- Director: David Swift
- AMG Rating:
- Genre: Comedy
- Movie Type: Comedy of Errors, Farce
- Themes: Assumed Identities
- Main Cast: Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Edward G. Robinson, Dorothy Provine, Edward Andrews, Michael Connors
- Release Year: 1964
- Country: US
- Run Time: 130 minutes
Plot
Disgusted by the smarminess of his 1963 vehicle Under the Yum Yum Tree, Jack Lemmon vowed that his next effort would be a wholesome family picture. Good Neighbor Sam is suitable for all ages, to be sure, but that doesn't stop producer-writer-director David Swift from injecting plenty of double-entendre dialogue and harmlessly risque situations. Lemmon plays ad executive Sam Bissell, happily married to all-American blonde Minerva (Dorothy Provine). Anxious to land the Nurdlinger's milk account, Sam is carefully scrutinized by the prudish Simon Nurdlinger (Edward G. Robinson), a staunch advocate of old-fashioned family values.Meanwhile, Minerva welcomes her old school friend, sexy Janet Langerlof (Romy Schneider) into her home. Janet is in line to inherit a fortune, but only if she's married. Unfortunately, Janet is currently separated from her insanely jealous spouse Howard Ebbets (Michael Connors), so big-hearted Minerva volunteers Sam to pose as Janet's husband. The ensuing comic complications come to a head when Nurdlinger elects Sam and Janet as the nation's ideal "married" couple, and posts their pictures on billboards all over town! Some of the smaller pleasures in this film are provided by Louis Nye as a high-tech private eye, Barbara Nichols as a squeaky-voiced call girl, Robert Q. Lewis as Sam's lascivious neighbor, and an uncredited Gil Lamb as a genial wino. An amusing running gag involved the Hertz "man in the driver's seat" commercials of the 1960s has sometimes been cut from TV prints of Good Neighbor Sam. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Silly and dated, Good Neighbor Sam is nonetheless very enjoyable, the kind of lightweight fluff that's so innocuous that many people will be willing to overlook its many flaws. There's the length, for example -- 130 minutes is simply too long for something so inconsequential; if it never really wears out its welcome, it still forces the viewer to become very aware of the mechanics underpinning the screenplay. The chief reason for its length is another of its faults, namely that it is excessively overplotted. There are enough plots, subplots, and developments to fill two or three movies, and this eventually deadens the fun (and at times the pacing). And while there are any number of good lines and some hysterical sequences, there are also a fair share of groaners and a few moments that simply fall flat. These flaws would all be fatal were it not for the excellent cast, especially the ace-in-the-hole leading man, Jack Lemmon, who, for a while, specialized in this brand of comedy and could often make dross shine like gold. He's matched by a delightful Edward G. Robinson, who seems to be having a tremendous time with this change-of-pace role, and there's terrific support from Louis Nye and Robert Q. Lewis, among others. Add in some sets that simply scream "1964" and an irresistible Frank De Vol score, and there's plenty here to provide a pleasant bit of escapist entertainment. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie GuideCast
- Jack Lemmon - Sam Bissel
- Romy Schneider - Janet Lagerlof
- Edward G. Robinson - Simon Nurdlinger
- Dorothy Provine - Minerva Bissel
- Edward Andrews - Burke
- Michael Connors - Howard Ebbets
