The Tunnel of Love

Director: Gene Kelly Gene Kelly

Overview

This light comedy stars Richard Widmark and Doris Day as a married couple who would like to adopt a child. After hubby's confusing evening with the female agent from the adoption clinic, the couple is faced with some troubles when a child is finally granted to them.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/28/2017
UPC:	0888574564902
Original Release:	1958
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W, Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:38:00
Sales rank:	33,075

Special Features

Classic CinemaScope cartoon Tot Watchers; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Richard Widmark	August Poole
Doris Day	Isolde Poole
Gig Young	Dick Pepper
Gia Scala	Estelle Novick
Elisabeth Fraser	Alice Pepper
Elizabeth Wilson	Miss MacCracken
Vikki Dougan	Actress
Doodles Weaver	Escort
Charles Wagenheim	Day Motel Man
Robert B. Williams	Night Motel Man

Technical Credits

Joseph Fields	Producer
Gene Kelly	Director
Martin Melcher	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Contemporary comedies tend to date pretty quickly, and The Tunnel of Love suffers as a result of this. The coy way in which it plays with issues of paternity, as well as the attitude it takes toward philandering, seem to come from another planet rather than just a different era. But Tunnel's problems go deeper than this: it just isn't particularly funny. The jokes are rather dull, the situations are labored, the whole thing is mechanical and manipulative, and it never explores the more interesting character quirks that lie beneath the surface of its characters. Some of it is just plain irritating: are we really to believe that Richard Widmark's character would blithely run around in his underwear in front of a woman who is a total stranger to him (and on whom he, at least at that time, has no romantic designs whatsoever)? We could, if such behavior indicated some deeper motivations and a more complex character; instead, it's all in the service of a ridiculous plot point. What makes Tunnel worth watching is its cast, for it's a pleasure to see Widmark in a rare comedic role, and he's well matched with Doris Day, quite in her element here. Gig Young is appropriately sleezy, Gia Scala a pleasure to watch, and Elisabeth Fraser just fine as the next door neighbor. Gene Kelly's direction is only so-so, but he knows to play to the strengths of his cast -- which is as it should be