Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ryan O'Neal | ... | Bobby Fine | |
Jack Warden | ... | Jack | |
Mariangela Melato | ... | Lira | |
Richard Kiel | ... | Eddie | |
Fred Gwynne | ... | Chairman Lincoln | |
Mike Kellin | ... | Sam Schlotzman | |
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David Rounds | ... | Prof. McCarthy |
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Joel Stedman | ... | Prof. Yarnell |
Angela Pietropinto | ... | Sylvia | |
Michael Lombard | ... | Jay Augustine | |
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Jessica James | ... | Vicki |
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Charles Bruce Millholland | ... | Sir Alec (as Bruce Millholland) |
Merwin Goldsmith | ... | Dave | |
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Irving Metzman | ... | Accountant |
Lois De Banzie | ... | Waitress in House of Pancakes |
Jack Fine, owner/manager of Fine Fashions of Brooklyn, it which solely produces women's dresses, has been having a difficult time the past year due to the company not keeping up with the changing fashions. Associated, Jack is in debt to the tune of $1.5 million to loan shark and gangster, Mr. Eddie, a hulking and flamboyant man who has a penchant for picking up and destroying things which are bothering him, Jack who now falls into that category. Instead of proverbially or literally breaking Jack's legs or worse, Mr. Eddie decides to take over Fine Fashions until the debt is paid, with Jack's son, Bobby Fine, an English Literature professor at upstate Chippenango State College, to manage the operations. Not only does this new career, which Bobby has no option but to accept, threaten the possibility of Bobby obtaining this year's tenure track position in the department, but Bobby at the helm of the fashion house threatens to ruin it completely as Bobby has no idea about fashion ... Written by Huggo
What makes this movie a comedy classic are the sub-plots involving Ryan O'Neal as a straight laced academic who gets involved with a sexy woman who is the girl friend of Big Eddie (the biggest bad guy you will ever met). While I wouldn't want to compare Ryan O'Neal with Cary Grant there is a feel of some of the Grant roles where he plays the shy awkward guy rather than his normal sophisticated role. This movie has the feel of an old time screwball comedy but with some scenes that only could be shown in a more modern movie. I will never forget the passionate couch scene where the girl breaks out in opera.
Well worth the viewing if you can find it.
Unfortunately it is not available on DVD yet... that needs to change!