The movie opens with Tony Curtis as Pete Hammond Jr. boarding a bus in Milwaukee, headed for New York with his musical instruments, flutes and saxophones. Even though Curtis was 34 when this film was made, his dad is sending him off, telling him to let him know if he needs any money. The bus ride is interesting, it shows it entering Cleveland, Philadelphia, and finally New York, pulling into the Port Authority terminal just a good walk from Times Square, places I was familiar with in the 1980s. It was nice seeing them in an earlier time.
Once in New York we see Pete is definitely a fish out of water, too trusting and several times getting taken by scams. In fact that is the genesis of the title, "Rat Race", people go to New York and seem to turn into "rats", doing what they need to do to survive.
But Pete meets Debbie Reynolds as struggling model Peggy Brown, working at a club where travelers, usually service men and traveling business men, want some place to go to dance with a pretty girl. But Peggy is not only broke, she owes her uncaring boss (Don Rickles in a good role) several hundred dollars in advances. In fact she is being evicted from the daily rate ($3 per night) hotel room as Pete is moving into it. Feeling compassion for her, he suggests that she just share his room, which has two beds and a curtain for privacy, for a few days until Peggy finds a place to go.
I like this movie for several reasons, the 1960s was my time, I was growing up, graduating from high school, going to college, and starting my own career and family. I like both Tony Curtis and Debbie Reynolds and it was fun to see them together. New York is one of my favorite cities to visit, it was nice to see it back before it developed into what we know it as today.
The movie doesn't get into what might have happened down the road, it just shows us how Pete eventually gets work as a musician, and he and Peggy, after becoming friends sharing a room, fall in love with each other.
Debbie Reynolds is maybe more known for her comedic roles, but here her Peggy Brown is completely serious, and she shows what a fine actress she is. Not long ago I saw her in "Mother" (1996) playing Albert Brooks' mother, and now I see she is still in movies here and there. She has come a long way since "Singing in the Rain" (1953) made when she was still a teenager.
Once in New York we see Pete is definitely a fish out of water, too trusting and several times getting taken by scams. In fact that is the genesis of the title, "Rat Race", people go to New York and seem to turn into "rats", doing what they need to do to survive.
But Pete meets Debbie Reynolds as struggling model Peggy Brown, working at a club where travelers, usually service men and traveling business men, want some place to go to dance with a pretty girl. But Peggy is not only broke, she owes her uncaring boss (Don Rickles in a good role) several hundred dollars in advances. In fact she is being evicted from the daily rate ($3 per night) hotel room as Pete is moving into it. Feeling compassion for her, he suggests that she just share his room, which has two beds and a curtain for privacy, for a few days until Peggy finds a place to go.
I like this movie for several reasons, the 1960s was my time, I was growing up, graduating from high school, going to college, and starting my own career and family. I like both Tony Curtis and Debbie Reynolds and it was fun to see them together. New York is one of my favorite cities to visit, it was nice to see it back before it developed into what we know it as today.
The movie doesn't get into what might have happened down the road, it just shows us how Pete eventually gets work as a musician, and he and Peggy, after becoming friends sharing a room, fall in love with each other.
Debbie Reynolds is maybe more known for her comedic roles, but here her Peggy Brown is completely serious, and she shows what a fine actress she is. Not long ago I saw her in "Mother" (1996) playing Albert Brooks' mother, and now I see she is still in movies here and there. She has come a long way since "Singing in the Rain" (1953) made when she was still a teenager.