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Teacher's Pet (1958 film)

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For the title song, see Teacher's Pet (song).
Teacher's Pet
Directed byGeorge Seaton
Written byFay Kanin
Michael Kanin
Produced byWilliam Perlberg
George Seaton
StarringClark Gable
Doris Day
Gig Young
Mamie Van Doren
Nick Adams
CinematographyHaskell B. Boggs
Edited byAlma Macrorie
Music byRoy Webb
Distributed byParamount 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.

Plot

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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

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  • Clark Gable as James Gannon – city editor for a large metropolitan newspaper, with no education past the 8th grade, who is convinced that formal education is "a waste of time" for anyone who would like to get into the newspaper business and that experience in the workplace is the key to success
  • Doris Day as Erica Stone – journalism instructor at a local university with whom Gannon falls in love
  • Gig Young as Dr. Hugo Pine – a worldly and attractive psychologist who has "more degrees than a thermometer", and Gannon's (perceived) rival for Stone's affections
  • Mamie Van Doren as Peggy DeFore – nightclub singer and Gannon's girlfriend
  • Nick Adams as Barney Kovac – copy boy at Gannon's paper who idolizes him.
  • Peter Baldwin as Harold Miller, cub reporter
  • Marion Ross as Katy Fuller, Stone's secretary
  • Charles Lane as Roy, assistant city editor
  • Army Archerd as Himself

Release

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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

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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

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Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
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 Young Nominated
Laurel Awards Top Comedy 4th Place
Top Male Comedy Performance Clark Gable Nominated
Gig Young 4th Place
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Written American Comedy Fay Kanin and Michael Kanin Nominated [10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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.
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