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There's an adage that says opposites attract. This may be true for magnets, and for some, in their relationships. However, this saying doesn't apply for Felix Ungar (Jack Lemmon) and Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau), two divorced men who decide to share a New York apartment.
Felix is a compulsive cleaner and he proves that cleanliness is next to madness. On the other hand, Oscar is slovenly and his evening isn't complete without dirtying up his apartment. Individually, they are who they are. Put them together and you have "The Odd Couple."
Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" is a comedy that can make you laugh each and every time you watch it. Simon's script is filled with humorous dialogue which is given more comedic life with the two lead actors. Nobody delivers those lines better than Lemmon and Matthau.
"The Odd Couple" is possibly the funniest movie of all time. 41 years later and the laughs are still coming. "The Odd Couple" is a film that withstood the test of time and continues to attract new viewers. It is and will always be the original comedy classic.
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It's in NO WAY the centennial of "The Odd Couple", nor is it even close to it's golden anniversary. March 10th was the 44 anniversary of it's Broadway opening with Art Carney in the role of Felix Unger and Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison, but that's about it.
Grumpy Old Men
Grumpy Old Men [Blu-ray][[ASIN:B000FOPPC4
Grumpy Old Men/Grumpier Old Men]]
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First, a comment. Many of the reviews Amazon has posted here are of the old single disc DVD from 2004 and before and really shouldn't be considered. This Centennial Collection was released in 2009 and is SUPERB!
I had just finished watching a professional stage revival of the show when this DVD set was released. Could I see the play again (this time on DVD) so close to have just seeing it on stage? YES! The lines were just as funny and Lemmon and Matthau are the ideal team.
What makes this package special are the bonus features, most of which are great. I say that because among the five documentaries there is also a lot of repetition with the same interviewees (Larry King, Gene Saks, Robert Evans and Carole Shelley - who played one of the Pigeon sisters) telling the same stories.
When Chris Lemmon - who has a lot of his dad's traits - reminisces in the 16-minute "In The Beginning..." segment there is a jazz piano riff - or Neal Hefti's "Odd Couple Theme" playing continuously in the background, which can be quite annoying.
"Inside The Odd Couple" is 19 minutes long.
"Memories from the Set" and " Matthau & Lemmon" each run 10 minutes.
"The Odd Couple: A Classic" is a brief TWO MINUTES.
By the time you finish the 2nd disc you'll find yourself humming the "Odd Couple Theme" since it is played way too many times.
So the bonuses are helpful; just could have been better. You won't return to them again. BUT, you will pull out Disc One and watch the film (which has a running commentary by the young Lemmon and Matthau boys) again, and again and again!
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
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The 1968 classic is revisited on DVD but this time for Paramount's special "CENTENNIAL COLLECTION" release. This definitive release features commentary by the songs of Matthau and Lemmon but also a good number of lengthy featurettes that shows tribute to the popular film and to Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. An awesome tribute to this comedy classic!
VIDEO & AUDIO:
For the Centennial Collection of "The Odd Couple", for a film created in 1968, the film looks very good on DVD. Video is presented in widescreen (enhanced for 16:9 TV's). It was great to see the video scenes of New York in the 60's.
As for audio, audio is presented in English 5.1 Surround and French and Spanish mono. With the film being a dialogue based film, everything is front channel and clear. And of course, the music, composer Neil Hefti's theme song for "The Odd Couple" will always be remembered.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Unlike previous DVD releases of "The Odd Couple" which were sparse when it came to special features, the "CENTENNIAL COLLECTION" version features a good number of special features and quite lengthy as well.
* Commentary: - Commentary by Charlie Matthau and Chris Lemmon. The guys have an interesting conversation during the film and talking about their parents. How they were odd couple as friends in real life and on the film but still very good friends. Chris Lemmon talks about how his father was like Felix and Charlie talks about how his father was like Felix as well in real life. As Matthau puts it, the first "bromance" on film.
