The Tunnel of Love

• Doris Day: Isolde Poole
• Richard Widmark: August " Augie " Poole
• Gig Young Dick Pepper
• Gia Scala: Estelle Novick
• Elisabeth Fraser: Alice Pepper
• Elizabeth Wilson: Miss MacCracken
• Doodles Weaver: companion
• Charles Wagenheim: Man in Motel
• Robert Williams: Man in Motel
• The Esquires: Herself

Babies on order ( Original Title: The Tunnel of Love ) is an American film comedy starring Doris Day and Richard Widmark in 1958, which was directed by Gene Kelly. As a literary work, a novel by Peter De Vries and the eponymous stage play based upon it served.

Action

On the occasion of the fifth wedding anniversary concludes the previously childless couple Augie and Isolde Poole to adopt a baby. While waiting for the placement of a baby by the adoption agency, Isolde tries to continue to be pregnant, which she followed every advice of the experts. So whether it's about favorable if their body temperature is in the child's conception 37.7 ° C. The so overwhelmed Augie makes, meanwhile, worry about whether they can afford ever to become parents. In his career as a cartoonist Augie has so far recorded no appreciable success. As surprising in Poole with the attractive Estelle Novick a mediator of the adoption agency comes along to bring in experience, whether the Pooles are suitable as parents, she first meets Augie, who is chasing just in underpants of a mouse. Because he considers it to be a representative of a charity association, he did not remember to leave a good impression. He drinks alcohol openly and answered carelessly their questions to parenting. When Augie's friend and neighbor stops by Dick, the notorious adulterers makes promptly approached the young woman. Outraged Estelle provides clear that it is of the adoption agency, and decides to go to without continuing their survey with Isolde.

Isolde is subsequently Augie 's fault that Estelle has a bad impression of them. Before Dick also leaves the house, he gives Augie tablets, with which it is to calm his nerves. Shortly thereafter, Estelle returns once more to apologize to Augie for her abrupt departure. Augie, who has taken a sedative after his quarrel with Isolde, Estelle invites further ado, to go into the city together food. However, the way he gets guilt feelings towards Isolde, which is why he takes two more sedatives. When he is tired, Estelle creates him to a motel, where he is to sleep it off. As Augie wakes up the next morning at the motel and finds a note from Estelle, with whom she thanks him for his kindness, he thinks he has cheated Isolde with Estelle. A few months later he learns of Estelle that she is pregnant and wants to temporarily leave the area. Augie is now convinced that he is the father of the unborn child and Estelle will require sooner or later from him alimony. He borrows from Dick $ 1,000 in the form of a check and gives it to Estelle when she visits on the same day he and Isolde and makes them hope that they could get an adopted child in a few months.

When the Pooles finally allowed to take a few days old boys as her child in her arms, is for them and their friends soon to a certain similarity to Augie. After a few weeks, the similarity is more and more obvious, which is why quite a while back had become suspicious of her husband Isolde open out accuses infidelity and wants to leave him. Augie she tries to hold them, especially since they are still under the observation of the adoption agency, but Isolde can not be swayed. Furious, she takes a bike and drive into a car. Against her will, Augie brings the injured ankle into Isolde common house, and assures her that he had never loved another woman. However Estelle reappears on the scene to congratulate the Pooles to her baby and return Augie 1000 dollars. She also tells them of her husband, who had sold his first book, and her recently -down to the world daughter. Having the Poole proudly displayed a photo of her daughter and says goodbye, Isolde apologized to Augie for it not to have trusted him. Then they realize that Isolde is pregnant, and they fall happily in his arms.

Background

For Gene Kelly baby was on order after street of fortune ( The Happy Road, 1957), the second directorial work, in which it was not a movie musical, although Actress Doris Day in the film the two songs The Tunnel of Love and Run Away, Skidaddle, Skidoo sings. For the Filmbauten Randall Duell and William A. Horning were responsible. As an outfitter Henry Grace and Robert Priestley were used, while Helen Rose designed the costumes by Doris Day and Gia Scala.

On November 21, 1958, the film premiered in New York City. In Germany babies came to order on May 15, 1959 in the cinemas.

Reviews

For the lexicon of international film babies one was to order " [ w] ittle ambitious film adaptation of a Broadway amusing piece ". Worth mentioning is at best " Richard Widmark as a big boy with overflowing heart." Cinema certified the film an " unoriginal chain of misunderstandings ", but " thanks to Doris Day still for fun " will. All in all it succeed the ensemble to play " the humor valleys ". According prism babies had to order a " chaos of those comedies that do not just come up with a steamy story, but with good and well-known actors ."

Film critic Leonard Maltin described the film as " hilarious comedy ". The " good cast " bring the Peter De Vries adaptation momentum.

Awards

For babies on demand Doris Day received a nomination for the 1959 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Comedy or Musical, the ultimately Rosalind Russell won for her title role in The great aunt. Furthermore, there was Doris Day for the Laurel Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy and ended up in third place. Gig Young, in turn, won the Laurel Award for Best Supporting Actor.

German version

The German synchronous processing originated in 1959 by the MGM studio synchronization Berlin. The role names have been changed for this part. Thus, the Poole's hot in the German version does not Isolde and August, but Edith and Oscar.