THE ODD COUPLE
US, 1967, 105 Minutes, Colour.
Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau.
Directed by Gene Saks.
The Odd Couple is one of Neil Simon's best-known plays. It was such a success with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon that a TV series featuring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman was made and was also very popular. Neil Simon has written many comedies, most of them very successful. Jack Lemmon has appeared in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Walter Matthau in Plaza Suite and The Sunshine Boys. The director of this film was Gene Saks who also directed Barefoot in the Park and appeared in The Prisoner of Second Avenue. All in all, this is a very good example of Neil Simon's verbal wit, his keen observation of New York society. He reached a peak with the success in 1977 of The Goodbye Girl.
1. How entertaining a comedy? Wit, situations, characters?
2. Neil Simon's comedy, scenes, situations, parody, witty lines? Observations of human nature and of wry comments on human nature? On men, women? Society? Marriage? Idiosyncrasies and clashes?
3. Colour photography, Panavision, New York locations? The musical theme and its use for setting a tone?
4. The basic plot and its comic value? The group of men and their attitudes towards each other, the cards? Two divorcees and their reaction to the divorce? Oscar and his taking it for granted? Felix and his attempted suicide? Their batching together, the build-up of tensions, clash of personalities and style? The climax with the two English girls? The build-up to the break-up? How plausible? As a basis for comedy?
5. The focus on Felix - the opening with his attempted suicides and their failure, the emphasis on his hypochondria - and the details of the humour of his hurt back, neck, noises, especially in the restaurant? Indications and the reasons why he separated from his wife? Yet his genuine attachment, grief, tears throughout the film? The growing emphasis on his knowledge of cooking, cleanliness? His knowledge that it upset his wife? The many details of his cleanliness and cooking in the flat? The housewifely attitude towards Oscar? The build-up to Oscar's coming home late, the leaving of notes, the cooking and the tantrum with the two girls present? His pouring out his heart and their mothering him? His obtuse reaction to Oscar's telling him the truth? His threat? Moving out and consolation from the girls? Did anything register? Did he realise why he was so exasperating? Would he return to his wife? An observation on particular aspects of masculinity?
6. The contrast with Felix - the more straightforward comic character? How much audience sympathy for him? The long presentation of his slovenliness in preparing the eats for the card players? His concern for Felix and allowing him to live there? His being tidied up and his reaction? The long list of exasperations? The build-up to the outing, the dating of the two girls? Entertainment? The fiasco of the evening? The build-up of the resentment and hostility? His tantrum? His being told-off by Felix and yet appreciated? His telling Felix off and their fight and chase? His having to accept the responsibility? What did he learn by his experience with Felix even with the exasperation?
7. The character sketches of the other card players, especially in the long opening card playing game? The humour of their concern for Felix and to stop him committing suicide? Their late participation in the games? Their search for Felix at the end?
8. The comedy in the attempted suicide sequence? His wandering the town and into the Go-go joint? The contrast with the long card game? The visit of the two girls and their making a conversation? The transition to the weeping? The verbal clash in each telling the other off?
9. The parody of marriage and the insight into relationships, why marriages happen, break-up? Insights into masculine traits? Feminine traits?
10. How enjoyable as a funny comedy? Aspects of farce? Insight and observation of human nature?
