The Odd Couple

Gene Saks, USA, 1967, 105 minutes

Though the classic comedy pairing of Lemmon and Matthau give an exceptional performance, the star of this picture is the script. Originally a stage play, the "odd couple" were in fact based on an "odd trio" of divorcees living with Neil Simon's brother. Amalgamated into two people we have Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar, two completely opposite personalities. Fastidious Felix's desire for order and cleanliness would today be diagnosed as an obsessive compulsive disorder. Meanwhile Oscar is a confirmed slob whose huge apartment would never pass a public health inspection.

Felix becomes suicidal after his wife leaves him, to prevent this Oscar invites Felix to stay, setting up a catastrophe of lifestyle clashes. The film contains an enormous 250 plus gags, based entirely on Simon's attention to minute character detail. Subsequently the film fails to date one bit, and remains hilariously funny. Lemmon and Matthau have rarely been better, though the successful transition to TV of the series, proves the importance of a script in this piece.

Review by Matthew White
Taken from EUFS Programme 1993-94