why Day was repeatedly voted number one box-office attraction, male or female, as well as being a multiple Golden Globe Award Winner as World Film Favorite and winning the coveted Laurel Award from motion picture exhibitors as top female star for an unprecendented 8 consecutive years.

Doris Day and Rock Hudson are perfect together, creating a blend that is a pure delight. They play every scene with such a sense of joie de vivre, that the audience cannot help but be caught up in the onscreen tale unfolding. Once again, Tony Randall provides outstanding support, and the remaining cast members including Edie Adams, Jack Kruschen, Jack Albertson, and Ann B. Davis, are each exceptional in their individual ways.

Director Delbert Mann has stated that some scenes had to be shot a number of times due to the fact that stars Day and Hudson kept breaking up on camera, going into fits of laughter. It's apparent from the finished product that that sense of fun has been transferred directly to the finished product. "Lover Come Back" is a must see comedy treat.

There is nothing better than classic Doris Day and Rock Hudson, but throw in Tony Randall, and you can count on a winner. The threesome has appeared together before, but it never gets tiring. One thing that surprised me was that this movie was ahead of its time, as you don't find many classics that emphasize sexual relationships. A definite keeper - Many hilarious scenes that will make this movie enjoyable to watch over and over again.

Out of the Three films Doris,Rock,and Tony made together,this is my favorite. I love all three movies,but this one's the best. The ending has got to be the funniest finals of any movie ever made."That's what I call cutting it close." I don't know how they got away with this in 1961. Doris Day has always been my favorite movie star,and I wrote to her when I was a kid,and she sent me a beutifull letter back,signed in Ink. I can still here my grandmother laugh when Doris left Rock at the beach with no clothes on. I also love Tony Randall's performace. He really makes the movie that much special. Donna Douglas has a small part in the movie,along with Edie Adams. Do you beleive that Doris was suppose to do The Graduate,playing Mrs Robinson?What a great change this would have been for the actress. At least we have all of her fantastic musicals and comedies to look at forever.There will never be another Doris Day.

Is there anything more American then apple pie, baseball or a good Rock Hudson/Doris Day Film? It's always been such a treat to curl up with them and the third essential player, Tony Randall. Rock is always doing something to infuriate Doris. He's her worst nightmare. And what's more, he pretends to be someone else that Doris falls for head over heals until the gig is up. Then she's out for revenge, but love always wins out. Ahhhh such feel good, laugh out loud stuff.

So in this one from 1961 "Lover Come Back", Madison Ave is the setting. Advertising is the game of Carol Templeton and rival Jerry Webster. But Jerry is such a cad and a playboy. He steals big clients right from under her by wining and dining them, throwing raucous parties and getting the girl for them. Carol on the other hand, does things a little different. She's virtuous and business like. When he trumps her cards once too often, she plans to get a little underhanded herself. Trying to win over the scientist that is going to invent a new product for our guy Rock, Doris, who has never met Webster(as is always the case), mistakes him for...you guessed it..the shy, retiring, needy nerdy scientist. Jerry, in true form goes along with it, and tries to woo Carol into his bed. And the fun continues...

Doris is marvelous. Watch her face. So many different emotions she goes through. From being Exasperated, to being in love, she does it all. She's simply a joy. Rock matches her perfectly with his pretenses, and has a way with the dialogue that just says Rock! As mentioned Tony Randall is always the third part to the equation that makes these films such classic fun. Here he is the President of the ad firm and Jerry's boss, but hasn't a clue as to what's going on. He does this quite well.Meanwhile, the fun doesn't end with Doris and Rock. The race to make a new product, VIP! is causing quite a few explosions and when the product is finally ready for testing...well you just have to see for yourself!

The rest of the cast is quite a roll call. Ann B Davis, Delbert Mann, Donna Douglas(the beautiful Ellie Mae Clampett), Edie Adams, Jack Albertson, Jack Oakie, Joe Flynn, Richard Deacon,wow... the list goes on.
The transfer to DVD looks great. Picture clear, colors good.The film is presented in Anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1 The sound is in Dol Dig 2.0(MONO), but this isn't an action flick, so it's fine.There are caption in English(a nod to Universal there), subtitles in Spanish and French. There are no features of any kind other than scene selections.

