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- Verified Buyer
House Calls is good for a few relaxing date night or family night entertainments. In 1978 the bumbling hospital with back stage maneuvering and a new lost patient every day was not a well-used plot. Think Scrubs only 23 years sooner. This is rarely laugh out loud funny but a fair balance between wry humor, light romance and no intellectual challenge.Given how often people complain that there are no roles for people not "Hollywood Gorgeous" and new love is rarely a plot device for a more mature people , House Calls breaks these rules and proves that the result can be fun to watch. As this suggests this is a cast driven movie and so I give you:Walter Mathau as Dr. Charles Nichols has the right mix of surgeon's arrogance and a Doctor's sense of duty. Mathau gives us a complex rendition of his usual gruff lovable wrinkled faced dog.Glenda Jackson is the independent and opinionated Ann Atkson. She is all wiry class and better at sharing the twinkle in her eye than anyone else in the cast.Back up performances by:Scene stealing Art Carney as the befuddled and duplicitous Dr. Amos WilloughbyDumb blonde, arm candy, all grown up and suddenly rich and widowed Candice Azzara as Ellen Grady - this subplot was deftly played out adding much to the fun of this movieAnd as a likable best buddy and fellow Doctor, Richard Benjamin as Norman SolomonBetween these skilled performers, a fairly obvious plot and a mostly amusing dialogue, you are encouraged to relax and let it happen. There is no need to make notes or think deeply, just enjoy the craft of acting.A MUST SEE FOR MATTHEAU AND JACKSON FANS. A TRUE FAN MUST ALSO OWN HOPSCOTCH.This laid back romantic comedy from 1978 is a real treat, particularly because of the performances. Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson were so wonderfully combustible in the movie, they were again paired in 'Hopscotch', though oddly in the second film, they spent little time on screen together. Art Carney is a riot as a bumbling Chief of Staff, and all the supporting performances, from Richard Benjamin to the always delightful Candace Azzara, are equally enjoyable. Howard Zieff has a lackadaisical directing style that perfectly suits the material and actors. He basically gets out of the way and lets everyone shine. If you have not seen this movie, give it a try. (It was so successful it was made into a sitcom the following year, but without Matthau and Jackson, it didn't really go anywhere.)One odd and rather irritating thing, though: The movie has the obligatory 70's love montage in the middle. In the original film, and in the TV versions and VHS versions, The Beatles `Something in the Way She Moves' was the background music, and it was just wonderful. The film was cut to the music, and it really had an impact on the two leads' relationship. Michael Jackson and Co (unless he has since sold the rights) must not have allowed the music to be used on the DVD, or made a ridiculous demand, for the song is missing. There is just some mediocre filler music behind the montage and it really hurts that section of the film. It's annoying they were not able to put the movie on DVD in its original form.It may have marked the beginning of his `loveable' phase, but Walter Matthau is still on top form in House Calls, which sees him well paired with Glenda Jackson in a mature romantic comedy that has aged remarkably well. Funny lines abound alongside a couple of good comic setpieces (such as the unlikely couple trying to find out if the old Hays Code film censorship rule from the 1930s about having one foot on either side of the bed really does make sex impossible, a scene that feels like Julius J. Epstein's revenge on the censors), but what really makes it work is that character is never sacrificed for a quick laugh. What's more, these two people really do seem to belong together, and they exude comfort in their scenes together that's the very definition of screen chemistry. Sadly the DVD has been partially rescored (somehow Matthau and Jackson speedwalking in slow motion seems a lot less funny with a Henry Mancini underscore than the original Something in the Way She Moves Me) but otherwise is well worth the bargain price.I love this film. Is it going to win OSCARS ? >>>NO! These are the funny, romantic, entertaining comedies of the seventies. Fantastic fun and romance. Quick synopsis: Charlie(Walter Matthau) is a very recently widowed Doctor who Anne(Glenda Jackson) meets in the hospital he works at. They like one another immediately but Charlie wants to experience being Single first... Great fun. Acting always great with both of these pros. PS: Refreshing movie considering it is about older people living their lives and falling in love.Plz make more of these.Great story and professionalism writhe two great actorsFun movie to watch. Have watched it again and again. Rainy day kinda thing.Walter Matthau plays Charley, a recent widower, who jumps from one meaningless fling to the next, until he meets Ann (Glenda Jackson) a recent divorcee. They negotiate an exclusive relationship for a two week trial period, and find that love doesn't always come easy. Art Carney co-stars as an aging chief of surgery, and Richard Benjamin is Charley's best friend. Matthau reminds us that true comedy does not descend to slapstick. Jackson demonstrates that rare talent, an award winning tragedian ("Women In Love", "Elizabeth R") who can also win awards as a comedian (Academy Award for Best Actress in "A Touch Of Class").Top quality DVD. I'm a big fan of Jackson and Matthau and this did not disappoint. A must see movie for anyone who loves these two actors.Good film, shame it's not the original soundtrack. They've dropped 'Something' by the Beatles from the beach scene.As usual,m very goodwas delighted to find this here on good old Amazon.the film is really funny from start to end and me and my girlee thoroughly enjoyed it.I chose this because I'd seen Walter Matthau in some other movies that I have, and found that I've liked him in his many different roles. He is quite funny when he does the roles such as the ones in "Grumpy Old Men" et al but as for this one, I found it to be not as good as I expected it to be. I liked it, but not as much as I did "Grumpy Old Men" and "Grumpier Old Men". In spite of that, I still like it enough to keep it, and watch it again in the future.
