The Main Event (1979)

A bankrupt entrepreneur attempts to recoup some of her losses by getting a washed-out boxer she picked up as a tax loss back into the ring - an idea her protégé isn't fond of.

Director:

Howard Zieff

Writers:

Gail Parent, Andrew Smith

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Paul Sand

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbra Streisand	...	Hillary Kramer
Ryan O'Neal	...	Eddie 'Kid Natural' Scanlon
Paul Sand	...	David
Whitman Mayo	...	Percy
Patti D'Arbanville	...	Donna
Chu Chu Malave	...	Luis
Richard Lawson	...	Hector Mantilla
James Gregory	...	Gough
Richard Altman	...	Tour Guide
Seth Banks	...	Newsman
Lindsay Bloom	...	Girl In Bed
Earl Boen	...	Nose - Kline
Roger Bowen	...	Owner Sinthia Cosmetics
Badja Djola	...	Heavyweight In Gym (as Badja Medu Djola)
Rory Calhoun	...	Fighter In Kid's Camp

Storyline

Hillary Kramer, successful Perfume magnate awakes one morning to find that her accountant has robbed her blind and left for South America. Going through all of her remaining assets she finds a boxer, purchased as a tax write off. She decides to take Kid Natural, (Eddie Scanlon) who is much more at home giving driving lessons, into the ring and use him as her key to riches. Eddie thinks this will only get him killed and resists.

---

Plot Keywords:

perfume | boxer | accountant | opposites attract | star | 

---

Taglines:

A Glove Story

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Main Event

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$42,800,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$42,800,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Artists, Barwood Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Barbra Streisand's music on the soundtrack represented the music performer's first recordings into the genre of disco music.

---

Goofs

When Hillary and Kid are fighting in the ring at the end of the film, Kid calls Hillary, "Judy". Judy was Barbra Streisand's character's name in the last film that she and Ryan O'Neal did together, What's Up, Doc?.

---

Quotes

David: So, you're her fighter?
Eddie 'Kid Natural' Scanlon: So, you're her husband?
David: Ex-husband.
Eddie 'Kid Natural' Scanlon: Well with a little luck I'll be her ex-fighter.

---

Connections

Featured in Sneak Previews: Rocky II/The In-Laws/Lost and Found/Escape from Alcatraz/The Main Event (1979)

---

Soundtracks

Angry Eyes
Kenny Loggins (as Loggins) & Jim Messina (as Messina)
Written by Kenny Loggins (uncredited) and Jim Messina (uncredited)

User Reviews

Screwball romantic comedy, irritating if you're not a Streisand fan but probably quite enjoyable if you are.

The Main Event tries to capture some of the flavour of those old '30s comedies in which the main characters were fast-talking, argumentative types who ultimately fell in love with other against all expectations. Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal are re-teamed seven years on from their much-admired What's Up Doc? but this film isn't really from the same league. It is, however, moderately enjoyable and sharply written.

Streisand plays Hilary Kramer, a successful business-woman who runs a perfume corporation. She discovers that her accountant has fled to South America with all her money and all her assets, leaving her ruined. However, the one contract that the accountant forgot to take with him is that of a boxer, Eddie "Kid Natural" Scanlon (Ryan O'Neal). Hilary threatens Kid Natural with breach of contract if he won't fight for her (even though he's barely been in the ring for goodness knows how many years). Eventually, Kid Natural agrees to box again but he turns out to be pretty useless. Undeterred, Hilary fixes up a lucrative fight with one of his old adversaries, but complications arise when she realises that she has actually fallen for him.

Fans of Streisand will undoubtedly enjoy the film. For others, it's a bit irritating. She gets into the role with heart and soul, but her constant fast-talk, put downs and wise one-liners becomes very wearing if you're not an admirer. O'Neal is frustratingly laid-hack and seems to be playing his role with the minimum of effort, but he somehow just about gets across a likable enough performance. The situations and incidents that comprise the plot are nicely thought-out. The only moment which feels wrong is the ending, wherein Streisand does something really crazy to prove her love for O'Neal but what she does would, in actual fact, probably annoy the hell out of him, yet he takes it really well and it all seems somewhat unbelievable. Still, The Main Event is undemanding entertainment and you could do a lot worse.