Lover Come Back (1961)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(5,531 ratings)

Although not as well known as Pillow Talk (1959), this romantic-comedy pairing of stars Rock Hudson and Doris Day earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. Hudson stars as Jerry Webster, a Madison Avenue advertising executive who has achieved success not through hard work or intelligence but… More Although not as well known as Pillow Talk (1959), this romantic-comedy pairing of stars Rock Hudson and Doris Day earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. Hudson stars as Jerry Webster, a Madison Avenue advertising executive who has achieved success not through hard work or intelligence but by wining and dining his big-shot clients, even setting them up on dates with attractive girls. Jerry's equal at a rival agency is Carol Templeton (Day). Although she has never met him, Carol is disgusted by Jerry's unethical antics and reports him to the Ad Council. Jerry avoids trouble with his usual aplomb, sending a comely chorus girl, Rebel Davis (Edie Adams), to seduce the council members. When Jerry subsequently makes Rebel the star of television commercials for a nonexistent product called VIP, the spots are accidentally aired by perplexed company president Pete Ramsey (Tony Randall). Carol becomes determined to win the VIP account away from Jerry, but after she discovers the truth, she again reports him to the Ad Council. Jerry skirts out of trouble a second time by producing VIP, an intoxicating candy quickly whipped up by company research scientist Linus Tyler (Jack Kruschen). VIP's extreme effects lead to a one-night stand between bitter rivals Jerry and Carol, with unexpected consequences. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Delbert Mann
Written By: Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning
Genres: Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 20, 1961 Wide
On DVD: Apr 6, 2004

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...entertaining and amiable...
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Should be required viewing for film students studying why 1960s sitcom fare is so outdated.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O roteiro inteligente (e, embora inocente, ainda atual em suas críticas ao consumismo desenfreado) mantém o espectador sempre envolvido, e a sempre palpável química entre Day e Hudson torna a experiência ainda melhor.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mister C

Second helping of the Universal produced romantic comedies of the 1960's,pairing again Rock Hudson and Doris Day in the follow up to the scrubbed-clean,but highly successful 1959 comedy "Pillow Talk". In this outing titled "Lover Come Back",Rock Hudson plays… More
Second helping of the Universal produced romantic comedies of the 1960's,pairing again Rock Hudson and Doris Day in the follow up to the scrubbed-clean,but highly successful 1959 comedy "Pillow Talk". In this outing titled "Lover Come Back",Rock Hudson plays macho advertising executive Jerry Webster,who has succeeded in business without really trying,preferring to show other executives a good time on the order in order to climb the corporate ladder. Doris Day's character Carol Templeton is a straight arrow;she hasn;t met Jerry in the flesh,but really hates him by reputation. Mistaken identity and outrageous hijinks ensue. And when a client's candy samples turn out to have the effect of a triple martini,Jerry and Carol do more than talk on their pillows. Day's canary voice delivers the title track during the opening credits and unexpectedly breaks into "Should I Surrender?" to mull over her ambivalent feelings for Jerry once she figures out that he's such a cad,but however handsome. The 1961 Oscar winner for Best Screenplay(written by Paul Henning and Stanley Shapiro),this was one of Universal's biggest theatrical hits when it came out around Christmas of 1961,becoming one of the top ten highest grossing films of that year. Not only Doris Day and Rock Hudson bring on the laughs,but with Tony Randall and Edie Adams. Several stars on board here including some famiilar names most of known for their television work including Ann B. Davis, along with Joe Flynn, Jack Albertson, Jack Kruschen, Jack Oakie,and the movie debut of a young Donna Douglas(the future Elly May Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies that was by the way created-written and produced by Paul Henning).
Sarah B

Average rehashing of Pillow Talk. Tony Randall is absolutely amazing though.
Anthony V

My personal favorites of the Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies.