The show is better

The film only had 90 minutes to work with. The show was on for five years.

I would argue the film is much better. Lemmon played a neurotic man. Randall played a snob.

"The show is better"

You must be joking.

Neil Simon is not a "minor talent". He´s a GENIUS !!! And "The Odd Couple", in any of its forms (play, film or TV series) is a delight.

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I agree with pretty much every thing the pro-TV campers are saying. I should also disclose that I have never been a huge fan of Neil Simon and the TV show, especially after the first season with the added live audience, created its own identity outside of the Simon canon. I could spend about 5 pages trashing Garry Marshall's other TV shows (and most of his movies) but his influence is all over the place here - with its zany schtick song and dance numbers and guest stars - yet it remained razor sharp, with perfect character driven humor, and was warm and comforting all at the same time. GM truly created the perfect sitcom, and for whatever crap he has done later, he will always have a place in my heart with this show. The Odd Couple was every bit a Garry Marshall show, but in the absolute best way possible.


As for the actors, I adore Lemmon, but I almost prefer him as a dramatic actor, and I have never been fond of his pairings with Matthau. Matthau I can really take only in small dosages; I've never really been a fan of his type of humor. As for Tony Randall, I mean, forget it, he was BORN to play this part - with his real life fastidiousness, total distaste for smoking, his well known love for the opera - Tony Randall WAS Felix, period. And I feel the same way about Klugman - not to mention, like someone else said, I found him much more believable as a New York sports writer than Matthau. And call this sacriledgeous, but I just find Klugman funnier.


Also - and in all fairness this is because they had 5 seasons to do so - Tony and Jack were able to have so much more fun with their characters and take them to places the film never could in 100 minutes. And you could tell those two were just having a ball the entire time, and there is nothing more gratifying than to see two actors enjoying every minute of playing their character and look like they are really having FUN! The movie is good enough, but words cannot express my affection for the TV show. It's priceless.

Of course the TV series develops the characters more -- it had five more years to do it. But given the choice of watching this movie again or watching 90 minutes of the TV show, I'd choose the movie. Both are excellent, though.

I grew up wathing the show and have the DVD sets now (Im 38). I had watched the first half of the movie when I was about 12 and so today I finally decided I should rent it and watch the whole thing. I always felt maybe the movie didnt 'click' with me because Im so used to Klugman and Randall as Oscar and Felix.

Now that I watched the movie - I still prefer the show. Like someone else said the movie was a little depressing in that Felix was trying to kill himself and Felix was so damn annoying you couldnt really wrap your mind around why Oscar and the other poker buddies hung with him in the first place!

Dont get me wrong. I liked the movie, but the show made Felix more funny and "lovable" (you could see why as annoying as the two men were they still stayed friends).

I still prefer the show.

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The roles of Oscar and Felix were created on Broadway by Walter Matthau and Art Carney. The roles of Oscar and Felix were recreated for film by Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. They were perfected for TV by Jack Klugman and Tony Randall.

Art Carney and Dean Martin were considered for the part of Felix for the TV version.

Mickey Rooney and Martin Balsam were considered for the part of Oscar for the TV version. Tony Randall wanted Rooney to play Oscar but Garry Marshall insisted on Jack Klugman.