Kotch

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau were one of cinema's most notable teams. They co-starred in a number of comedies over the years, always entertaining audiences. But there was also a time that Lemmon stepped behind the camera. The result was "Kotch", based on a book by Katharine Topkins. Matthau plays an elderly man in the LA area who feels useless in the changing world. His son and daughter-in-law consider him a nuisance, but he would rather not spend the rest of his life in a retirement home. But his life takes a new turn when he hooks up with a young pregnant woman.

We're used to seeing Matthau play curmudgeons, but here his character gets a new outlook on life. There's a scene towards the end that's a shocker (let's just say that Walter Matthau is the last person whom you'd picture doing that). All in all, a good movie. Not a masterpiece, but I still recommend it.

The mostly unknown KOTCH is one of those pretty-good time fillers, but what it's known for is the different kind of collaboration between multi-screen-buds Jack Lemmon and title star Walter Matthau, who shares nice chemistry with Deborah Winters, an intense and lovely young blond-haired actress who makes a cozy odd couple, and here's what's on her mind about the production:

DEBORAH WINTERS: I went in and read for Jack Lemmon: this is the only picture that Jack directed. You know, actors don't usually end up liking to direct and the reason is it's extremely difficult to direct a picture. It's very, very hard work and the work begins before you're filming, and then of course during filming, and it's long after filming: doing all the editing and post-production...

It's too much work. They like to go in and memorize some dialog for the day's shoot... The make-up man and the hairdresser makes them up and makes them look good, and then they shoot for one day and they go home, and when the picture's over they relax.

It took Jack six years to get this film finally made... And I came in, of course, more on the tail end of it. Nobody would give him the money and he really loved the story and thought it should be made. So he kept working on it and working on it...

And it was something where I went in to audition and Jack felt I really understood "Erica Herzenstiel," and I was the one he wanted from the very beginning... It was a great compliment and I loved working with both of them. They were fantastic men, and characters, and very funny together.

I first saw this back in the late '70's on TV. We loved it in the family, great fun, heart and performances. Matthau's intrepid, smart if slightly 'out There' Kotch is a unique character, well acted, and always someone we root for. It's not much different from the roles he would go onto play in the 90s, but...done by a younger man.

Sometimes the makeup and haircoloring doesn't quite look convincing, but that's okay too. The performance is put across as much by body language and posture as anything else.

The car is a great added touch-the knocking engine and etc a counterpoint to Kotch's own creaky body.

I liked Ellen Geer as the crabby daughter too-was surprised that she wound up in 'Phenomenon' and several other flix(Patriot Games) that I have seen before. Never made the connection.

It is dated sure, but that is inevitable with films. It's worth yer time.

*** outta **** Nice job by Lemmon, too.

In Kotch (1971), Walter Matthau plays the title character, Joseph P. Kotcher, a retired senior citizen, who finds out, that his family wants him to move to an old-folks home, so he sets out onto a road-trip to get away. He befriends a young, pregnant woman, who he helps navigate, the tough road to birth. Larry Linville, a year before MASH (1972-1983), in a brief performance, plays one of the pivotal characters in Kotch (1971). He is the brother (Peter) and guardian, of Deborah Winters', pregnant-teen character, Erica Herzenstiel. In order for Erica, while pregnant, to achieve certain financial benchmarks, that she needs in her life, she has to get Peter's approval. You know, important stuff, like medical bills and the rent, money, which Kotch lends to her, while he helps her learn how to breathe. Kotch (1971), was nominated for four Oscars, including the Best Actor Oscar for Matthau.

This film is obviously a star-vehicle for Matthau. It is definitely his show. All popular actors in Hollywood, get film projects, that are movies about one central character. Films, that are cast with those popular actors, along with a bunch of other secondary, less-popular, character actors. Probably the next popular actor in Kotch (1971), is Charles Aidman, who plays Kotch's son, Gerald. Some viewers may know Aidman, but no one under the age of 35 would know him. Aidman didn't do many movies, but you may recognize him from his extensive television career. Kotch (1971), was an interesting departure for Walter Matthau, compared to the more, normal type-of roles he does. It is a very subtle story with very subtle performances. The film needed more energy. There are moments in the film, that could accidentally, put some viewers to sleep.

Kotch (1971), is a light-hearted comedy-drama, in the fact, that it isn't a brutal, knock-down, type-of story. It doesn't try to hit you with huge comedy moments and it doesn't try to give you a downer of a drama. It's just a film about, mostly normal people, doing mostly normal things in life. It is a fitting story for director Jack Lemmon, who has acted in dozens of films like this. The music by Marvin Hamlisch, was also nominated for an Oscar. You can clearly tell its his soundtrack too. The 1970s feel of Kotch (1971), is great, especially with that classic, gritty 1970s film-stock. It has that classic subtle feeling of old Hollywood, combined with the strength of modern cinema, which was what 1970s cinema was all about. The dawn of modern cinema. I only wish the film had a faster pace and more energy.

PMTM Grade: 6.5 (C-) = 7 IMDB.

Jack Lemmon did an excellent job with this script and produced a very entertaining movie with an unforeseeable ending. Matthau is outstanding as usual and his fate keeps viewers in suspense until the end. I recommend it to young and old.