| The Sunshine Boys | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster byAl Hirschfeld | |
| Directed by | Herbert Ross |
| Screenplay by | Neil Simon |
| Based on | The Sunshine Boys 1972 play by Neil Simon |
| Produced by | Ray Stark |
| Starring | Walter Matthau George Burns Richard Benjamin |
| Cinematography | David M. Walsh |
| Edited by | John F. Burnett |
| Music by | Irwin Fisch |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | United Artists (United States/Canada) Cinema International Corporation (international) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Sunshine Boys is a 1975 Americancomedy film directed byHerbert Ross and produced byRay Stark, released byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer and based on the1972 play byNeil Simon about two legendary (and cranky) comics brought together for a reunion and revival of their famousvaudeville act. The cast includesWalter Matthau as Clark, real-life experienced vaudevillian actorGeorge Burns as Lewis, andRichard Benjamin as Ben, withLee Meredith,F. Murray Abraham,Carol Arthur, Jennifer Lee,Rosetta LeNoire,Howard Hesseman andRon Rifkin in supporting roles.
Al Lewis and Willy Clark are two elderly comedians who were once a popularvaudeville comedy act known as "Lewis and Clark" and also called the Sunshine Boys. After 47 years together, they parted ways 11 years ago on unfriendly terms and have not spoken since. The break-up was partly due to Al's intent to retire and Willy's desire to continue performing. Willy's nephew Ben, a talent agent, tries to find work for Willy, which proves difficult because of Willy's senility and blustery temperament.
When one of the major networks decides to air a program on the history of comedy and wants the Sunshine Boys to reunite for the show, Ben tries to secure the duo's cooperation one last time. Ben attempts to manage the individual quirks of two old men in their twilight years, including omitting the abuse and insults that both used when discussing the other with him, and diplomatically portraying both as eager to do the "Doctor Sketch" for anABC special to give the appearance of harmony.
An attempt to rehearse the "Doctor Sketch" at Willy's apartment starts with the two grudgingly getting reacquainted, but goes only as far as Al entering the doctor's (Willy's) office before Willy decides to change the scripted, long-established "Come in" to "Enter!" This results in a loud shouting argument and Al's stormy departure.
Ben has to patch up and salvage the situation despite Al's daughter objecting to her father being bothered any further about the special, and he manages to get them into the ABC studio. In the dressing room, they do not speak to each other as persons, as they did in the final year of doing their sketches together. Unpleasantness arises when Willy carelessly dumps makeup jars on Al in the dressing room, followed by Willy's usual trouble with doors.
AfterPhyllis Diller finishes her scene andSteve Allen speaks his introduction, the "Doctor Sketch" begins. It flows smoothly until Willy becomes irately inconsolable about Al's "spitting" during the enunciation ofTs, as well as poking him in the chest. Despite Ben and the studio staff trying to restore order, Willy storms off the set, shouting accusations and decades of old bitterness. Al also leaves (finding it impossible to work with the man). In the stairwell, Willy's ongoing temper tantrum results in a serious heart attack.
Willy recovers, first in the hospital, then at home with a private nurse, with whom he bickers and chides. Ben visits, insisting on Willy's retirement, offering his own home or a NJ actors' retirement home for his convalescence. Serendipitously, Al is moving into the same NJ actor's home because his daughter is having a second baby and will need his room. The two men reconcile in Willy's apartment, chatting about mutual theater friends inVariety magazine.
Woody Allen originally was asked to direct, but he was more interested in playing the role of Lewis and declined the offer. Twenty years later, he was cast as Lewis in the1996 television adaptation.[1]
Initially,Bob Hope andBing Crosby were proposed for the leads, but Simon was opposed to the idea. He felt the roles requiredJewishcomedians.[2] Several actors were considered, includingJames Cagney,[3] andPhil Silvers filmed a screen test. Eventually, the roles were given to real-life vaudevillian veteransRed Skelton andJack Benny.
Skelton backed out after realizing that his income as a stand-up comic was higher than what he was offered for the film; he was replaced by the younger Matthau.[2] Benny was forced to withdraw after being diagnosed with thepancreatic cancer that would claim his life in December, 1974. For the role, Benny recommended his friend and fellow real-life veteran vaudevillian Burns, who had not appeared in a feature film since 1939.[4] Burns'sAcademy Award-winning performance in the film revived his career at age 79 and redefined his popular image as an active, older comedy star.
Six weeks before filming started, Burns hadtriple bypass heart surgery.[5]
The Sunshine Boys was a moderate financial success forMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer but fell short of box-office projections. MGM presidentFrank Rosenfelt said, "I liked it. I thought it was funny. I thought the playing was great. But it didn't work with the public."[6]
The film had its world premiere atRadio City Music Hall in New York City on November 6, 1975.[7] It grossed $4.7 million at the Hall and had grossed $10.2 million in the United States and Canada after 17 weeks.[8]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 69% of 39 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Thanks to the sparkling chemistry between its stars and Herbert Ross' gentle direction, this sweetly ambling comedy ranks among Neil Simon's finest screen adaptations."[9]
Vincent Canby ofThe New York Times wrote that with Matthau "at the top of his most antisocial form" and Burns "giving a keenly funny, brilliant straight performance and with Mr. Simon delivering some of his best one-liners, the movie is extremely easy to take. It's only afterward you realize that two complex characters, as well as a unique personal and professional relationship, have been used up—wasted—in the interests of comedy no more substantial than the insults that Willy and Al throw at each other."[10]
Arthur D. Murphy ofVariety called it "an extremely sensitive and lovable film version of Neil Simon's play, with Walter Matthau and George Burns outstanding in their starring roles as a pair of long-hostile vaudeville partners".[11]
Gene Siskel of theChicago Tribune gave the film two stars out of four, and wrote that it "simply provides more of the insult comedy sweeping television. It's a prune-faced 'Odd Couple' without that play's affection for its characters and its characters' affection for each other."[12]
Kevin Thomas of theLos Angeles Times called it "one of the year's funniest yet most poignant pictures", adding that "Simon not only wrings much laughter from Lewis and Clark's predicament but also brings us very close to tears".[13]
Gary Arnold ofThe Washington Post called the film "more amusing than one might have expected, probably because Walter Matthau makes a surprisingly funny and plausible old coot".[14]
Pauline Kael ofThe New Yorker wrote, "I'm a very easy laugher, and I didn't laugh once atThe Sunshine Boys. The only part of the movie I enjoyed was the footage during the titles—clips of vaudeville headliners from early short subjects andHollywood Revue of 1929."[15]
| Award[16] | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Actor | Walter Matthau | Nominated | [17] |
| Best Supporting Actor | George Burns | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay – Adapted from Other Material | Neil Simon | Nominated | ||
| Best Art Direction | Albert Brenner andMarvin March | Nominated | ||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Walter Matthau(also forThe Bad News Bears) | Nominated | [18] |
| Best Screenplay | Neil Simon | Nominated | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Won | [19] | |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | George Burns | Won[a] | ||
| Walter Matthau | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Richard Benjamin | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Neil Simon | Nominated | ||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium | Won | [20] | |
