"The Sunshine Boys" has a hint of "The Odd Couple", with a pair of men who get at each other's heels (and both written by Neil Simon). But this one goes beyond the former. The former is about a pair of unknown men forced to live together. This one focuses on a comedy team. Admired by millions, most people never knew that the two men hated each other. I guess that it just goes to show that roles that people play on screen have nothing to do with what they're like in real life. After all, it's called acting.
Walter Matthau and George Burns (who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) play the roles to a tee. Matthau is the irascible, forgetful one, and Burns is the kind, affable one. The climax comes when they appear in a TV special. What I noticed about that scene in particular was Lee Meredith's role as the cleavage-flaunting nurse. You may remember her as the busty secretary in "The Producers". She plays pretty much the same role here. What a babe!
I wouldn't call the movie a masterpiece, but I recommend it as a look at what goes on behind the scenes of entertainment. The rest of the cast includes Richard Benjamin (known for playing pseudo-intellectual types in the '70s), Carol Arthur (Dom DeLuise's wife) and an early appearance of F. Murray Abraham. Director Herbert Ross also did "Play It Again, Sam", "California Suite", "Pennies from Heaven", "Footloose", "The Secret of My Success" and "My Blue Heaven".
Walter Matthau and George Burns (who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) play the roles to a tee. Matthau is the irascible, forgetful one, and Burns is the kind, affable one. The climax comes when they appear in a TV special. What I noticed about that scene in particular was Lee Meredith's role as the cleavage-flaunting nurse. You may remember her as the busty secretary in "The Producers". She plays pretty much the same role here. What a babe!
I wouldn't call the movie a masterpiece, but I recommend it as a look at what goes on behind the scenes of entertainment. The rest of the cast includes Richard Benjamin (known for playing pseudo-intellectual types in the '70s), Carol Arthur (Dom DeLuise's wife) and an early appearance of F. Murray Abraham. Director Herbert Ross also did "Play It Again, Sam", "California Suite", "Pennies from Heaven", "Footloose", "The Secret of My Success" and "My Blue Heaven".