The Out of Towners

I've been reading some of the comments for this film, and I can't understand those who don't find it funny. Apparently they've never traveled or have never experienced a modicom of mess while traveling (and I LOVE to travel), or, have simply never had a really bad 48 hours, doing whatever! Lemmon's shear repetition of wanting to get everyone's phone number and address is hysterical, because through his fatigue in trying to cope with one problem after another in The Big Apple, he still finds the strength to take down everyone's name and number, and promises to retaliate at a later point in time. Sandy Dennis is a perfect, calm, albeit understandably very fatigued, foil for Lemmon's frustrated and hyper New Yorker-wannabe. For me, she's always a gem to watch.

The scene in which Lemmon loses a tooth, followed by losing his hearing, followed by the ability to hear only every other word spoken, is quietly hysterical. Also very funny is his scene in the park "talking" to a little boy....that's all I'll say about that one. Overall, if you're in the mood for observing high-speed neurosis, played to comedic perfection by the inimitable Jack Lemmon, watch this film, and enjoy.

It is incomprehensible how Leonard Maltin can badmouth this riotously funny movie. Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis play off beautifully against each other in this tale of two misbegotten and forlorn visitors to the Big Apple who suffer every indignity that can befall two out-of-towners, and then some. It's a comedy classic in my book. The 1999 Martin/Hawn remake pales by comparison.

Now that I'm retired I do a bit of traveling now and I make itineraries that I like to stick to. What happens to Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis is every traveler's nightmare in between all the laughs.

Starting with the circling around the airport, I remember once circling an hour and a half at Newark Airport because flights were backed up and that's after an hour delay from Rochester. That was 20 years ago and I haven't had anything like that happen to me recently. It can be incredibly nerve wracking and I well sympathize with what was happening.

That would normally be enough. But Mr.&Mrs. Kellerman go exponential Murphy on this trip. Everything that can go wrong does, every single solitary thing from lost luggage to canceled hotel reservations to spending a night on the ground at Central Park and plenty more besides. All this on a nice dreamed of vacation in New York for this middle America Ohio couple who are combining business and pleasure as Lemmon is also in town for a job interview.

Jack Lemmon is a perfect fit for his American everyman character and Sandy Dennis provides an interesting brand of quirkiness as the wife. Although there are some talented players in the cast including a rising Billy Dee Williams in the role of a ticket agent, they're fairly one dimensional as the film for about 90% of the time focuses on Lemmon and Dennis and their travails in the Big Apple.

Do they get out of all their woes. Well I can say is, think about that musical number that Bing Crosby and Olga San Juan did in Blue Skies.

Control freak Jack Lemmon from Ohio has gotten a new prestigeous job offer in New York. He only has to get there by 9 am the folowing morning. Will he or wont he get there on time? Everything was planned to the tee, but what can go wrong, will go hilariously wrong, cumulating in numerous aggrevating disasters that keep raining down on this man from out of town, who is completely unaware of the dangers of New York.

If you like Jack Lemmon's nervous ticks and worrying antics then you will surely like "The Out of Towners", which is filled with more disasters then a shipwreck movie. "After Hours" by Martin Scorsese and "Plain, trains and automobiles" with John Candy and Steve Martin must have been inspired by this story, because it has got so many resemblances. Steve Martin did a remake of "The Out of Towners" but it has got none of the fantastic nervous antics that Jack Lemmon specializes in. This movie could also be called "Die Hard for Travellers", because at the end of his journey Jack Lemmon looks like Bruce Willis having been shot to pieces.

Especially recommended for tourists who are planning to visit New York!

It deals with a sympathetic marriage living in the small , quiet town of Twin Oaks , Ohio , they're Jack Lemmon and Sandy Denis , then both of whom travel to New York City to a job interview and along the way everything that could go wrong does . Throughout their tumultuous journey , they are thwarted by every tourist nightmare obstacle as retouring to Boston, and there resulting in swindle , robbing , missed trains , cab mishaps , mugging, maxed credit cars, as well as the hotel hasn't honoured the reservation , and eventually an aerial kidnap, among others. As their unexpected adventure does throw up a few very funny set-pieces .

An enjoyable Manhattan melodrama with great performances from an excellent couple : Jack Lemmon , Sandy Denis make a likable enough Midwestern couple , including laughters , funny incidents , amusement and entertainment . Neal Simon's script is , as always , both fun and wholesome. Jack Lemon's acting is magnificent and Sandy Denis is nice , as well . As Lemon suffers the mounting indignities with the skill acquired from acting urban neurotics for most his career . They are well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as : Billy Dee Williams , Paul Dooley , Montalban , Paula Prentiss as a flight attendant . It was remade 1999 by Sam Weisman with Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin.

The motion picture was competently directed by Arthur Hiller. He was a good craftsman who made all kinds of genres with penchant for comedy and drama , such as : "Married to it, Carpool, The Babe , Taking care of business , See no evil hear no evil, Outrageous Fortune , The Lonely Guy , Teachers , Romantic Comedy , Author Author , Making Love , Nightwing , Silver Streak , The Man in the Glass Booth , Man of the Mancha , Hospital, Plaza Suite , Love Story , Promise her anything , Tobruk, Americanization of Emily, Miracle of the White Stallions , The Wheeler Dealers" , among others . Rating : 7/10. Above average . The movie will appeal to comedy enthusiasts and Jack Lemmon fans .