1 kinda like Cary Grant comedies
If Man's Favorite Sport reminds you of the pairings of Cary Grant and Kate Hepburn in such movies as Bringing Up Baby or The Philadelphia Story, the fact is this movie, as well as Come September were written specifically for Cary Grant. He turned down both projects, and that is why Rock Hudson ended up staring in two movies that remind others of a Cary Grant movie. Man's Favorite Sport in itself is alright, but I would rather spend my time watching Cary in one of the movies he chose to make, rather than Rock Hudson attempt to pull off dialogue that was written for Cary. I have nothing bad to say about Rock Hudson, I enjoy his movies. But, without the talent, the class, the style, the comedic timing and the presence of Cary Grant in a comedy that was written specifically for him, the movie falls short.
2 Weak script, iffy acting... poor Rock!!
This is one of those movies where you say to yourself, "Hey! No fair! I want those hours of my life back again!" It's really pretty bad. Rock Hudson stars as a fumpfering salesman at the San Francisco Abercrombie & Fitch men's store, whose specialty is selling fishing gear (fishing being a manly, manly pastime...) The thing is, he doesn't actually do any fishing himself, and when his boss enters him in a big, manly fishing tournament, he runs the risk of being exposed as a fraud. (Wow! Heavy drama! Hold me back.) Then enter into the mix co-star Paula Prentiss, whose brief glimmer of stardom is truly inexplicable... She's so awful, and so weird! Her timing is really strange, and her attempts at seeming impish or elfin just make her look like that much more of a weirdo. She's a very poor substitute for Doris Day, Rock's main co-star at the time... There's also an odd quality to the film itself that throws the pacing off and makes it perpetually wobbly. I'm not sure, but I think part of it may be that many scenes were actually extended improvs, relying on Pretiss's wackiness and vivacity to carry the day. It doesn't work, believe me. This film may have been the high point of her career, but it's an embarrassment for Hudson.
3 A fun film, with great chemistry between Hudson and Prentiss
My wife loves this film and is a great fan of Rock Hudson. I have long admired Paula Prentiss, so I bought the film on VHS video for my wife three years ago. After watching it twice with my wife since, now that it is available on DVD, I soon plan to add it to our DVD library, as well. It is always great, fluffy and lightweight fun. It seems to improve with each and every viewing and just grows on you. The chemistry between Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss is perfect and she is certainly very easy on the eyes. The supporting cast is also excellent. I can heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a pleasant and entertaining film.
4 That's a joke, son....
The line, above, taken from the movie, reminds me that often I need to have things explained to me. Let me explain.
I am pretty sure, but not certain, that I saw this movie in high school, when it was released in 1964. At that time, it was simply (and simple) fun. The second time I watched, was MANY years later, out of nostalgia.
However, a strange thing happened as I grew older, continuing to watch it now and again. I became aware of, and appreciative of, how much of the humor in the dialog played against the supposed differences between the way men and women use words, and all that implies. I guess it's not very flattering, but I sometimes think that everything I know about women, I learned from this movie.
Some of the obvious strengths of the movie -- goofy physical comedy, Henry Mancini's droll music, and a fine supporting cast, including the pristine 'Lake Wakapoogee' -- brought me back to this movie a third time. Over time, however, I have come to appreciate the gentle, good-natured fun it pokes at men and women. Did the people involved with this movie intend it to be fun AND thought-provoking? I won't hazard a guess; I'll just be grateful for the joke, and the explanation.
Even if you do not think much of this review, watch the movie anyway, and if you are a curious kind of person that likes to think about things, watch it a second time, twenty years later! (That's a joke son....)
5 A TALL FISH TALE
A sort of throwback to the screwball comedies of the 1930's. It reminds one of the pairings of Cary Grant and Kate Hepburn such as Bringing Up Baby or The Philadelphia Story. By that as it may, I have watched this film several times over the years and I am repeatedly impressed with the level of comic intensity throughout the narrative. The plot line is simple enough: a fairly solid looking man has great success built on a secret. Rock Hudson has written a well-regarded book on fishing. The secret is Hudson has never been fishing in his life. Along comes Paula Prentiss who corners Hudson into participating in a fishing tournament at her outdoors resort. Of course, in the end Hudson wins the tournament and is exposed for the fraud he is. In spite of being proved to be a fake, Hudson comes out on top and falls for Prentiss as well.
