Appelez-moi Docteur

It's a shame House Calls isn't better known. Is it perhaps because the romantic leads are middle-aged, shopworn, and gun-shy, rather than oversexed teen-stars? Could be. If you're over 35, you'll probably get this comedy. If you're over 45, you're really going to get this comedy. If you're 25, wait until you're older to see it.

The unlikely pairing of Matthau and Jackson works precisely because it is so unlikely. There's a wonderful line of Matthau's that sums up what is happening between the two of them--"I like old broads because you don't have to explain who Ronald Colman is." (If that's not the exact line, it's close...)

The premise of a sub-par hospital run by incompetents rings true. Art Carney's portrayal of a senile head surgeon is absolutely brilliant. It is impossible not to laugh out loud at his delivery. Subplots, if you can call them that, are fun too, like the one with Jackson's teenage son and Matthau. Everything hits just exactly the right tone.

Okay, there's the bit where Matthau has to wear women's clothing that's a bit over-the-top and an easy mark. But, still--it's Walter Matthau in drag! It's funny!

Walter Matthau stars as a surgeon who is enjoying his new-found role as most desirable bachelor around. His pal, Richard Benjamin (his wonderful droll self) points out what a cliche' this is, but Matthau doesn't care. He explains he was married young and as a virgin, and although his marriage ended with his wife's death, he wants to sample the wares so to speak and experience the sexual freedom of the 70s. The two are on staff at a small hospital headed by slightly senile Art Carney, who shouldn't be allowed to drive, let alone perform surgery. When Matthau corrects Carney's antiquated treatment of patient Glenda Jackson, he is forced to back the old guy or risk dismissal. Matthau and Jackson cross paths again, in a heated discussion about health care..and again..and again.

Jackson is divorced, opinionated and clever--everything the young women Matthau has been seeing aren't. Their first real date is like watching a comfortable couple, and ends in a truly funny bit of physical comedy ('keeping one foot on the floor'as was required in old films they're discussing). Since Jackson's ex was a serial cheater, she makes it clear she isn't interested in being just one of his many, and they agree on a two week 'trial' exclusive relationship. There is a montage of 'togetherness scenes' that seems a little too pat in the film, but the witty dialogue returns as the pair hits a snag: Matthau may be the only one who can convince a wealthy young woman (Candy Azzara) not to file a hefty lawsuit after her rich old hubby dies in surgery. Matthau has two decisions of conscience to make--is he ready for a real commitment to Jackson, and will he stand up to Carney?

This really was a delight to watch--Matthau and Jackson had great funny chemistry, and Carney is terrific as the doctor who teeters between wacky (he orders breakfast for patients be served at 5am, and lunch at 9) and sounding perfectly lucid while explaining why he wants to keep his position of power. We get to see Matthau in a dress (and it isn't a pretty sight), and his son, Charlie, as Jackson's teenager. This used to make the rounds on network TV a great deal, but it seems lost to the ages these days. It's on DVD but will likely never make it to Blu.

A great, small, simple comedy that works because of the terrific cast. And it's not only Glenda Jackson and Walter Matthau but Art Carney and Richard Benjamin. And the story actually works because all the characters are involved. There isn't any arbitrary stories. Matthau meets Jackson because she's made to wear a ridiculous head bandage provided by Carney and Matthau removes it and performs surgery on her. Carney becomes angry/upset over this and blackmails Matthau into supporting him for Chief Resident even though Carney's obviously "crack pot". Jackson and Matthau become lovers but she eventually becomes angry with him for (among other things) not standing up to Carney. That's what makes this an almost perfect film comedy: the characters, plot and situations all seem to spring naturally from the events in the plot. There's nothing forced. And the actors seem to be having a ball.

Matthau and Jackson are superb together.

Near-wonderful mixture of comedy, romance, and medical chaos has a 50-ish swinging-single doctor, tired of going to rock concerts with nubile airheads, dating a patient his own age whom he met on his rounds. Screenplay by Julius Epstein shows a fair amount of sophistication, though he doesn't have enough material to fill out the picture's last third, and one can almost feel the movie slipping. The subplot about the hospital being investigated for its shoddy business affairs isn't worked out satisfactorily, and it feels highly concocted anyway. Still, Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson are a terrific team, Richard Benjamin and Art Carney very funny in support. Director Howard Zieff keeps it all popping, and even when Epstein's one-liners feel like Neil Simon rejects, Zieff zips right along happily. The results are dryly engaging and occasionally quite sweet. Followed by a failed TV series. *** from ****

HOUSE CALLS was an amusing 1978 comedy about a widowed doctor (Walter Matthau) who now wants to play the field but can't help but be drawn to a patient of his (Glenda Jackson) who refuses to be just another notch on his bedpost. Matthau likes the woman but does not really want to make the commitment that she insists upon so he agrees to date her exclusively for two weeks and then make a decision as to whether or not he wants to commit; however, other complications make it difficult for Matthau to make a decision when the two weeks are up, even though he is clearly in love with the woman. Matthau and Jackson have surprisingly effective chemistry as a screen couple and are given strong support from Richard Benjamin, Candice Azzara, Dick O'Neill, and especially Art Carney as the inept and senile Chief of Staff at the hospital where Matthau is employed. Matthau even has a brief scene with his real-life son, Charlie, who appears as Jackson's son. This engaging comedy still holds up pretty well after all these years. If you've never seen it, it's worth the rental.