SUNSHINE BOYS (DVD/16X9/WS/1.85/ENG-FR-SP-SUB) DVD

The Sunshine Boys
In this 1975 adaptation of Neil Simon's stage play, director Herbert Ross presents the story of two old-time Vaudvillians played by Walter Matthau and George Burns in his first starring role since 1939's Honolulu. After decades apart, the cantankerous duo is persuaded to reunite for a television special despite the fact that they hate each other. Richard Benjamin co-stars as Matthau's nephew, who has the responsibility of making sure the comedians go through with the show and don't kill each other in the process. Nominated for four Academy Awards, Burns took home the statue for Best Supporting Actor. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Cast Walter Matthau as Willy Clark George Burns as Al Lewis Richard Benjamin as Ben Clark Lee Meredith as Nurse in Sketch Carol Arthur as Lewis' Daughter Doris Rosetta Le Noire as Nurse Jennifer Lee as Ben's Wife Helen Howard Hesseman as Commercial Director

Crew Seth Banks - Costume Designer Pat Norris - Costume Designer Jack Roe - First Assistant Director Herbert Ross - Director Margaret Booth - Editor John F. Burnett - Editor Harry V. Lojewski - Musical Direction/Supervision Dick Smith - Makeup Special Effects Stephen Myles Berger - Production Designer Albert Brenner - Production Designer David M. Walsh - Cinematographer Raymond Stark - Producer Marvin March - Set Designer Harry W. Tetrick - Sound/Sound Designer Jerry Jost - Sound/Sound Designer Neil Simon - Screenwriter Neil Simon - Play Author

The Sunshine Boys
Probably no other playwright of recent times has understood the importance of structure and conflict more than Neil Simon -- not to mention the mechanics of building a laugh. While this has a down side -- sometimes Simon is slavishly dedicated to form, with the result that he forgets to fill in his characters or to cover up the machinery and artifice -- The Sunshine Boys finds Simon operating at near-peak form. As with The Odd Couple, he reveals a special flair for combustible male-to-male relationships; his eye (and ear) for the ways in which men constantly compete with each other is in especially fine form. And as usual, there are plenty of jokes - most of them good -- to keep things lively. Herbert Ross's direction is smooth and polished and adeptly makes the change of tone in the last third seem fairly natural; if it lacks distinction, it does a marvelous job of serving Simon's script and showcasing the talents of its stars. Those stars do not disappoint, either. Walter Matthau -- playing considerably older than he was, but then it often seems that Matthau was born an old man anyway -- is a cantankerous, wily joy, spitting out his lines with an invigorating venom and employing his unique take on physical comedy to good effect. George Burns matches him step for step -- and betters him occasionally, replacing Matthau's venom with an acidity that cuts deeper. His ease before the camera masks the amount of care and work that lie underneath his portrayal. Both stars would follow Boys with two big commercial hits, Oh God for Burns and The Bad News Bears for Matthau. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

Albert Brenner: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) George Burns: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner) George Burns: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com (nominated) Marvin March: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) Neil Simon: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Neil Simon: Golden Globe, Best Screenplay (nominated) Richard Benjamin: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner) Walter Matthau: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actor (nominated) Walter Matthau: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com (winner)

Golden Globe, Best Picture - Musical or Comedy (winner)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Commentary by Richard Benjamin Vintage featurette The Lion Roars Again Jack Benny and Walter Matthau makeup test Phil Silvers screen test Theatrical trailer Languages: English & Français Subtitles: English, Français & Español MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 111 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Vaudeville Credits. 2. Wrong Way Willy. 3. The Audition. 4. Words With a K. 5. It's Him. 6. Don't Force It. 7. "It's Still No!" 8. No One Like Him. 9. Al Remembers. 10. Both the Same. 11. Behave Yourself. 12. List of Props. 13. Kings of Comedy. 14. Arranging the Set. 15. Rehearsal With Door. 16. Enter... and Exit. 17. For Mark and Wendy. 18. Dressing Room Mess. 19. The Doctor Sketch. 20. Spitting and Poking. 21. Willy's Attack. 22. Senses of Humor. 23. Facing Facts. 24. One More Time. 25. Receiving His Visitor. 26. The Finger Again. 27. What's New? 28. Cast List.