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Rating:  - The trains collide
My husband and I saw this movie just when we were 17. Our third date together. Our favorite scene was when they kissed and the ancient trains collided. So whenever I wrote to my honey, I drew a picture on the envelope of the trains colliding. No one knew what it meant until just a few years ago when my sister-in-law and Mother-in-law saw the movie with us. Both of them shouted at once, so that is where the trains came from, all of us laughing. And by the way, we have now been married 43 years, so those trains were very impressive!!!
Rating:  - Man's Favorite Sport?
As an actor Rock Hudson wasn't considered to have much potential early in his career. He eventually became a good dramatic actor, it wasn't easy, he wasn't the most gifted or talented but he worked hard at his craft. What a surprise it was when he went into comedy. His pairings with Doris Day, for the most part, are outstanding examples of romantic comedies. Man's Favorite Sport? could have easily had Doris Day also.
It is sort of strange to look back on Hudson's career after the revelations came out when he was near death. Whatever his personal preferences he was a solid actor & proved very adept at comedy though it is unique to see his interactions with female leads. Man's Favorite Sport? is a solid comedy that's well worth more than one viewing.
Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson) is a salesman at a sporting goods store & has the reputation of being a great fisherman, in fact, he has written a book on it. Many customers call and/or visit him to get his advice. What no one knows is that he's never fished in his life. Enter Abigail Page (Paula Prentiss) & Isolde "Easy" Mueller (Maria Perschy- the nickname is never explained) who want Willoughby to enter a fishing tournament. Willoughby confesses to the two women he doesn't have a clue about fishing so they agree to teach him in the seven days before the tournament. Willoughby is extremely unwilling but his boss, William Cadwalader (John McGiver), convinces him it's in the best interest of retaining his job.
The laughs abound as Willoughby proves to be as inept as a fisherman there ever was. The scenes with Roger & Abigail are funny & it's inevitable that Abigail falls for him. Unfortunately Roger is engaged & Abigail is a walking disaster. Love & luck overcomes it all & Willoughby wins at both. Then he has to confess that he's never fished in his life.
Good solid movie that was directed by one of Hollywood's greatest directors, Howard Hawks. This film has some similarities to his screwball comedies of the thirties & forties. If you're a fan of those you will enjoy this one.
Rating: - One of Wife's Favorites
I've never watched all the movie because it really isn't my type (and this coming from someone who had a video store for 10 years). However, many people I know love it. And this is the second copy I've bought for my wife because she loaned it to a sister after I bought the first one, it got passed between siblings and she was "jonesing" to have another one. And we all know it's important to keep the wife happy. She's wonderful and deserves it..TG
Rating: - Man's Favorite Sport?
One of my many "oldie" favorites. Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss are a good match. Not a rousing comedy but a steady one.
Rating:  - Who are these reviewers?
I had never seen this movie, and looked forward to viewing it, in part because I think that Howard Hawks may have been the grestest American movie director. I began to worry during the credits which played to possibly the worst movie theme I have ever heard. When I saw the theme was credited to Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, I was stunned. Then the movie began, and I suppose it was okay if you like comedies that never make you laugh. The movie almost seemed to be an in-joke on Hudson's double life, but I don't suppose that can be proved. Why did the writers have Hudson reveal his secret to Prentiss in the first few minutes? Wouldn't concealment until near the end have given more comic opportunities? Was the fake Indian chief funny even in 1963? I think Hawks forgot at times that he was not directing Cary Grant, whose subtleties and physical grace (with him the scene of climbing upside down into Prentiss's car might actually have been funny) would have added some humor on their own. Hudson was not without a lesser talent , but you don't see it in this movie.
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