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 10 Dec 1968: e27.
- Up to Date with Robert Aldrich Ringel, Harry. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 43, Iss. 3, (Summer 1974): 166.
- mr. film noir stays at the table Silver, Alain. Film Comment; New York Vol. 8, Iss. 1, (Spring 1972): 14-23.
- Coffee, Tea or Karen Valentine? Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]28 Aug 1973: c13.
- Stumbling Out of the Starting Gate Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 11 Sep 1973: d17.
- Network Brasss Lands With Thud Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 17 Sep 1973: c23.