Main Cast: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Dyan Cannon, Gloria de Haven, Brent Spiner
Release Year: 1997
Country: US
Run Time: 109 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A pair of grumpy old men hit the high seas in this comedy. Small-time con man Charlie (Walter Matthau) fast-talks his considerably more straight-laced friend Herb (Jack Lemmon) into joining him for a luxury cruise on an ocean liner headed to the Bahamas. Charlie tells Herb that the trip is free and will be a good way to meet rich widows; both parts are true enough, but Herb doesn't know that Charlie has signed them on as dance hosts (hence the free tickets), and Herb isn't sure if he's ready for romance after the recent death of his wife. As the men struggle with the fact that Herb isn't much of a hoofer (and Charlie can't dance at all) under the strict tutelage of cruise director Godwyn (Brent Spiner), Charlie starts sweet-talking beautiful heiress Liz (Dyan Cannon), while Herb finds a soul mate in Vivian (Gloria DeHaven), who lost her husband not long ago. Out to Sea also stars Elaine Stritch, Hal Linden, Rue McClanahan, and Donald O'Connor, who pulled his dancing shoes out of mothballs for his role. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
William Matthews - Art Director, Jackie Burch - Casting, Kim Blank - Choreography, Jane Robinson - Costume Designer, Randall Badger - First Assistant Director, Martha Coolidge - Director, Anne V. Coates - Editor, Dylan Sellers - Executive Producer, Barry Berg - Executive Producer, David Newman - Songwriter, James Spencer - Production Designer, Lajos Koltai - Cinematographer, John Davis - Producer, David T. Friendly - Producer, Jim Webb - Sound/Sound Designer, Robert Nelson Jacobs - Screenwriter
Compulsive gambler Charlie Gordon, hiding out from his various bookies and loan sharks, cons his brother-in-law, widower Herb Sullivan, into an all expenses-paid luxury cruise. The catch, which Charlie does not reveal to Herb until the ship has left port, is that they are required to work as dance hosts and must sleep in a cramped cabin in the bowels of the ship.
Ruled over by tyrannical, control-freak cruise director Gil Godwin ("a song and dance man raised on a military base"), they do their best, despite Charlie's not actually being able to dance. Each meets a lady of interest. One is the luscious heiress Liz LaBreche, whose wealth attracts Charlie every bit as much as the rest of her does. The other is lovely widow Vivian, who is under the impression that Herb is a doctor, not a dancer.
By the time Charlie literally drags ship owner Mrs. Carruthers across the dance floor, the boys aren't sure if they will find true love or need to abandon ship.
