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See Odd Couple (disambiguation) for other works with the same title
The Odd Couple was a hit 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spinoffs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one uptight and the other slovenly.
Simon was inspired to write the play when he saw his brother Danny Simon and theatrical agent Roy Gerber living together after recent divorces. Danny, also a writer, took the first crack at the play, but later handed over the idea to Neil. The show, directed by Mike Nichols, ran for 966 performances and won several Tony Awards, including Best Play.
Felix Ungar, a neurotic, neat-freak newswriter, is thrown out by his wife, and moves in with Oscar Madison, a slovenly sportswriter. Ungar was played by Art Carney and Madison by Walter Matthau. Matthau was later replaced with Jack Klugman.
The play and the film both spell Felix's name "Ungar", not "Unger".
Characters
- Oscar Madison: A slovenly, recently divorced sportswriter
- Felix Unger/Ungar: A fastidious, hypochondriac newswriter whose marriage is ending. (In the television series, he is a professional photographer)
- Murray: A cop, one of Oscar and Felix's poker buddies. (In the Television series, Murray's last name was revealed to be Greshler.)
- Roy: One of the poker buddies. Oscar's accountant
- Speed: One of the poker buddies.
- Vince: One of the poker Buddies.
- Cecily and Gwendlyn Pigeon: Oscar and Felix's upstairs neighbors, a pair of British sisters. One is a widow, the other a divorcee.
In the Television series, another recurring character was added, that of Myrna Turner, Oscar's ditzy secretary.
Film and TV adaptations
1968 film
In 1968 The Odd Couple was made into a highly successful movie starring Jack Lemmon as Felix and Matthau (once more) as Oscar. Most of the script from the play is the same, although the setting is expanded: instead of taking place entirely in Oscar's apartment, some scenes take place at various outside locations.Sitcom
It was later the basis for a 1970-75 ABC prime-time television show of the same name, this time starring Tony Randall as Felix and Jack Klugman (once more) as Oscar. The two other major characters, Murray the cop and Myrna, Oscar's secretary, were played by Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall. In 1982, there was a short lived new version of the series, The New Odd Couple, with Ron Glass playing Felix and Demond Wilson playing Oscar. (Aside from both actors' being African-American, that series was notable for featuring one of the few instances of product placement for the Apple Lisa computer.)Sequels
In 1998 Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau resurrected their roles for the film The Odd Couple II, produced by Neil Simon, while Randall and Klugman also reunited in 1993 for a made-for-TV reunion film based upon the series.Theme music
The award-winning jazz instrumental theme was composed by Neal Hefti for the film. It was played over the opening credits, as the depressed Felix silently wandered the streets of New York, contemplating suicide after having been kicked out of his own house by his exasperated wife. The theme was adapted for the TV series, again used over the opening credits. It is not used in the theatrical versions. The song also has seldom-heard lyrics, written by Sammy Cahn.*
Stage revivals
The Odd Couple was also revised by Neil Simon in 1985 for a female cast. It was based on the same story line and same lead characters, now called Florence Ungar and Olive Madison. The play ran on Broadway for 295 performances.
In 1994 a version of the play relocated to Glasgow toured Scotland, starring Gerard Kelly as Felix and Craig Ferguson as Oscar. Kelly reprised the role of Felix at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe, opposite Andy Gray.
In a 1997 issue of Premiere Magazine, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams announced a possible stage revival, in anticipation of success of their film Fathers' Day. When that film failed at the box office, the Crystal/Williams revival was quickly forgotten. A similar announcement was made in Premiere in 2005 by Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, in light of their success on stage and screen as the leads in The Producers. Broderick and Lane play Felix and Oscar, respectively. The Production opened at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York on October 27, 2005. Lane was replaced for two weeks (due to illness) by Brad Garrett, who had previously played Murray.
Quotes
- Announcer: On November 13, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence. (Lady Slams Door). That request came from his wife. Deep down, he knew she was right. But he also knew that someday, he would return to her. With no where else to go, he appeared at the home of his childhood friend, Oscar Madison. Sometime earlier, Madison's wife had thrown him out, requesting that he never return. Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?
- Oscar (to Felix): "You leave me little notes on my pillow. I told you a hundred-and-sixty-eight times I can't .. stand .. little notes on my pillow! 'We are all out of Corn Flakes. -F.U.' It took me three hours to figure out that 'F.U.' was Felix Ungar!"
- Oscar (to Felix): "I have a typewritten list in my office of the 10 most annoying things you do that drive me berserk."
- Oscar (repeating Felix's warning): "'Let it be on your head.' What the hell is that, the Curse of the Cat People?"
- Roy (Oscar's poker-playing buddy, sniffing): "What is that, disinfectant? . . . It's the cards. He washed the cards."
- Oscar has just talked to Felix's wife about Felix, who is missing:
Oscar: I don't know, Murray, she didn't read it to me.
Murray: You mean he left a note?
Oscar: No, he sent a telegram.
Murray: A telegram? Who sends a suicide telgram?
Oscar: Felix the Nut, that's who. Can you imagine receiving something like that? She even had to tip the kid a quarter.
External links
1968 films | 1970s TV shows in the United States | ABC network shows | Neil Simon plays | 1965 plays | Buddy films | Comedy films | Films based on plays | CBS Paramount Television shows
"The Odd Couple"