Customer Reviews

Teacher's Pet [VHS]

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"Teacher's Pet" is a deliciously funny look at journalism, and the clash between 'formal' education vs. practical experience, with higher learning championed by Doris Day, and the 'School of Hard Knocks' represented by the 'King', himself, Clark Gable. Despite an obvious age difference (Gable, at 57, was showing all of his years), the chemistry between the stars is electric, and with Oscar-nominated Gig Young providing terrific comic support as Gable's brilliant yet down-to-earth competition for Day, the film manages to be both witty and wise.

With over a quarter century of playing newspapermen, the role of hard-boiled City Editor Jim Gannon fit Clark Gable like an old shoe. No-nonsense, pragmatic, and a workaholic, Gannon was the classic 'school drop-out' who learned the newspaper business from the ground up, and held college in contempt. While Gannon was obviously a dinosaur, even by 1950s' standards, Gable appears to be having a ball as the cigarette-smoking, plain-spoken, 'blue-collar' hero.

Despite the constant "Will she or Won't she?" sexual undercurrent of so many of her best comedies of the fifties and early sixties, Doris Day was also a feminist during the era, with her characters self-sufficient, and often holding down important positions based on merit. As Erica Stone, an ex-reporter who returns to college to teach journalism, her demeanor is professional and her knowledge unimpeachable, making her the perfect foil for Gannon.

While the descriptions of Gannon and Stone sound like formula characters for Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn (not surprisingly, as the script was penned by longtime friends Fay and Michael Kanin), the Gable/Day teaming provides a sexual tension that, by the late 1950s, would have been far less apparent had Tracy and Hepburn taken the roles. Even at the twilight of his career, Gable was so totally 'male' that he raised the bar of any actress opposite him, with Day's signature 'perkiness' transformed, here, into sexual potential in a tight skirt (watch her tease Gable, swaying her hips to "The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll"; Day has never been sexier!)

While the resolution is not surprising, some remarkably candid observations of what makes good print journalism are given by both Day and Gable, with Day's comment of television replacing newspapers as the public's source for breaking news remarkably farsighted in 1958!

If you want a terrific comedy with two stars at the top of their game, look no further; "Teacher's Pet" delivers!

Tough, cynical Jim Gannon, a newspaperman from the "old school" first ridicules then falls for a lady teacher who has her own ideas about writing the news. This little 1958 film is a jewel because it contains one of Gable's finer latter-day comedy performances. As the veteran newsman, Gable literally had me laughing out loud in a couple of scenes - something I didn't expect at this point in his career. As Erica Stone, the beautiful teacher of journalism, Day really shines in her plumb role, conveying sexiness, brains and taste in her performance. Gig Young all but steals the show (he was nominated for a best supporting AA) in his gem of a performance as the likeable egghead Hugo Pine; his playing is smooth and assured. Young eventually WON an Oscar for his brilliant performance as the cynical MC in THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY? Tragically, Young fought private demons in his private life and would ultimately commit suicide - taking his newlywed young wife with him. Mamie Van Doren does okay in her role as the sexpot singer who flirts with Gable in the nightclub scene; there's a fair performance from Nick Adams as the apprentice newsboy to whom Clark offers fatherly advice.

Hard-as-nails, uneducated city news editor Jim Gannon (Clark Gable) sits in on a journalism class by teacher Erica Stone (Doris Day) and falls for her. Trouble is, he's posing as Jim Gallagher---a new student, because he had crassly rejected her offer to speak to her class on, what else, journalism. He has a hard nose against education since he never finished high school and believes that experience is the best teacher. She is amazed at his skill and offers to tutor him, unaware of his ruse. Complications arise from a colleague of Stone's, Hugo Pine (Gig Young) who's a world class scholar on everything. Mamie van Doren is in an all too brief role as Peggy DeVore, Gannon's girlfriend who sings at the Bongo Club and performs "The Girl Who Invented Rock & Roll". She's very funny and holds her own with Gable in the equally funny night club scene. This b&w 1958 film (scripted by Fay & Michael Kanin) has much to say on honesty and truth in journalism but also scores points on experience as well. The chemistry between Gable and Day is near perfect. Young is quietly brilliant as Hugo as well as a deft comedian and gives a very impressive interpretation of a hangover. Good supporting cast features Nick Adams as Gannon's young gofer and protege and Marion ("Happy Days") Ross as Day's savvy secretary. The DVD print is widescreen and fairly good. But what sells this film is Gable. He's supposed to be gruff and tough but his sensitivity as an actor layers his character with all the right humor, charisma and charm. He may have been aging, but he was still one of the best actors ever to cross the screen. Enjoy.

