The Sunshine Boys (1996 film)

The Sunshine Boys
Directed by John Erman
Produced by John Erman
Written by Neil Simon
Based on The Sunshine Boys
by Neil Simon
Starring Woody Allen
Peter Falk
Sarah Jessica Parker
Music by Irwin Fisch
Cinematography Tony Imi
Edited by John W. Wheeler (as Jack Wheeler)
Production
company
Distributed by CBS
Release dates
  • February 15, 1996 (1996-02-15) (Australia)
  • December 28, 1997 (1997-12-28) (United States)
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Sunshine Boys is a 1996 American comedy film directed by John Erman and based on the play, The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon about two legendary (and cranky) comics brought together for a reunion and revival of their famous act. The film stars Woody Allen and Peter Falk as the comedy duo alongside Sarah Jessica Parker.

Plot

Al Lewis (Woody Allen) and Willy Clark (Peter Falk) are two old comedians who were once a popular vaudeville comedy act known as "Lewis and Clark" and also called the Sunshine Boys. After 43 years together, they parted ways 11 years ago on unfriendly terms and have not spoken to each other since then. A reunion is planned for a major network special on the history of comedy.

Production

In 1995, Simon adapted his play for a Hallmark Entertainment production.[1] His teleplay updated the setting and made the two comedians the product of the early days of television, the medium in which the playwright got his start. Unlike the film adaptation, although they are portrayed as cantankerous, their animosity was not as severe as Matthau's and Burns' characters' bad relationship.

Woody Allen was originally asked to direct the 1975 film adaptation, The Sunshine Boys, but he was more interested in playing the role of Lewis and declined the offer. Twenty years later he would be cast as Lewis in this television adaptation.[2]

Cast

References

  1. ↑ " 'The Sunshine Boys' (1997)" The New York Times, accessed April 11, 2012
  2. ↑ ""The Sunshine Boys" – 1995". Retrieved 2006-12-22.
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