This film is a treasure from the 60's vault. Doris' outfits alone are smashing, and NYC in the 60's too. This film has no rating on the case, but I would say PG. There are some adult situations, but all done in tasteful fun(can you imagine Doris Day, doing anything else, even if she tried?).The other two films that this trio delight us with is "Pillow Talk" and "Send Me No Flowers"

Well, I'm off to watch another Day/Hudson/Randall film. I've got my bowl of VIP and ready for a fun evening.....Laurie

Carol Templeton (Doris Day) is a advertising agent whose company keeps on loosing money to Ramsey and Son Owned by The young Peter Ramsey (Tony Randall) but his worker Jerry Webster (Rock Hudson)is always stealing campaigns and then when He steels the Miller Wax campaign from right under their nose! This movie is full of a lot of surprises and is considered one of the best of the 3 Rock and Doris Comedies! If you havn't seen this movie yet I highly suggest to you that you watch it I can guarantee you that you will certainly enjoy it a lot!

As much as I LOVE "Pillow Talk" and enjoy "Send Me No Flowers," this is my favorite, and I think the best, of the three Doris Day-Rock Hudson films. The humor is sharper and bolder, and the pay-off punch lines even better ("And I'm taking you in," Rock ironically tells Doris as he plots to reel her in.) Tony Randall is an even funnier foil here as the ineffectual boss than he was as the "best friend" in the other two films. As always the the sets as lush, the costumes stylish, and the color is lavish. What a treat even 37 years after its release to watch this old-fashioned sex comedy! As they say, "they just don't make'em like this anymore!" More's the pity.

I loved the other two movies that Doris Day worked together with Rock Hudson and Tony Randall( Pillow Talk and Send me no flowers)and it wasn't different with this one .

This is a great, classic comedy, but the DVD version suffers somewhat. It has a sallowy, yellowish tint to it (not horribly so, but noticebly so) and is VERY fuzzy. (And I'm not talking about the shots with the glamour filters.) It is great to have this on DVD finally, but compared to some other Universal budget DVDs, this looks like it was rushed very carelessly into production. The film deserved better. 5 Star Film / 2.5 star DVD.

Once again the teamwork of Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Tony Randall are cast together again after the success in the comedy film, Pillow Talk (1959). This time it's rock that needs the tomato juice after being out all night, still in his tuxedo, he was driven right to work. Rock has an agency's account to nab, so of course a little nightclub dinner and party is in order. Meanwhile, Doris Day is trying to get the same agency's account with true professionalism. When she finds out she's to late for the account because of Rock's presentation of a "Roman orgy", she is appauld. Here is where Tony Randall comes in. He gives Rock a talking to about his methods and to apologize to Doris. Phone bantering goes on between the two. Rock doesn't apologize but insults her purity. The war is on. Rock invents a fictional product called "Vip" and uses Edie Adams as a "vip" girl for fake commercials. When Doris finds out about "Vip" thruogh Edie's "good medal of conduct" at the executive meeting, she tries to get that account too, with the help of Ann B. Davis (Bob Cummings Show, Brady Bunch). Isn't that a beautiful top Doris Day is wearing just before the shocker? Nice fur coat Rock Hudson is wearing. Cast also includes: Jack Albertson (Willy Wonka..., Chico and the Man) , Donna Douglas (Beverly Hillbillies) and Ted Bessel (That Girl) as an Elevator Boy. Doris day, Rock Hudson and Tony Randall reteamed once again in Send Me No Flowers (1964).

The synopsis has been given so I'll just skip that on this review. Anyway, this is my favorite Doris Day & Rock Hudson movie. The two have such wonderful chemistry. The movie was completely hilarious. I bought the video, but I wish that this movie was on dvd. I'd recommend it for any Rock Hudson & Doris Day fans.