Un provinciale a New York

Hilarious Neil Simon comedy, that is, if you can tune into 80-minutes of what-else-can-go-wrong laughs. Seems upscale Lemmon and wife Dennis have to get from Ohio to NYC to accept his big time new job. Okay, no problem; except, the flight is detoured to Boston; there's a wrong train to NY; they're mugged in the city; then there's no room at their hotel, and a rain half-drowns them, etc., etc., etc. Like a string of slippery pearls, it's one adversity after another, and a real tribute to both performers that the frustrations are made amusing rather than off-putting. One thing for sure-- the flick's no valentine to NYC.

Happily, no one could do jangled nerves better than the comedic Lemmon, while Dennis offers perfectly measured support. Together, they bring off the challenge with artful flair. The rest of the cast appear only momentarily as our benighted twosome move from one frustration to the next. In many years of movie viewing, I've seen nothing like this daring storyline. All in all, it's tricky material done slickly and to the proverbial T. Meanwhile, I won't be going to NY any time soon, and if I do, I'll take a fat paper pad for all the names I'll have to sue to get there. Many thanks, Jack and Sandy.

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 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.

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 .

I sat down at my computer, intent on writing a brief review of 'The Out of Towners (1970).' I figured it would take about thirty minutes to complete the review, and so planned my night accordingly. At first everything went to plan, and I remained on schedule; then – with a dull droning sound, like that of a whimpering animal – my computer suddenly took it upon itself to shut down for no apparent reason. With a light curse, I leaned across and rebooted it, and this time we got as far as the Windows welcome screen. Then the lights flickered brightly, and I was suddenly plunged into darkness; the power was out. Reflecting that perhaps it was only a problem with my own fusebox, I stepped out and circled around to the back of the house, where I fumbled somewhat pathetically with a few of the electrical dials. Just as I was heading inside, the power clicked back on, something in the fusebox sparked, and, before long, my entire home was ablaze… and nary a firetruck in sight.

'The Out of Towners (1970)' might just be the most frustrating film I've ever seen. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way. For a cocky businessman (Jack Lemmon) and his neglected wife (Sandy Dennis), a meticulously-planned trip to New York City is first disrupted by a seemingly-minor delay, which gradually blossoms into a fully-fledged urban disaster. With an important business interview scheduled for 9:00AM the following morning, George Kellerman must endure every difficulty known to Mankind, including the input of mousy wife, Gwen, with whom he is forced to form a shaky alliance. Flight delays, lost baggage, monsoon weather, muggings, kidnappings, city-wide transit strikes, vicious dogs, gas explosions – nothing is neglected, and George shouts himself hoarse throughout the proceedings, declaring his intentions to sue everybody whom he perceives as having contributed to his awful string of bad luck. Even God has seemingly neglected the pair, who are unceremoniously dismissed from a church by an unapologetic news camera crew.

Lemmon and Dennis are very entertaining in the main roles, and the various supporting performances complement the story perfectly. It's interesting to note how the husband-and-wife relationship shifts constantly as they are confronted by each new setback: at first, George is rather dismissive of his wife, using her primarily to "verify" facts to be later used in the courtroom. Though she subsequently commits some rather foolish acts, such as handing over George's $200 watch to a strange caped man, the couple do eventually acquire a mutual respect towards each other. Neil Simon's story might also be interpreted as a critique of modern society, in which citizens in the bustling metropolises are unwilling to offer help to those in need of their assistance. Burdened by his own hefty share of difficulties, George is quickly consumed by the selfishness of the city and comes to care only for his own wellbeing. Gwen, however, retains her sense of moral rectitude and pauses to care for a lost boy in Central Park. Remind me never to go to New York.