Pillow Talk

The rapid expansion of telephone services in the U.S., particularly after World War II, gave rise to "party lines"—shared telephone circuits used by two or more subscribers. While cheaper than private lines, they came at a price: no privacy. This is the backdrop for the romantic comedy Pillow Talk, which brings together a no-nonsense interior decorator (Doris Day) and a charming Broadway composer (Rock Hudson). The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and reshaped both stars’ public personas—turning Day into a sex symbol and giving Hudson his first major comedic role.