That Touch of Mink (1962)

It's been awhile since I've watched a classic movie so I decided to dive into a Doris Day/ Carey Grant movie. Both are one of my favorite classic actors to watch. They're both so off and yet charming that pretty much every movie they're in (whether it's starring together or alone) that it's a real treat. " Plus, I saw an ad in the LA times about Cary Grant's daughter writing a book about her relationship with her iconic father.

"That touch of Mink" is a comedy starring an unemployed small town girl in, Cathy Timberlake (played by Doris Day) and an older rich, subtly arrogant, businessman, Philip Shayne (played by Cary Grant). Shayne's limo accidently sprays street water upon Cathy as she's waiting on a curb. Feeling guilty but unable to stop, he drives off. Cathy is pretty miffed off as she storms off to an automat (which was a place where people could buy cooked food through coin slotted windows. Kinda like an expanded vending machine of cooked meals). Philip (somehow) sees Cathy walking into the automat and sends off his (weird) underling to give her money for a new coat. Cathy spouts off her indignation to (weird) underling who is (weirdly) delighted and decides to take her to Philip himself to complain.

Instead of yelling obscenities and stuff, one look at Philip and she sputters into senseless, deep-breathylove words (oh, COME ON!!!). So begins a story of extravagent gifts, trips, and the possiblity of sex without marriage. The sex is vaguely hinted at of course.

I was a bit surprised by a how disappointing the movie was for the first part. This movie was made in the sixties. Was this not the beginning of the sexual revolution? I know that the transition was still taking place in film and television but this movie just felt like a stretched out 1950's plot. After reading through some online forums, some people mentioned that this was the same filmmaker who made "Lover Come Back"(That movie wasn't my favorite but it had some great moments). Everyone made a mention that these movies were the filmmakers way of poking satire at the morality of the times. I don't what the morality was for "Lover Come Back" but in "That Touch of Mink" it was about women and losing their virginity before marriage. Cathy had a personal moral dilemma. She was really attracted to Philip (and damn who wouldn't-yowza!) but she was reluctant to let go of her virginity (yeah! ah-ha! Doris who was 40 playing a 30 year old virgin. Doris is flipping pretty as hell playing a virgin- yeah ok I'm gonna let that go). She worries that she would be considered loose and yet she loves him. She worries that he doesn't love her even she loves him . Off all the worries that she had about Philip, this last one is still pretty relevant to todays standards. Every modern girl out there who has slept with someone before marriage will juggle the emotions of self worth, importance, and love, all while trying to maintain a balance of physical self and needs. Us girls are horny creatures but we deserve some respect dontcha know?

The beginning of the movie was boooooooooring to me. I found it really hard to believe that Cathy was so hell bent on that marriage thing. It just seemed like a coy device to tug on Philips britches. There was also this weird plot point with a psychiatrist that I believe was just a filler for the movie. The (weird) underling was annoying. It felt like he was trying to be like Tony Randall or something. Plus, my biggest heartbreak for me was the meager displays of romance or development of romance between the Philip and Cathy. I love Cary Grant but he just seemed to have the same facial expressions throughout. I was cheering every time I saw him break a smile. Yes! Your human! Your alive!!!

The parts I did like about the movie came towards the end. The chase scene pretty much redeemed the movie from turning it off before the end. It is the moment where Philip, unconsciously nudged by (weird) underling, chases after Cathy to prevent her from sleeping with a sleazy man. The chase is pretty absurd but when Grant is folded into the back of the meat trunk, and you can see his head peeking up through the back window, it was GLORIOUS. I loved that scene.

The other scene I loved was when Philip and Cathy are sitting on the sofa during their first night in Bermuda. It's a very small scene but it is so powerful. Cathy is nervous with the looming potential of sex as Philip gently kisses her back (OH. MY. GOSH. SQUEEE!!!) . In order to calm her nerves, they have a cute dialogue that I will not repeat. It is something that is simple yet timeless. Every girl who has been nervous about sex has always wished that the guy could ever be this considerate!

There was also this awkward scene where Philip takes her to a yankees game and they're sitting in a dugout. I can tell that these were famous baseball players at the time, but I plead sport-ignorance. Those players are either really embarrassed to be in this movie, or they're shy, or horrible actors. Plus, I just can't believe that Cathy is a sports fanatic.

All in all, not a great classic movie in terms of fun entertainment. It does have wonderful dialogue and amazing images (I believe it won Best Comedy or some big award). As a sex-comedy, it's a meh. But it's Doris Day and Cary Grant so it's still a good movie to watch if your fan of either.

Pillow Talk (1959)

The Doris Day movie that started my admiration for Doris Day. THIS is the THE movie to watch if you ever were curious about this lovely actress. This is the best entertaining movie that she has starred in.

She stars alongside with the HOT-but-gay Rock Hudson. I like to ignore his true sexuality and pretend he's straight. It doesn't matter his sexuality really. He plays such a charming and suave male that you cannot help but swoon.

I've been thinking of when to actually write a blog about this since I love this movie so much. A special day like my birthday maybe. Or some other significant moment.

Three reasons I'm writing this blog now:
1.I'm holding onto a pillow.
2. I can't fall back asleep.
3. My boyfriend is snoring next to me holding a pillow.

Sounds like a good reason to write about "Pillow Talk".

Doris Day usually plays about 2 types of characters. The lovable and innocent leading lady or the sexy and independent woman. She plays sweet for about 99% of her movies. She only does sexy in this one. To be accurate, naturally sexy.

From the opening shot of her in her apartment, she's only clad in a slip and she's rolling stockings up her legs. You know, I've never understood how these women manage to successfully roll up her stocking in a sexy way. I'm hunched over huffing and puffing as if I'm lacing up boots instead of nylon.

From what I understand (and bear with me since I tend to skewer historical details), getting individual telephone lines were impossible since they were still being strung across the country. Most people had to make due with sharing a line.

Doris Day plays Jan Morrow, who shares a line with Rock Hudson's character, Brad Allen. Jan's biggest problem is that Brad constantly ties up the line since he's always on the phone romancing strings of women. Fed up, Jan establishes a phone schedule where she takes, "the hour to the half hour," and he takes "half hour to the hour" or some schedule like that. Either way they each get 30 minutes every hour.

Brad is under the idea that Jan is an old,ugly lonely thing until he chances upon her in a nightclub. To prevent her from recognizing his voice, he dons a sexy, oh so sexy, cowboy drawl and introduces himself as Rex Stetson (hee hee, clever...'cuz Stetson is a hat...you know a cowboy hat?...heee hee).

So begins a romantic comedy of disguises and lies.

Oh this movie is so much fun! The dialogue is clever and funny. Day and Hudson are such a great acting pair (They were so swell, they made several more movies together).

The supporting cast just adds more fun from the hungover cleaning lady, the elevator operator who dotes on her, and the Brads friend/boss, Jonathan Forbes (hee hee...clever), played by Tony Randall.

Just try and get the theme song out of your head. Just try. And the "Rolly Polly Song"..I want to clap my hands.

By the way, Rock Hudson was gay but in the movie he was not pretending to be gay to get to Doris Day. I have seen a lot of people thinking this. That doesn't even make a remote flicker of sense. Brad played Rex to be the antithesis of Brad: sweet, innocent, kind, and caring. Watch the movie and see if you get "gay" anywhere in that plot point.
The ending of the movie is sweet and you just can't help but smile. Possibly wiggle a bit from how romantic it is. Maybe even squeal.