GOOD NEIGHBOUR SAM

US, 1964, 111 minutes, Colour.
Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Dorothy Provine, Edward G. Robinson, Michael Connors.
Directed by David Swift.

Good Neighbour Sam is one of those domestic comedies with innuendo that began to be popular in the mid-60s. Jack Lemmon made a habit of appearing in a number of them. Under the Yum Yum Tree was a similar film of its kind. This film has humorous characterisations, funny lines and situations and rather unusual casting to make it stand out from others in the genre.

1. How enjoyable a comedy?

2. The focus of the title? An indication of comedy, touches of irony, indication of themes?

3. The comedy as a piece of Americana? The portrayal of the American family, business life, American morality, preoccupation with money? How American was the plot? The portrayal of characters? A comment on the American way of life?

4. How successful was the use of farce, farcical situations and mistaken identity, comedy of modern manners? which aspects illustrated this best?

5. The portrayal of Sam: a typical Jack Lemmon character, his qualities as a husband, his role in the family, love for his wife, attitude towards his children, friendliness to his neighbours and being victimized by them, his role at work? The average American Sam?

6. The portrayal of Min, his wife? The ordinary American suburban wife, her love for Sam and her children? Her attitude towards her marriage? Her relationship with Janet and helping her? The growing confusion and her ability to cope with this? Her inability? How much character or was she merely a part of the plot?

7. The role of Janet? As a friend, the nature of her marriage and its break-up, as a focus for the money, her role in the farce? The aspect of her being exotic because of her European background? The glamour compared with the American ordinariness?

8. The contrast with Irene and Bill and the picture of greedy relations hovering around for money? The ironic comment on greedy Americans?

9. The comedy in the portrayal of the investigator and being parked outside the house, his infra-red photos? The irony of his interpretations and his blackmail?

10. The picture of Howard as the playboy American husband, involved in the farce? His detachment, his love for Janet, the happy ending?

11. How typical for American comedy was the happy ending? Was it necessary? In the light of the farce and the crises?

12. The satire on big business? The hypocrisy opposed by the businessman? His own dinner? The discussion of morality and immorality? The advertising campaign? The chorus background of the car ad. that went wrong? The satire on 'how to succeed in business'?

13. How well did the film use the popular ingredients of comedy for successful entertainment and successful social satire?