As a story none of this is believable but that is never the point. What we have is a story in which silliness is the point. How we get from beginning to end is where the art is. There is no serious message here which is why this film is as light and appealing now as it was forty years ago. It is also startlingly clean as sex comedies go. There is no foul language and the most "flesh" one sees is a smidgen of panty from an unzipped dress.
We tend to think ourselves as a bit superior about these old movies in that we know Hudson was gay in real life. "Ha Ha Ha. People back then really believed that Hudson would have fallen for Prentiss. .Ha Ha Ha" Well stuff it. Hudson was an actor who wanted to make us laugh. It would be a real tragedy if all we do is laugh at him.
6 Best Fishes From Rock Hudson
This is a forgotten comic gem from master director Howard Hawks (RIO BRAVO). MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT is a throwback to his early screwball comedies featuring Cary Grant and Kate Hepburn (i.e. BRINGING UP BABY) and even pays homage to '...BABY' recreating a scene from the film. In "...BABY", Kate Hepburn's dress is torn at the back, exposing her undergarments, during a posh dinner party. Cary Grant must walk her out by walking behind her and holding her very close in unison with her every step. Rock Hudson does the same thing with actress Maria Perschy in '...Sport' when her dress is torn and exposing her back undergarments during a fishing lodge dinner party. Rodger Willoughby (Hudson) works at a sporting goods store selling fishing equipment and giving expert fishing advice to patrons. He has even "written" books on the subject. However, he has never been, knows nothing, and hates the sport of fishing. He is then entered into a fishing contest at a resort at the request of the resorts publicity director Abagail (Paula Prentiss) and given the go ahead by the store's manager William Cadwalader (the great character actor John McGiver). When the truth is revealed to her by Rodger, he is entered anyway and must learn the sport along the way and try not to be exposed as a fraud. Naturally, by sheer luck and hilarious comedic circumstances he is able "catch" some fish and win the contest. Hudson, fresh from his bedroom farces with Doris Day is excellent as his character is the victim of all kinds of predicaments brought on by Abagail (Prentiss), who in turn is so annoyingly adorable. Great performances all around with some great support characters, namely Norman Alden (BACK TO THE FUTURE, ED WOOD) as John Screaming Eagle, the so-called lake resort 'Indian' guide, and John McGiver as William Cadwalader as Hudson's boss at the department store. Overall, a film with a funny script,some great sight gags when Hudson is fishing (i.e. the bear on the moped), great cast of supporting characters, great outdoor scenery, and the subject of fishing is a always a plus for any movie.
7 Perfect Rock Hudson vehicle, except for....
the annoying, irritating, fingernails on a blackboard Paula Prentiss. She's too gangly, too goofy, and too OBNOXIOUS to make this flick work. I can think of about 20 other contemporaries that would have been a better match for Rock Hudson and Paula doesnt provide any spark or chemistry whatsoever. Ironically, she's a walking trainwreck and if you've seen the film you know what I mean.
However, in spite of this loudmouth dingbat's presence, the story is very good, full of humor, and great character actors that almost compensate for yet another disastrous Howard Hawks casting call.
I guess the thing that struck me most about this movie, aside from Hudson's natural comedic talent, was the excessive drinking that went on throughout the movie. And this hits close to home cause I am drinking excessively as I write this but everybody in this flick always had a drink in their hand....and I mean doubles and triples during lunch and dinner and on until the wee hours! haw haw haw 3 Bass
8 One of Rock's Best
This is one of Rock Hudson's best light comic films. I saw it when I was a kid and I really enjoyed it. It still holds up today. A film may be light and it may be comic but as the best of its kind it has something to say about how we as human beings conduct our lives. This is a good film.
9 Rock Hudson gives literal meaning to "cast" in the part
Roger Willoughby sells fishing equipment, he has also written a book on the subject. So it was inevitable that his boss would enter him in a major fishing tournament. However Roger has a secret. Watch as his secret unfolds and the unique solution.
Howard Hawks directed. As is Hawks' signature this movie is a little chatty like "Bringing up Baby" and "Monkey Business"
Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson) is found in several precarious positions by his fiancˇe. At one time he has his tie caught in Easy Muller's (Maria Perschy) zipper. In addition to this Abigail (Paula Prentiss) is spotted coming from his bedroom in her night attire.
Norm Alden plays John Screaming Eagle, a local Indian who speaks like Tonto, and sells many sacred things such as Custer's scalp.
In the end, they are carried away. You will be carried away also by this great comedy.
