April 7 movie: Teacher's Pet. Romantic comedy starring Doris Day as a journalism teacher and Clark Gable as a newspaper editor who believes life experience is the only education worth having.
As a romance this didn't work for me at all. Gable is so much older than Day that I found his attentions towards her creepy and enjoyed the movie better when I pretended they weren't happening. As a professional comedy, this movie was spectacular. A funny and insightful look at clashing perspectives about what journalism means and what it should accomplish, and two talented, stubborn but not unreasonable people who gradually learn that their own way isn't the only way.
There's a great scene early on where Gable pretends to have no experience and signs up to be a student in Day's journalism class, so he can show her up. He argues with her in front of the class, until she tells him to go write a sample story. Day reads the story in front of the class, obviously preparing to rip it, and him, apart. When she sees how good it is, she apologizes to him in front of everyone and says it's the best story she's ever seen in a class. Instead of smirking with a "gotcha" triumph, Gable has the decency to look ashamed of himself. That's the moment when I knew I loved this movie.
One very, very shallow comment: Doris Day had an incredible ass. Gable spends much of the movie ogling it, which, creepy, but I can understand why. I was ogling her ass too. (My use of the past tense is in no way intended as a judgment on the current state of Miss Day's ass. I haven't seen a photo of her from the rear in decades, so I can't say.)
Gif! Gif!