Good Neighbor Sam (1964)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

David Swift

Writers:

Jack Finney (novel)
James Fritzell (writer)

Release Date:

22 July 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Slam! Bam! Here comes Sam!...Caught in the Middle of a Two-Woman Jam!

Plot:

Sam Bissel is a wholesome family man with a loving wife, Min, and two loving daughters. They lead a happy suburban life...

Plot Keywords:

Private Investigator | Inheritance | Milk | Billboard | Advertising

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jack Lemmon	...	Sam Bissel
Romy Schneider	...	Janet Lagerlof
Dorothy Provine	...	Minerva Bissell
Mike Connors	...	Howard Ebbets (as Michael Connors)
Edward Andrews	...	Harvey Burke
Louis Nye	...	Reinhold Shiffner, detective
Robert Q. Lewis	...	Earl, neighnor
Joyce Jameson	...	Elsie - Hotel Hooker
Anne Seymour	...	Irene Krump
Charles Lane	...	Jack Bailey
Linda Watkins	...	Edna
Peter Hobbs	...	Phil Reisner
Tristram Coffin	...	Sonny Blatchford (as Tris Coffin)
Neil Hamilton	...	Larry Boling
Riza Royce	...	Miss Halverson

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Bradbury Building - 304 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The name of the advertising firm for which Sam Bissel works, Burke & Hare, is clearly a reference to William Burke and William Hare, two Irish laborers living in 18th century Edinburgh, Scotland who became notorious as history's most famous "body snatchers" who, until they were discovered by the British authorities, killed at least 15 travelers and then sold their corpses to medical schools for dissection.

Quotes:

Hertz Commercial Man: [after finally being lowered into convertible] Man, that's *real* coffee!
[in tears]
Hertz Commercial Man: Oh, noooo!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Cut Ups (1966)

1960'S SUBURBIA--- WHERE DID IT GO?

The first time I saw this movie, I was floored by this funny, sexy romp. My God, Jack Lemmon even used the word "hell!". Oh, did I mention that I was 9 years old at the time! Upon seeing it again, many years later, I was glad to see it "held up" better than I thought it would. It's "plenty" dated (so what???). The silliness and familiar faces make it worthwhile.

The theme song is memorable (you'll know it when you hear it). Jack Lemmon's eccentricity at home, is in great contrast to his constant fight to appear normal in his advertising agency persona. The advertising "game" was used as the backdrop of many movies of the 1960's, whether comedy or drama. There is a running gag througout this movie, spoofing the filming of a popular Hertz Car Rental commercial. It's very funny. I was also pleased to see Edward G. Robinson make an appearance in a "light" role.

Not a GREAT movie, but if you enjoy Jack Lemmon versus the world type comedies, you'll enjoy this one too.....