I’ve always felt that the ridiculously high expectations these two came with post-Producers is the reason this production wasn’t better received by critics. Excellent casting of one of Simon’s best. Thank you Spiderwoman!
Love your comment, so well put, and glad it is up at the top as I expect this one to have its naysayers. When I uploaded this, I did no more than glance at it and for some reason this production looked better than I had remembered it. In any case, had to put something up by Mr. Simon.
Matthew Broderick hasn’t worked out as a film actor, but his subtle overacting is perfect for stage acting. He’s got tremendous chemistry with Nathan Lane.
This is fantastic! Lane & Broderick make a partnership as effective as Matthau & Lemmon. Contrary to some other comments here, I think Matthew Broderick is a terrific comedy actor, and triumphed in The Road to Wellville. And of course, Nathan Lane is sublime!
Ummm, no they don't. Matthau & Lemmon's performances were iconic. This looks tired and mediocre. Randall and Klugman were also stupendous. I realize the mediums are different, but Broderick just sounds whiny. Lane doesn't fit the part either, as Óscar.
18:38 My all time favorite Neil Simon line. The first time I ever read the play, I was waiting for the streetcar home from the library, I burst out laughing like a maniac, and terrified the little old lady sitting next to me.
.....and did she threaten to sue you with a jewish lawyer whose daughter who you met last week at a deli while ordering borrst on pumpincikle.................am just wondering..........heh.
@@diegopitbull7580 I so agree. Matthau was the perfect Oscar and Lemon was brilliant. But I think Randall was even better as Felix. Just my humble opinion.
This is so well-filmed - a shame the whole thing is not available. I saw Nathan and Matthew in "The Producers" - one of the all-time great Broadway experiences! Sorry I missed this. I understand they switched roles in certain performances, but I cannot see Nathan as Felix or Matthew as Oscar.
Yes. The mark was hit two times with this classic story. It wasn't going to happen a third time. Compared to Lemmon and Randell, Broderick's performance seems like pure mediocre local theater. Lane is always great, but he fits the Felix character. I can't accept him playing a masculine gruff person. It's like a gay gruff guy! LOL
This isn't the tv series...the play opened with Walter Matthau and Art Carney....I saw the play with Randall and Klugman when they were way into their seventies....I think I prefer Lane and Broderick
An interesting, probably final, look at Nathan Lane playing his "type:" the boorish, low-class Jason Alexander/Larry David type character he was so associated with during the 1990s. After Max Bialystock, he seemed to grow tired of the schtick: most of his appearances since then have featured a prissier, piss-elegant persona that is at least in part intended to be funny because we remember the "original flavor" Nathan Lane.
I have a bit of an unusual request: do you have or know where to find recordings of the following children's shows - Blue's Clues Live, Disney Junior Live on Tour Pirate & Princess Adventure, Hello Kitty's Fantastical Adventure, This Girl Laughs This Girl Cries This Girl Does Nothing, or any of the TDF Broadway Autism Theatre Initiative shows, and if you could ask someone if they'd be willing to film any upcoming shows from that program? I've been collecting recordings & would like to ask if I can email you a list of what I have. Thanks for your consideration
Forgive me, I'm an idiot. At first, Mr. Broderick's interpretation put me off, but as always, I have to remember that he will play the character as he sees fit. In other words, he's not required to be Tony Randall. Once I stopped comparing the Ungers, I thoroughly enjoyed the video. I'm sure folks felt the same way about Tony Randall, having seen Jack Lemmon's performance. Then again, I didn't like the way Ron Glass played the part in the early-80's reboot, either. I guess we all have our favorite Felix.
I have been in a number of Neil Simon plays and have always felt he wrote mediocre funny with the potential of his material being hilarious. The comedy variable has always been a director like Mike Nichols or Gene Saks, who understood who to cast and how to bring the material alive in truly funny fashion. I think the Odd Couple is really wrong for both Matthew and Nathan. The directing looks okay which does little to nothing for the material. I think both actors would fare much better in a door slamming farce. You watch Nathan in the birdcage with Robin and you really begin to understand how the right director for a project is crucial. By the way Mike Nicholls did direct the bird cage.
just plain noooo ...LANE AND BROADWICK in the opposite roles would be much smoother and better related in each others opposite roles of this...................trust me.
He's stiff and unconvincing and says his lines as if reading them instead of appearing to think of them. No breathes, no pauses and the laugh was phony. Yikes. He almost single-handedly sunk the movie version of the Producers.
This production just sums up everything I can't stand about Matthew Broadrick's acting. I find his delivery stilted and awkward. And his comic timing is very off.
