Lover Come Back

Seen today, "Lover Come Back" remains an uproarious comedy about the advertising trade in New York City. It's romantic, for sure, but it's also insightful, slightly satiric, and very sexy.

Doris and Rock play competing advertising agents. She's professional and dedicated, he's unscrupulous, if necessary, seemingly willing to do anything to land an account. When they finally meet, he pretends to be someone else and therefore she falls in love with him. When she realizes who he really is, the romance flounders, briefly, before a "bundle of joy" brings things to a happy conclusion.

Despite decades of crass comments from pundits purporting to know what they're talking about, Doris Day does not play a virgin. As in "Pillow Talk" and multiple other films, she plays a highly successful career woman who refuses to become a "notch" on some man's belt. There is never an indication that she is an "innocent", merely that she will not sleep with a man who has attempted to dupe, deceive, lie to or manipulate her. In "Lover", she offers to teach Hudson how to make love, clearly indicating that she is experienced. This fails to happen only when she realizes that Hudson, playing Jerry Webster, has been misleading her for two reels. Anyone who avoids seeing a Doris Day film for fear of being exposed to an overage girl scout should give this film a try. It may well change their preconceived notions. There is a reason why Day was repeatedly voted number one box-office attraction, male or female, as well as being a multiple Golden Globe Award Winner as World Film Favorite and winning the coveted Laurel Award from motion picture exhibitors as top female star for an unprecendented 8 consecutive years.

Doris Day and Rock Hudson are perfect together, creating a blend that is a pure delight. They play every scene with such a sense of joie de vivre, that the audience cannot help but be caught up in the onscreen tale unfolding. Once again, Tony Randall provides outstanding support, and the remaining cast members including Edie Adams, Jack Kruschen, Jack Albertson, and Ann B. Davis, are each exceptional in their individual ways.

Director Delbert Mann has stated that some scenes had to be shot a number of times due to the fact that stars Day and Hudson kept breaking up on camera, going into fits of laughter. It's apparent from the finished product that that sense of fun has been transferred directly to the finished product. "Lover Come Back" is a must see comedy treat.


My favorite DorisDay,RockHudson,Tony Randall Movie   March 16, 2000
Bob Waskiewicz (Wintersville, Ohio United States)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

Out of the Three films Doris,Rock,and Tony made together,this is my favorite. I love all three movies,but this one's the best. The ending has got to be the funniest finals of any movie ever made."That's what I call cutting it close." I don't know how they got away with this in 1961. Doris Day has always been my favorite movie star,and I wrote to her when I was a kid,and she sent me a beutifull letter back,signed in Ink. I can still here my grandmother laugh when Doris left Rock at the beach with no clothes on. I also love Tony Randall's performace. He really makes the movie that much special. Donna Douglas has a small part in the movie,along with Edie Adams. Do you beleive that Doris was suppose to do The Graduate,playing Mrs Robinson?What a great change this would have been for the actress. At least we have all of her fantastic musicals and comedies to look at forever.There will never be another Doris Day.


Lover Come Back   March 14, 2008
Kelly (Littleton, Colorado)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

There is nothing better than classic Doris Day and Rock Hudson, but throw in Tony Randall, and you can count on a winner. The threesome has appeared together before, but it never gets tiring. One thing that surprised me was that this movie was ahead of its time, as you don't find many classics that emphasize sexual relationships. A definite keeper - Many hilarious scenes that will make this movie enjoyable to watch over and over again.



Best of the Three   April 11, 1999
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

As much as I LOVE "Pillow Talk" and enjoy "Send Me No Flowers," this is my favorite, and I think the best, of the three Doris Day-Rock Hudson films. The humor is sharper and bolder, and the pay-off punch lines even better ("And I'm taking you in," Rock ironically tells Doris as he plots to reel her in.) Tony Randall is an even funnier foil here as the ineffectual boss than he was as the "best friend" in the other two films. As always the the sets as lush, the costumes stylish, and the color is lavish. What a treat even 37 years after its release to watch this old-fashioned sex comedy! As they say, "they just don't make'em like this anymore!" More's the pity.


Lover Lover Lover Lover Come On Back   April 28, 2004
Chris (Leeds, Utah United States)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Carol Templeton (Doris Day) is a advertising agent whose company keeps on loosing money to Ramsey and Son Owned by The young Peter Ramsey (Tony Randall) but his worker Jerry Webster (Rock Hudson)is always stealing campaigns and then when He steels the Miller Wax campaign from right under their nose! This movie is full of a lot of surprises and is considered one of the best of the 3 Rock and Doris Comedies! If you havn't seen this movie yet I highly suggest to you that you watch it I can guarantee you that you will certainly enjoy it a lot!