This romantic story starts with the catchy theme tune sung by Doris Day which whisks you back to the 1950`s.
The snappy comedy with it`s witty script shows the incredible talent and versatility of Doris as she is projects a highly intelligent, independent working lady of the 1950`s who is still able to acquire the repect of both men and women alike whilst maintaining her femininity. Clark Gable was brilliant in this, actually I think it was his best film, it seems there was quite a rapport with him and Ms Day. Gig Young was also right for the part and the nightclub scene was extremely funny. The one thing you can say about this movie is that it really hasn`t dated in it`s appeal with it`s sharp wit. Well worth watching, sheer class!
from Meryl Heasman CATFLAP MUSIC. Kent, England.

Teacher's pet is a wonderful comedy, with a surprise around every corner. Doris Day plays a professor, who is quickly charmed by her mystery student Jim Galleger, who in real life is James Gannon, her sworn enemy. Clark Gable plays this part with all his charm thrust forward, making this movie a smash, from the begining, to the obvious but wonderful ending. This is a must see for every Doris Day or Clark Gable fan. Day - Gable may be one of the best comedy teams that you will ever see.

Clark Gable is the City Editor of the New York Evening Cronicle Newspaper. A woman (Vivian Nathan) who has been trying to see him for weeks has a complaint. Her son, Bernard (Nick Adams) is just the errand boy there. She wants her son to be fired so he can go back to school for an education. Gable thinks differently. The kid has a good head start. Even helps him with a story or two and has him on as an extra. Clark gable by order of his boss, must go to see Professor Stone of the Journalism class. He didn't count on the Professor being Doris Day. He was invited to appear at this class as a guest speaker, but wrote a rude letter back. Now his boss is making him go to apoligize. Well, there he is in the classroom to apoligize, (Actress Marion Ross [Happy Days tv series] is the first student through the door) but doesn't because the Professor believes he will not show up. She got the rude letter and reads it to the class. Now that Gable had a face full, he sneaks out of the classroom, but now he is in an angry rut. here he is the City Editor and never went to high school. He believes the Professor is teaching amateurs to be amateurs. So he goes back to the classroom incognito as a student to teach this lady professor a thing or two about the newspaper business.
Also in the cast, Gig Young, Mamie Von Doren, Jack Albertson and Sandra Gould who played "Gladys Kravitz #2" in the Bewitched tv series.

Co-starring Doris Day and Gig Young, Teacher's Pet shows a mature Gable at the top of his game. Still a man among men. Scary sexy. Tough. Lovable and funny. How did he do it? Simply put, he was one of a kind. Doris Day never looked better and Gig Young will blow you away as a recovering alcoholic. Five-star romantic comedy.

1958's "Teacher's Pet", starring Doris Day and Clark Gable, is well worth an evening's viewing. It's billed as being a comedy, but there are many good serious/dramatic moments in this picture as well.

Don't get me wrong ... the comedy is certainly there too. Doris' nearly falling flat on her face after her initial kiss from Clark will have you reaching for the rewind button a couple of times! Doris' "weak knees" scene after Clark leaves the room is a fall-down-funny moment to be sure.

"Teacher's Pet", which debuted in movie theaters on April 1, 1958, co-stars Gig Young, Nick Adams, Mamie Van Doren, and Jack Albertson. Young was nominated for an Academy Award, in fact, for his part as Doris' suitor, "Dr. Hugo Pine".

It's definitely a good supporting cast, but the film without question belongs to Doris and Clark. Doris Day is completely believable as journalism Professor "Erica Stone"; with Mr. Gable matching her scene for scene as hardened and crusty newspaper editor "Jim Gannon", who simply MUST be softened up by Doris (and eventually is, too).

Doris gives a very realistic portrayal of "Miss Stone", as she perfectly balances her profession (that of journalism teacher) with her eventual personal feelings for the overbearing new "student" (Mr. Gable) who recently signed up for her class.

In addition to the realism that comes across in Miss Day's performance here, there are also several authentic-looking scenes that take place at Clark Gable's place of employment -- "The New York Evening Chronicle" -- where Gable/(Gannon) is responsible for publishing one of the city's newspapers every day. The "City Room" scenes are very impressive, in my opinion, providing a gritty look of realism that further enhances this film's believability.

An example of the "grittiness" of Mr. Gannon's newspaper City Room lies, literally, on his oft-used telephone (the dust and dirt that rest on it to be precise). Gannon's phone hasn't been cleaned in years by the looks of it. He's too darn busy putting out the daily "Chronicle" to worry about such trifling cleaning jobs. This type of "dusty" detail shows through all the more via this polished-up DVD version of the movie. Very nice attention to detail, indeed, by "Teacher's Pet" Director George Seaton.

A small subplot in the film provides a part for Vivian Nathan (as "Mrs. Kovac"). It's just a minor role for Nathan, but one that stands out, especially her final scene with Clark, which helps to soften Gable's character a bit more.

It's easy to see from this movie why Doris Kappelhoff (aka: Doris Day) was one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. The 33-year-old Doris is positively radiant in this film. And she looks all the better thanks to this splendid-looking DVD edition of "Teacher's Pet", which presents this black-and-white movie clear as a bell, and as it should be seen -- in its original Widescreen (1.85:1 anamorphic) format.

The audio gets a good grade too, coming through loud and clear on the disc's Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono soundtrack (English only). English Subtitles are available as well.

There are no special bonus features on this disc. No trailers. No commentaries. Just the movie itself. But that's okay by me, because the film looks so darn good here (as does Doris, too, of course). ;)

The back side of the DVD case offers up a rather clever way of communicating the content of this disc -- presenting the information in the form of a newspaper.

There isn't a Chapter Guide paper insert included with this Paramount disc, but there are a generous amount of Chapter Stops included on the DVD -- 26 of them -- nicely spaced throughout the movie, a film which clocks in with a running time of just a few seconds shy of two hours exactly. There are nine separate "Scene Selection" Sub-Menus with which the viewer can navigate the individual movie chapters. The Scenes/Chapters are laid out three to a screen, across a background meant to represent a school blackboard. (And keep an eye on the "moving eraser", which changes positions as you hop from screen to screen within the "Scene" Menu. A nifty little added Menu touch.)

FYI -- The tail-end of "Chapter 13" on this disc is worthy of further mention -- that's the hilarious scene when Clark plants an unexpected "first kiss" upon the lips of Miss Day. I could watch it over and over again. Absolutely classic, including Clark's dryly-uttered line just after the smooch -- "So long, Professor". ... (I can't help it, it just breaks me up every time I play this.) ~LOL!~

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The Final "Teacher's" Pitch......

This is a no-frills disc from Paramount Pictures. But that shouldn't stop any Doris admirer from picking up this DVD. Because the movie contained therein is a dandy piece of fun entertainment.

So, go ahead and enroll in Doris' class .... it's worth the cost of tuition!

Only the acting pros Clark Gable and Doris Day, and their foil, Gig Young could make the news biz an entertaining treat. Of course, it's a sex chase wrapped in cellophane, but we don't care.For those who would argue that Gable was too long in the tooth for perky Doris Day, look into the number of college professors in the 60's who grew their hair long and snatched a coed.This is an old-school battle of the sexes, with sub-plots to underscore the decency and humanity beneath the facade of gruffness.Today, it would be a car chase diversion. The hang-over antidote that Gig Young serves up is one of several hilarious episodes taken as a bon mot. I would rather spend a couple hours with Mr. Gannon(Clark Gable), the newspaper editor, than Geraldo Rivera any day.It is just another old book that I go back to again and again. And no jerky cameras for "reality" either and hipness, like ya know,bogus creativity.Light entertainment with sprinklings of truth and humanity. Rated G as in genuine.

These two trustworthy actors perform very well together in this sensational and lovable synthesis of wit and humour. Doris Day plays an almost stuffy teacher whose romantic bloom takes place when she is thrown together with a man who pretends to be her student(Clark Gable). The romantic culmination is a whole lot of fun. If you love a good romantic comedy you'll definitely love this.