Teacher's Pet

Teacher's Pet is an American romantic comedy-drama film released in 1958, directed by George Seaton and starring Clark Gable, Doris Day, and Gig Young. This movie serves as a brilliant meeting ground that blends the worlds of journalism and academia, with an underlying theme of romance that runs throughout the narrative.

The movie introduces audiences to the world of journalism through the life of the seasoned newspaper editor, James Gannon (Clark Gable). Gannon is a self-taught, old-school journalist who believes that field experience is the crucial element to becoming a successful reporter, dismissing formal education in the area as superfluous. He fiercely stands against any kind of journalism school and states that "you can't learn how to be a newspaperman in school."

In his stubbornness and cynical worldview, Gannon declines an invitation to deliver a lecture at his local university, arguing that higher education has no significant impact on the real-world implementation of journalism. However, fate, in the form of his boss' orders, brings him to the journalism class of Erica Stone (Doris Day), but not as a guest lecturer. In a humorous twist of events, Gannon ends up impersonating a student.

Erica Stone, on the other hand, is a charming and attractive journalism professor with a much more refined perspective on the world of news. She confidently presents journalism as a cultured and disciplined profession, requiring the balanced combination of formal schooling and practical experience. She argues that supplementing one with the other can develop a complete journalist.

But even while espousing the theory at the chalkboard, she doesn't have the direct experience of working as a reporter. A relationship is unspooled between the two central characters; a beautiful and spirited young teacher and a grumpy but charismatic newspaper editor, evolving from antagonistic to romantic.

On the surface, what ensues is a comedy of misunderstanding and deception as Gannon enrolls under a false name and starts attending Professor Stone's classes, all the while staunchly defending his 'old school' method of hands-on journalism against Stone's academic method. Gable and Day excellently play off each other, with Gable’s manly charisma and Day’s effervescent charm amicably clashing and complementing in equal parts.

Gannon's love interest does not remain exclusive to Erica. Providing a minor subplot, the film serves up another character, Dr. Pine (Gig Young), a psychology professor with an almost effortless charm and erudition. Pine also happens to be smitten with Erica Stone, making the situation more interesting. The introduction of Dr. Pine creates a classic love triangle, adding another layer of complexity to the plot. In this competition of the heart, we witness the supposed tactfulness of academic education clash with the hard-knock lessons of the street.

The screenwriting from Fay and Michael Kanin is as sharp as it is humorous. Their intelligent use of dialogues to highlight the wide gap between Gannon's street-smart, off-the-cuff style and Stone's more polished, academic approach is a key strength of the movie. The screenplay also does a good job of enhancing the romantic subplot beyond a stereotypical love triangle, subtly showing Gannon slowly soften his stance on journalism education as he grows closer to Erica.

The performances all-around are top-notch. Gable turns in a charismatic performance, expertly anchoring his character between firm cynicism and blossoming admiration, while Day portrays her character with an appealing mixture of sophistication and warmth. Young also impresses with his elegant portrayal of the rival love interest. Mamie Van Doren also makes a memorable appearance as a nightclub performer, adding an element of glamour and fun to the film.

Setting aside the comedy and romance, Teacher's Pet does pose thoughtful arguments about the dichotomy of practice versus theory. Is formal education necessary, or can earnest experience alone lead to success? The film doesn't firmly take a side, instead offering a balanced view of the two approaches as beneficial in their unique ways.

In summation, Teacher's Pet is an engaging romantic comedy that packs in thoughtful reflection on journalism and academia, memorable performances, and a delightful, humorous narrative. It is certainly a jewel from the late '50s Hollywood that is bound to leave you entertained.