MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT?

Reviewed 3/05/2018

DVD cover

MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT?
DIRECTED BY: Howard Hawks
Genre: COMEDY
Major Cast
Rock Hudsonas Roger Willoughby
Paula Prentissas Abigail Page
Maria Perschyas Isolde "Easy" Mueller
John McGiveras William Cadwalader
Charlene Holtas Tex Connors
Roscoe Karnsas Major Phipps
James Westerfieldas Policeman
Norman Aldenas John Screaming Eagle
Forrest Lewisas Skaggs
Regis Toomeyas Bagley
Tyler McVeyas Customer Bush
Kathie Browneas Marcia
MPAA Rating:A
Production Companies:Universal Pictures
Gibraltar Productions
Laurel Productions
Distributors (USA):Universal Pictures (theatrical)
NBC (TV)
MCA Home Video (VHS)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (DVD)
Release Date (USA):1/29/1964
Running Time:120 Minutes
Language:English
Lifetime Box Office:$?
Production Budget:N/A

PLOT SUMMARY

Roger Willoughby is the top salesman of fishing equipment at Abercrombie & Fitch. He got that way by picking up fishing lore fishermen told him and passing it along to other customers. He's even written a best-selling book on the subject.

Enter Abigail Page, public relations consultant. She sells William Cadwalader, Willoughby's boss, on the idea of entering him in a fishing tournament. It seems a fine idea on its face; an expert like Willoughby cannot lose, and it will be great promotion for the brand.

What they don't know is that Willoughby has never fished in his life, and that he hates the idea of handling the slimy creatures. He can't tell Cadwalader, lest he be fired; but he tells Abigail as soon as he can. She decides to bull it through, figuring she can teach him enough to get him by. They go to the tournament lake a few days early and get embroiled in a series of hilarious accidents that involve Willoughby plunging repeatedly into the lake.1

Then the tournament begins, and various guests arrive. They include Willoughby's fiancee Tex Connors, who walks in unannounced on Willoughby in what looks like a compromising situation with Abigail. He persuades her to wait until evening for an explanation, but when she comes to the lodge to get it she finds him in another seemingly compromising situation with Abigail's friend "Easy" that ends their engagement. But Willoughby goes on to win the tournament by dumb luck — and then Abigail convinces him to come clean. He does, and Cadwalader fires him. Fortunately, Cadwalader is convinced by Major Phipps that was a mistake, since thousands of people will flock to buy once they learn that even a neophyte like Willoughby can win a tournament if only he has the right gear. And who better than Willoughby to sell them that gear? But Willoughby has gone after Abigail, who's camping and sulking somewhere in the woods. Can Cadwalader find him in time?

There is a lot of slapstick in this comedy, but I didn't find it objectionable because Hudson and Prentiss perform their parts with great energy, and the deftly timed pratfalls are well balanced with the romance and other elements of the plot. In this role, Paula Prentiss reminded me somewhat of Katherine Hepburn; but unlike Hepburn she displays more uncertainty and angst.

Paula Prentiss looks great in the film: beautiful without being glamorous (Charlene Holt supplies the glamor.) But I think Maria Perschy slightly outshines her, and was also an underappreciated actress (she died in 2004.) The plot, absurd as it is, holds together well. I don't have a lot more to say about the film, either to praise or to pan it. For me it is just a workmanlike and very watchable comedy.

My Rating:
7 out of 10

Capsule review: This workmanlike and watchable comedy deftly balances the slapstick with other elements of the plot. The two stars perform their parts with admirable energy, and the other actors hold up their roles well. They give us a film that, for all its age and absurdity, still merits a viewing.

IMDB Rating: 7.2 Raters: 3,939
1 Look for the scene with the inflatable waders; it's a highlight.
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This page was last modified on 8 April 2018.