Cary Grant and Doris Day star in “That Touch of Mink”

That Touch of Mink (1962) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Delbert Mann and starring Cary Grant, Doris Day, Gig Young, and Audrey Meadows. Also in the cast are John Astin, Richard Deacon, and Richard (Dick) Sargent. And as themselves, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Maris.

Cathy Timberlake (Day) is an unemployed New York City career woman. One day when she goes to the unemployment office she is harassed by Beasley (Astin), the clerk who tries to get her into bed. After she leaves the unemployment office, Philip Shayne (Grant) drives by in his chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce splashing her dress with mud while she’s on her way to a job interview.

Philip wants to make it up to Cathy so he proposes that he become her lover, an offer she wasn’t expecting since she was holding out for marriage. What will Cathy do? And how will Philip react?

Delbert Mann (1920 – 2007) was an American television and film director. He won the Best Director Academy Award for his first film, Marty (1955). Other Mann films include The Bachelor Party (1957), Separate Tables (1958), Middle of the Night (1959), Lover Come Back (1961), and Dear Heart (1964). Mann still worked in television, directing several movies including Heidi (1968), David Copperfield (1969), and Jane Eyre (1970).

Cary Grant (1904 – 1986) was an English-born American actor who became one of the most popular leading men in film history. Grant started his career in vaudeville before heading to Hollywood. He became a superstar in the late 1930s in a series of screwball comedies including The Awful Truth (1937) with Irene Dunne. He was a memorable C. K. Dexter Haven in The Philadelphia Story (1940) opposite Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart. He received two Best Actor nominations for Penny Serenade (1941) and None but the Lonely Hearts (1944). Other classic Grant films include Gunga Din (1939), Only Angels Have Wings (1939), and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). He made four popular films with Alfred Hitchcock: Suspicion (1941), Notorious (1946), To Catch a Thief (1955), and North by Northwest (1959). He was presented with an Honorary Oscar at the 42nd Academy Awards in 1970.

Doris Day (1922 – 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer. With Les Brown and His Band of Renown, she had two number one hits with “Sentimental Journey” and “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time.” She made her film debut in 1948 with her role in Romance on the High Seas (1948). Day became one of the biggest box office stars of all time starring in films like Calamity Jane (1953), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), and Pillow Talk (1959) for which she received her only Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson was such a hit that they co-starred in two other successful comedies: Lover Come Back (1961) and Send Me No Flowers (1964). Other Day movies include Love Me or Leave Me (1955), The Pajama Game (1957), The Thrill of it All (1962) and Move Over Darling (1962).

 

That Touch of Mink trivia

• Cary Grant was a big fan of The Honeymooners and Audrey Meadows in particular. He was responsible for her getting the role of Connie.
• Cary Grant was involved with many details of the film’s production including set design and some of Doris Day’s wardrobe.
• Rock Hudson thought he was going to be cast as Philip, but director Mann wanted Grant.
• Doris Day was 39 at the time of filming. Her character was supposed to be in her twenties. Grant was older than his character was supposed to be as well. Grant was 57.
• Day said that Grant was professional and courteous but remote.
• This was the fourth highest grossing film of 1962.

 

To watch the film on YouTube, click here.

 

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Discussion questions

1. This was the only pairing between Grant and Day; do you think they had good chemistry together?
2. This film was made in the early 1960s. Do you think a film like this could be made today? Who would you cast in the leads?
3. Was Day believable as an out-of-work career woman?
4. What advice would you have given Day’s character regarding her relationship with Grant?
5. Do you think the film would have been different or better with Rock Hudson?
6. Did you have a favorite scene or piece of dialogue?