“That’s what comes from being a woman’s man.”
synopsis
Jan Morrow, a successful interior decorator in Manhattan, shares a party line with smooth-talking songwriter Brad Allen—a man whose romantic conquests monopolize the phone and her patience. Annoyed by his constant flirting and musical interruptions, Jan wants him off the line. Brad, amused and intrigued by her resistance, adopts a fake Texan persona to win her over. As deception spirals into genuine affection, Jan must sort through charm, ego, and betrayal to decide whether love can survive a manufactured identity.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
This is glossy, flirtatious, unapologetically artificial studio-era romance—and it works. Doris Day radiates intelligence and comic timing, while Rock Hudson weaponizes charisma with a wink. The split-screen phone conversations were innovative for the time and crackle with sexual tension disguised as banter. It’s not emotionally deep in the Roman Holiday sense—but it’s buoyant, stylish, and impeccably paced.
A well-made martini and unapologetic Technicolor.
Absurdist's Corner
The idea that two glamorous Manhattan professionals would still be stuck sharing a party line feels like infrastructure malpractice.
fun facts
The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The Hudson/Day pairing became so popular they reunited for multiple films.
The split-screen phone scenes were considered daring and technically creative for 1959.