News reporter Jim Gannon (Gable), who believes on-the-job-training is far superior to a college education, has been invited to give a guest lecture at an evening journalism class. Completely opposed to women teachers and journalism classes, Jim has no intention of doing such a lecture and, in response, fires off a condescending refusal to Professor Erica Stone (Doris Day). His supervisor, however, gives him no choice in the matter, so Jim heads off to Miss Stone's classroom, where he is mistakenly assumed to be a new student.
Much to Jim's amazement, the professor is young and pretty...not at all what he had been expecting, and when she reads aloud the letter from Jim Gannon and makes very clear her disdain for him---without knowing he is sitting in her classroom---Jim realizes he cannot tell her who he is. Taking on the name of Jim Gallagher and telling Professor Stone that he is in the paper business (wallpaper), he enrolls in the class; his writing skills so impress Miss Stone that she suggests he look into a full-time career in the journalism field.
By now interested in the pretty teacher, Jim---as Gannon, not Gallagher---tries to make amends for his boorish letter; Erica, however, still despising the rude newspaperman, refuses to take his calls, causing Jim to continue the charade. It is journalism student Jim Gallagher who Erica is beginning to fall for...Jim Gallagher who she is kissing. What will happen when she discovers that Jim Gallagher is really Jim Gannon---a man she despises (a bit of Pillow Talk in this scenario.)? What happens to Jim when his conscience begins to bother him and he wants to come clean with Erica about his real identity? And what about Dr. Hugo Pine (Gig Young) and his ongoing presence in Professor Stone's life?
Teacher's Pet is adorable and hilarious and, I think, perfectly cast. Clark Gable was one of those actors who was equally successful at both comedy and drama, and here near the tail end of his career, he is simply wonderful. His expressions are priceless---especially during the scene in which his flighty "girlfriend," Peggy, is singing in the nightclub.
Doris Day is her usual sweet, winsome self. She was "typical Doris" so many times...not the least of which was when Clark kissed her in her office. Her squeal of "Mr. Gallagher!" reminded me so much of how she responded to Rock Hudson's characters in their three films together.
Speaking of Rock Hudson, Doris and he had simply amazing chemistry; however, her chemistry with Clark Gable here in Teacher's Pet was equally wonderful. I thought the two of them were completely charming together. I've seen reviews of this film in which people maintain Gable was too old for this role (he was 57). I'm not on that page at all. Doris was 36 here, and I definitely don't think a 21-year age span is too great. I thought they were both perfectly cast, that they played well off each other, and that they made a delightful couple.
Gig Young was great in his role as well; in fact, he received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for his work here. He is especially funny in the scene where he is nursing a hangover.
All in all, Teacher's Pet is a wonderfully enjoyable, entertaining movie, which I highly recommend. The film is out on DVD, so I would imagine it would be pretty easy to track down.
Happy viewing!!