* In the Beginning... - A 17-minute featurette featuring interviews with Larry King (a good friend of Simon, Lemmon and Matthau), David Sheiner (who plays "Roy"), Carole Shelley (who plays "Gwendolyn Pigeon"), Gene Saks (the director of the film), Chris Lemmon (son of Jack Lemmon), Charlie Matthau (son of Walter Matthau), Brad Garrett (who played "Murray" and "Oscar" in the 2005 Broadway revival), Robert Evans (former studio head) and more. Each talking about their experiences of the watching "The Odd Couple" play, the film, their experiences with Neil Simon, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau and a good insight to personal experience on the film and the personal friendship between Lemmon and Matthau. A very good tribute to the film and the men. A wonderful and informative featurette.
* Inside The Odd Couple - A 19-minute featurette about the casting of the film. Also, an insight on why Art Carney ("The Honeymooners", "Oscar") who was in the original Broadway production with Walter Matthau, turned down the part. Also, behind-the-scenes of the budget of the film and how they could cast two popular actors and possibly a director like Billy Wilder on a tight budget and then what took place afterwards and Gene Saks eventually becoming the director. Eventually, the only way to get the two men in the film was to not use Billy Wilder and go with Gene Saks. Interviews with a few of the talent on the film and discussing about how they were cast for their roles. Very informative!
* Memories from the Set - A ten-minute featurette with interviews with director Gene Saks who would talk about the relationship on the film between Lemmon and Matthau. David Sheiner (who plays "Roy") talking about how the second act was shot first and the first act second because Matthau broke his arm in an accident. Interesting tid-bits behind the scenes of the film.
* Matthau & Lemmon - A ten-minute featurette with both Chris Lemmon and Charlie Matthau and those involved with the film discussing the friendship of their father and how they were great friends for decades and how their friendship made their onscreen perfomance even much better. Both sons reflect on their father's friendship and growing up with their father and the type of relationship they had. A more personal featurette based on family and friendship.
* The Odd Couple: A Classic - A three-minute featurettte featuring cast, those involved with the film, ChrisLemmon and Charlie Matthau discussing why they feel the movie had become a classic.
* Galleries - Image galleries from production and from the movie.
* Trailers - Theatrical Trailer (previously used on the 2000 DVD release)
And like previous Centennial Collections from Paramount, a booklet is included with information and tidbits about the film and its stars and also a cardboard slipcase that holds the DVD/case.
JUDGMENT CALL:
"The Odd Couple" will always be remembered as a comedy classic. In fact, it ranks #17 for the American Film Institute's "AFI Top 100 Years...100 Laughs" category. And that doesn't surprise me one bit, this film is just so enjoyable and entertaining.
The back and forth exchanges between Matthau and Lemmon will always be remembered, both men were just magnificent in this filme and after watching this "CENTENNIAL COLLECTION", you realize how these two men made it happen. Not just because they were talented actors but they had this tremendous friendship that transcended off-screen to on-screen and made their onscreen performance so believable and enjoyable and yet making you laugh. Even though this film is over 40-years-old, it still remains entertaining and quite hilarious now as it was then.
But what makes this "CENTENNIAL COLLECTION" so wonderful is the fact that you have special features bringing talent and crew involved with the film, family and friends of Neil Simon, Matthau and Lemmon, those who have worked with revival of the play and showcasing everything from the casting, the hiring of a director, behind-the-scenes of making the film, personal relationships between the children and their father and much more. For fans of the film, the special features included in the "CENTENNIAL COLLECTION" is absolutely golden. There is just so much to learn and watch and enjoy on this DVD that Paramount really did give royal treatment for this release.
All in all, this DVD is highly recommended!
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This is one of the funniest movies of all time! This is a classic comedy for all ages, starring two veteran award winning actors that were made to play Felix and Oscar. They ARE Oscar and Felix. Everyone needs to see this movie.
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