Coffee, Tea or Me? (film)
Coffee, Tea or Me? is a 1973 American TV film based on the book of the same name. It was directed by Norman Panama.
Plot
An airline flight attendant juggles husbands in different cities.
Cast
- Karen Valentine as Carol Burnham-Byrnes
- John Davidson as Dennis Burnham
- Michael Anderson Jr. as Tommy Byrnes
- Louise Lasser as Susan Edmonds
- Lou Jacobi as Waiter
- Erica Hagen as Lisa Benton
- George Coulouris as Doctor
- Nora Marlowe as Mrs Fitzgerald
- Kenneth Tobey as Captain
- James Sikking as Businessman
- Virginia Scott King as Salesgirl
- Philippa Harris as Salesgirl
Production
Film rights to the book were once owned by Robert Aldrich who bought them in 1968.[1]
Aldrich wanted to make it under a deal he had with ABC Pictures. He had a script done by Theodore Flicker which he described as "very funny, very dirty" about a stewardess who tries to lose her virginity. "We took the Doris Day formula of all those successful Pillow Talk comedies and inverted it", said Aldrich.[2] However ABC did not want to make it. "Nobody likes our script of it except me", said Aldrich.[3]
When Aldrich's option lapsed it was picked up by CBS who made it as a TV movie which used the plot of The Captain's Paradise (1953). "It's not all that naughty", said star Karen Valentine. "It's done in the best possible taste."[4]
Reception
The Los Angeles Times praised the acting but criticised the "creaky material".[5]
However the ratings "went through the roof" when the show aired.[6]
References
- "MOVIE CALL SHEET: Poll to Produce 'Garden'". Los Angeles Times. Dec 10, 1968. p. e27.
- Ringel, Harry. "Up to Date with Robert Aldrich". Sight and Sound. 43 (3 (Summer 1974)). London. p. 166.
- Silver, Alain. "mr. film noir stays at the table". Film Comment. 8 (1 (Spring 1972)). New York. pp. 14–23.
- Smith, Cecil (Aug 28, 1973). "Coffee, Tea or Karen Valentine?". Los Angeles Times. p. c13.
- Smith, Cecil (Sep 11, 1973). "Stumbling Out of the Starting Gate". Los Angeles Times. p. d17.
- Smith, Cecil (Sep 17, 1973). "Network Brasss Lands With Thud". Los Angeles Times. p. c23.